DelNature Celebrates Earth Day of Giving and Action

 

Honors Rep. Val Longhurst, Environmental Educators
Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester to speak at Annual Meeting

Earth Day of Giving and Action Announced

Delaware Nature Society (DelNature) announced plans today to celebrate its first Earth Day of Giving and Action on Thursday, April 22, 2021. On Earth Day, DelNature will host a giving and advocacy drive to celebrate and encourage support of their mission focused work in education, conservation, and advocacy. DelNature will host its Annual Meeting that day from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m., honoring State Representative Valerie Longhurst and two local environmental educators with special remarks by Delaware’s U.S. Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester.

“DelNature is so grateful to work with community members every day for clean water, wildlife protection, and the creation of an equitable and inclusive society. This Earth Day we are pleased to honor Rep. Valerie Longhurst as our 2021 Environmental Steward of the Year. Rep. Longhurst is a long-time champion of the environment and led the fight for clean water in the General Assembly the past few years,” said DelNature Executive Director Anne Harper. “We are also grateful to welcome Congresswoman Blunt Rochester as our Annual Meeting keynote speaker and hear about her work in environmental justice.”
In addition to Rep. Longhurst, DelNature will be honoring two outstanding teachers, Katie Pollock, University of Delaware Lab School, and Kerry Wilson, St. Anne’s Episcopal School, who will be awarded the 2021 Outstanding Environmental Educator of the Year Award.

The Earth Day of Giving and Action will include a day long social media campaign with links and information on what you can do to help protect the environment.

“We like to think that Earth Day should be every day but want to send a special message on April 22,” said Joanne McGeoch, Deputy Director and Chief Development Officer. “To commemorate Earth Day of Giving and Action, we have a challenge match from a generous individual donor who gave us $13,000 to launch the campaign. Our goal is to raise $25,000 in a single day to support our important work to protect and improve the environment.”

More Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

And, the Earth Day celebration doesn’t end on April 22. In partnership with New Castle County and County Executive Matt Meyer, DelNature will be hosting the annual Middle Run Tree Planting on Saturday, April 24, 9 am – Noon. Since 1991, thousands of volunteers have helped plant about 55,000 trees at this New Castle County park located near Paper Mill and Possum Park roads in Newark.  Increasing forest habitat provides food and shelter for a wide variety of native wildlife. Tree plantings have a myriad of other benefits, including making a positive impact on climate change. Volunteers are needed to help dig, plant and water trees. Volunteers are asked to bring a shovel and a jug of water to water the first tree and to later use for refills. Pre-registration is required.

Learn more about the Earth Day of Giving and Action, Annual Meeting, and Middle Run Tree Planting.


About DelNature

DelNature’s mission is to connect people with the natural world to improve our environment through education, conservation, and advocacy. We envision a healthy and sustainable environment for all.

Founded in 1964, DelNature, a state affiliate for the National Wildlife Federation, is renowned for educational programming, conservation, and advocacy, providing the tools for communities to take action and promote the health of the environment through land preservation, wildlife protection, and watershed stewardship.            

DelNature manages over 2,000 acres of land statewide, including four nature preserves, and operates four educational sites: : Ashland Nature CenterAbbott’s Mill Nature CenterDuPont Environmental Education Center, and Coverdale Farm Preserve.

Organizational priorities are comprised of three pillars of engagement focused on: working and natural lands, healthy waters, and protecting habitats and wildlife.

Currently, thousands of members and over 1,000 volunteers assist core staff and interns to support DelNature’s mission and help our year-round educational programs, conservation, and advocacy efforts continue to improve and grow.


Contact Us
Mark Nardone, Director of Advocacy
302.413.5057
Email Mark Nardone