NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

Vol. 40, No. 324

For more information contact Lynne Staub, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, 302-735-3600; or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Acorn Collection Day on Oct. 16 seeks volunteers

DOVER- (Sept. 17, 2010) –With  acorns in abundance this time of year, volunteers are needed for DNREC’s 6th Annual Acorn Collection Day being held from 9 a.m. until noon, Saturday, Oct. 16. Volunteers will collect acorns from places where seedlings would not generally be able to grow – along trail edges, open spaces and roadsides – at two Delaware State Parks and the Smyrna Rest Area.

Acorn Collection Day is the perfect opportunity for families and youth groups to volunteer, gain community service hours and help Delaware’s environment. Since the volunteer event was initiated in 2005, nearly 2,300 pounds of acorns have been collected.

The acorns will be scattered in reforestation areas to grow on their own. The oak trees will expand wooded areas and forested corridors that provide valuable habitat – shelter and food – for many native wildlife species.

Three collection sites, one in each county, will have bags and collection materials for volunteers.

New Castle County
Lums Pond State Park
1068 Howell School Rd.
Bear, Del. 19701
Meet at Area 2, first parking lot

Kent County
Smyrna Rest Area
5500 DuPont Highway
Smyrna, Del. 19977
Meet at the building entrance

Sussex County
Holts Landing State Park
Holts Landing Road
Millville, DE 19970
Meet on Marlin Drive (left of entrance)

Pre-registration is encouraged by contacting Lynne Staub at (302) 735-3600 or by email, Lynne.Staub@state.de.us.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities with the Division of Fish and Wildlife, visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/volunteers.