Discover nature programs and activities for adults, for children, or for the family to share together.
Searchable activities calendar coming soon. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Register online below or print and mail our registration form.
Need help? Call 302.239.2334, Mon – Fri, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
See also recurring drop-in programs »
Teens/Tweens: be notified when new classes become available »
Learn about our Preschoolers Series »
Reset Your Year: Fitness Loop Hike
Wednesday, Jan 16, 6 pm – 7:30 pm | Age: Adults | At Ashland | Members: $10 | Non-members: $15
Led by Erynn DeGennaro
Register Now
Homeschoolers: Skulls, Tracks, and Scat!
Wednesday, Jan, 16 | 1:30 – 3:30 pm | Age: 6-12 | At Ashland | Members $10 | Non-members $12
Learn how naturalists identify animals from the evidence they leave behind: tracks and scat! Handle and classify a variety of amazing skulls from mammals, birds, and reptiles. Examine teeth, eye and nose structures to determine if animals are carnivores, omnivores or herbivores. Dissect an owl pellet to discover what was on the menu for some of our local nocturnal birds. Explore our trails and use guides to identify tracks left behind by our native wildlife!
Farm to Field Fitness Hike
Sunday, Jan 20, 1 pm – 3 pm | Age: Adults 21+ | At Coverdale | Members: $8 | Non-members: $13
Start the New Year on the right foot! Join us on an elite 5 mile hike to discover rarely seen areas of Coverdale Farm Preserve. HIke through meadows, forests and farmland, while taking in exclusive views of the picturesque landscape. Led by Joe Sebastiani.
Register Now
Day Off Camps!
Martin Luther King Junior Day: Mon, Jan 21
Ages 6-8: Animal Instincts
At Abbott’s | 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM | Mem $30 | Non-mem $45
All outdoor seekers, ages 6-8, join us for an active day of exploring, crafts and games on a winter day. Boots, coats, and mittens needed! Bring a lunch and snack. Use your senses, be track detectives, explore survival, and build wildlife homes!
Register Now
Ages 5-8: Winter Fort Building
At Ashland | 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM | Mem $60 | Non-mem $75
Build forts out of natural materials, blankets, and warm up from the winter cold! Venture outside to look for signs of winter forts made by animals. Team up and have a fort battle and roast smores to eat with friends inside your fort!
Register Now
Ages 5-12: MLK Day of Service
At DEEC | 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM | Mem $60 | Non-mem $75
Celebrate Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a day of service learning at DEEC! Learn about his life and teachings, clean up our marsh and gardens, and build homes for some of our smallest creatures. Bring a bag lunch and dress for the outdoors.
Register Now
Green By Nature Preschool: V is for Viceroys and Other Nature Tricksters
Tuesday, Jan 22, 9:30 – 11 am | Age: 2-5 | At Ashland | Members: $6 | Non-members: $10
(Parental supervision is required free of charge)
Discover wildlife and the great outdoors with your little one in our fun, safe, hands-on parent-and-me preschooler programs! Led by Delaware Nature Society staff.
Register Now
Urban Gardening: Birds, Butterflies and Bullfrogs
Wednesday, Jan 23, 6 pm – 7:30 pm | Age: Adults 21+ | At DEEC | Members: $15 | Non-members: $20
While enjoying a selection of wine and cheese, learn what beneficial creatures you can support in your urban garden. Be a good water steward while keeping your plants, pollinators and wildlife happy. Led by Lori Athey.
Register Now
Reset Your Year: Yoga
Wednesday, Jan 23, 6 pm – 7 pm | Age: Adults | At Ashland | Members: $10 | Non-members: $15
Led by Erynn DeGennaro
Register Now
Frosty Farm Fun
Saturday, Jan 26, 10 am – 11:30 am | Age: Families, ages 2+ | At Coverdale | Members: $6 | Non-members: $10
Visit Coverdale Farm during its sleepy month. Listen to the quiet sounds of the farm, bury your hands in warm wool and discover the beauty of the farm while it’s at rest. Warm up with a winter treat! For families, ages 2+. Led by Judy Montgomery
Register Now
20s & 30s Club: Seeing Stars
Saturday, Jan 26, 6 pm – 9:30 pm | Age: Adults 21+ | At Ashland | Members: $15 | Non-members: $20
Visit the Mt. Cuba Astronomical Observatory to explore constellations and galaxies with Star-lord Sheila Vincent. End the evening at Ashland with interstellar drinks and a viewing of Guardians of the Galaxy . Drinks and Snacks provided. Led by Erynn DeGennaro & Annalie Mallon
Register Now
Young Naturalists
Sundays, 1/27, 2/24, 3/24, 4/28, 9 am – 12 pm | Age: 9-12 | At Ashland | Members only: $85
Join this group of nature lovers and explorers. Hike, explore streams, woods, fields, and wetlands in search of reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals at Ashland Nature Center and natural areas and preserves in the area. Led by Jeff Haas
Register Now
Green By Nature Preschool: W is for Water Science
Tuesday, Jan 29, 9:30 – 11 am | Age: 2-5 | At DEEC | Members: $6 | Non-members: $10
(Parental supervision is required free of charge)
Discover wildlife and the great outdoors with your little one in our fun, safe, hands-on parent-and-me preschooler programs! Led by Delaware Nature Society staff.
Register Now
Reset Your Year: Clean Cooking Made Easy
Wednesday, Jan 30, 6:30 pm – 9 pm | Age: Adults | At Ashland | Members: $65 | Non-members: $75
Led by Erynn DeGennaro
Register Now
Homeschool Program Series: Winter Wildlife Adventures
3 Fridays, Feb 1, 8, 15 | 10am – 12 pm | Age: 8-12 | At Abbott’s | Members $35 | Non-members $45
Fridays in February investigate plant and animal winter survival. Each week connect an ecosystem of producers, consumers and decomposers. Work with skulls, fur and twigs to unlock nature clues. Adventures outside, dress for the weather. Led by Alice Mohrman.
Groundhog Gala
Saturday, Feb 2, 9:30 am – 11 am | Age: Family | At Ashland | Members: $6 | Non-members: $10
It’s “Groundhog’s Day!” Will Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow? We’ll make a groundhog puppet, visit an outdoor burrow, play games and look for our own shadows! Led by Judi VanderWerff
Register Now
Owl Moon
Saturday, Feb 2, 6 pm – 8 pm | Age: Family | At Ashland | Members: $9 | Non-members: $14
(Parental supervision is required free of charge)
An evening of owls! Learn about their calls and incredible night senses. Read “Owl Moon”, then take a night hike in search of owls. Led by Courtney McKinley.
Register Now
Green By Nature Preschool: X is for X-Marks the Spot
Tuesday, Feb 5, 9:30 – 11 am | Age: 2-5 | At Coverdale | Members: $6 | Non-members: $10
(Parental supervision is required free of charge)
Discover wildlife and the great outdoors with your little one in our fun, safe, hands-on parent-and-me preschooler programs! Led by Delaware Nature Society staff.
Register Now
Reset Your Year: Planning your life with Bloom Daily Planners
Wednesday, Feb 6, 6 pm – 7:30 pm | Age: Adults | At Ashland | Members: $15 | Non-members: $20
Led by Erynn DeGennaro
Register Now
Nature: There’s an app for that!
4-part series, Feb 7, 6-9pm; Mar 16, 10am-3pm; Apr 3, 6-8pm; Apr 6, 9am -noon; Apr 25, 6-8pm; Apr 27, 10am-7pm | Age: Adults | At Ashland | Members: $100 | Non-members: $160
Enjoy nature and contribute to citizen science projects with your phone! In this 4-part course, explore multiple phone apps and programs designed for you to contribute to citizen science projects, track what you see in the wild, and to help you expand your knowledge of birds, reptiles, amphibians, astronomy, and just about anything alive you come across. Participants are asked to join at least one citizen science research project and contribute to it for 3-months.
Register Now
Green By Nature Preschool: The “Y” of It
Tuesday, Feb 12, 9:30 – 11 am | Age: 2-5 | At Ashland | Members: $6 | Non-members: $10
(Parental supervision is required free of charge)
Discover wildlife and the great outdoors with your little one in our fun, safe, hands-on parent-and-me preschooler programs! Led by Delaware Nature Society staff.
Register Now
Brownfields and Brews
Wednesday, Feb 13, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm | Age: Adult 21+ | At DEEC | Members: $15 | Non-members: $20
While enjoying a selection of brews and snacks, learn and discuss the chemicals, sources, and what is being done to remediate local superfund sites and brownfields. In Wilmington and throughout Delaware, these sites were contaminated with chemicals from shops, factories and facilities that thrived between the 1700s and 1900s. Marian Young is President of BrightFields, Inc. and is an Environmental Soil Scientist investigating and remediating brownfield properties, including the Christina Riverfront. Led by Marian Young
Register Now
Coffee Club: Invite the Birds
Thursday, Feb 14, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Age: Adults | At Abbott’s | Members: $8 | Non-members: $12
Do you enjoy bird watching from your window? Visual and audio tips to identify your avian visitors! Ideas for your bird friendly landscape with native plants, feeders and baths. Coffee & light snacks included. Led by Alice Mohrman.
Register Now
The Great Backyard Bird Count
Friday, Feb 15, 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM | Age: Adults | At Coverdale | Members: $10 | Non-members: $15
Bird watchers all over the world are invited to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count, which lasts four day in February. Join our ornithologist Ian Stewart to kick off the weekend with a hearty farm breakfast and bird walk!
Register Now
Dinner and Owls
Friday, Feb 15, 6 pm – 8:30 pm | Age: Family (all ages) | At Coverdale | Members: $20 | Non-members: $25
Whooo lives in the forests of Coverdale? Join Jim White, for a winter hike and search for Screech, Saw Whet and Great Horned Owls! Listen for their haunting hoots as dusk falls and discover why these birds are so impressive. After your hike, warm up over a hearty dinner prepared in Coverdale’s Kitchen! Led by Jim White.
Register Now
Wizards and Lizards Overnight
Sunday, Feb 17, 3pm – Monday, Feb 18, 5pm | Age: 9-12 | At Ashland | Members: $85 | Non-members: $105
Join us for this classic wintry Wizardry event! Spooky spells, fireside readings, a starlit hike and classes! Meals are included. Registrants will receive a list of what to bring. Led by Judy Montgomery
Register Now
President’s Day: Mon, 2/18
Ages 6-8: Winter Wonderland
At Abbott’s | 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM | Mem $30 | Non-mem $45
All outdoor seekers, ages 6-8, join us for an active day of exploring, crafts and games on a winter day. Boots, coats, and mittens needed! Bring a lunch and snack. Adventure life outdoors, build a shelter, create weather instruments and enjoy maple sugaring!
Register Now
Ages 9-12: Winter Workshop
At Coverdale | 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM | Mem $60 | Non-mem $75
When the weather is cold and the days are short, there is still much to do on the farm! Winter is the season of preparation and projects. Work together, design and construct a project that will make Coverdale’s classroom a better place to learn!
Register Now
Green By Nature Preschool: Z is for ZZZZZZ….Hibernating Animals
Tuesday, Feb 19, 9:30 – 11 am | Age: 2-5 | At DEEC | Members: $6 | Non-members: $10
(Parental supervision is required free of charge)
Discover wildlife and the great outdoors with your little one in our fun, safe, hands-on parent-and-me preschooler programs! Led by Delaware Nature Society staff.
Register Now
20s & 30s Outsiders Club: Stews and Brews
Thursday, Feb 21, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm | Age: Adult | At Coverdale | Members: $18 | Non-members: $23
Warm up in the Coverdale Kitchen! Chop, slice and saute your way to a delicious Beefless Beer Stew. As our soup simmers, we will bake a batch of biscuits and shake-up some butter. Once complete, we will sip some brews while savoring our stew.
Register Now
Owls and Other Winter Raptors
Saturday, Feb 23, 8 am – 7 pm | Age: Adult | At Ashland| Members: $35 | Non-members: $50
Try to find as many as 8 species of owls in a day! Travel by van to multiple locations for resident owls such as Barred and Great Horned, plus wintering species like Short-eared and Long-eared Owls. We will also try to get good looks at diurnal raptors such as Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle and many others. Led by Jim White.
Register Now
Rain Chains and Runoff
Saturday, Feb 23, 1 pm – 3 pm | Age: Adult | At DEEC | Members: $10 | Non-members: $15
April showers are just around the corner! Reduce runoff and soil erosion in your yard by creating a beautiful rain chain. These chains hang from your gutter and gently transport water to the ground below. Learn about how runoff and soil erosion affect the lowest-lying state from the Clean Water Campaign team and try out a personalized, natural solution. Craft materials and snacks provided. Led by Dakin Hewlett and Laura Miller.
Register Now
Maple Sugaring and Pancake Breakfast
Sunday, Feb 24, 10 am – 12 pm | Age: Family | At Ashland | Members: $9 | Non-members: $14
(Parental supervision is required free of charge, free for children under 5)
Learn about the maple sugaring process, boil sap, taste it. Then warm up with a pancake breakfast complete with maple syrup. Led by Lauren Powell.
Register Now
Green By Nature Preschool: A is for Alphabet Soup
Tuesday, Feb 26, 9:30 – 11 am | Age: 2-5 | At Coverdale | Members: $6 | Non-members: $10
(Parental supervision is required free of charge)
Discover wildlife and the great outdoors with your little one in our fun, safe, hands-on parent-and-me preschooler programs! Led by Delaware Nature Society staff.
Register Now
Coffee Club: Delmarva Butterflies
Thursday, Feb 28, 10:30 AM – 12 PM | Age: Adults | At Abbott’s | Members: $8 | Non-members: $12
Learn butterfly anatomy for clues on how to invite these beneficial insects to your neighborhood. Identify Delmarva butterflies. Ideas for your own butterfly habitat. Coffee & light snacks included. Led by Alice Mohrman.
Register Now
Homeschool Program Series: Take Flight – All About Birds
3 Fridays, Mar 1, 8, 15 | 10 am – 12 pm | Age: 8-12 | At Abbott’s | Members $35 | Non-members $45
Fridays in March explore bird anatomy, flight dynamics, behavior and field observations. Engineering and habitat connections support understanding. Binoculars available for borrow. Outdoor adventures, dress for the weather. Led by Alice Mohrman.
Naturalist Certification Series
March 21 – September 28 | 8-part Course | Age: Adult | At Ashland | Members: $250 | Non-members: $310
Whether you are just beginning your interest in nature, or wish to gain greater depth of understanding of local ecosystems, take advantage of this 8-part course! Learn about the ecology of the Piedmont region and the flora and fauna that reside here with Delaware Nature Society experts. Each participant must complete and naturalists journal to become a certified naturalist. School teachers can receive 60 hours of in-service credit. Led by Joe Sebastiani.
Register Now