NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURE RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
July 18, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 331
For more information, contact Joanna Wilson or Beth Shockley, Public Affairs Office, 302-739-9902
DNREC All About “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” at the Delaware State Fair
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s education building at this year’s Delaware State Fair in Harrington will be trimmed in green as DNREC showcases the message, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle for a Greener Delaware.” Dozens of exhibits, booths and displays highlight recycling and other environmentally-friendly practices and programs.
DNREC’s building, located on East Rider Road on the Fairgrounds, is open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. every day from July 18 – 26.
The center aisle exhibit is designed to encourage conservation and recycling efforts with a woodland scene made almost completely with recycled objects and featuring tips on how everyone can make “reduce, reuse, recycle” part of their everyday lives.
Surrounding the center aisle are the exhibits, displays, games, prizes, and information from each of DNREC’s six divisions.
DNREC’s Division of Air and Waste Management exhibit is all about reducing, reusing and recycling household and yard wastes. It’s designed to help people understand that many items they discard are recyclable, and that recycling can be easy and beneficial for people and the environment.
- Play “Which Bin Does It Go In” – place items like paper, cans and plastic into the correct recycling bin and win a prize.
- Check out displays and flyers that include useful information about recycling and composting.
- Learn about the Division’s scrap tire cleanup program and the ban on open burning.
To encourage recycling, the Division has placed more than 30 eye-catching recycling containers throughout the fairgrounds for folks to recycle aluminum cans and plastic bottles. Another 20 recycling containers have been placed at convenient locations for vendors to recycle corrugated cardboard.
Always a crowd pleaser, the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s wild animal display will feature fish, snakes, raccoons, squirrels and for the first time - a pair of river otters.
The Fish and Wildlife porch will also feature rotating displays from organizations including:
- Delaware Boating Safety Office
- Quality Deer Management
- Delaware Breeding Bird Atlas
- National Wild Turkey Federation
- Delaware Ornithological Society
- The SPCA
At the Division of Soil and Water Conservation area:
- An open casting call for the “Thank You Delaware Bay” campaign. Explain why you’re thankful for the Delaware Bay and your comments may be filmed to appear on a “Thank You Delaware Bay” video.
- Kids aged 6 to 16 can use their artistic skills to design a new “Thank You Delaware Bay” public service advertisement – artwork can be drawn or painted on the frame template available at the exhibit.
- The Nonpoint Source Pollution Program offers an interactive computer game that challenges visitors with questions about pollution sources in wetlands, urban areas, agriculture, beaches and forests. Game winners can win T-shirts, lunch bags, water bottles and coolies, and more.
- Wonder what tax ditches are? Find out through information and games at the Delaware Conservation Partnership display – win water bottles, beach balls, hand fans and more.
- Displays and information about wetland restoration, debris pits and more.
Stop by DNREC’s Division of Water Resources exhibit to learn all about wetlands and why they are a unique and vital part of Delaware’s environment.
- Discover how wetlands in your neighborhood - and even your own backyard - filter out water and provide homes for plants and animals.
- Find out about wetland uses and what you can do with a wetland on your property.
- Pick up a brochure about Delaware’s native plants and discover how they thrive in our soil under seemingly adverse conditions.
- Play an interactive touch screen game that challenges your knowledge about our water resources.
- Learn all about the water cycle through the “Incredible Journey,” a great make-and-take project.
The Division of Parks and Recreation – always a favorite destination – has lots of exciting displays, including:
- A fishing pond where children of all ages can “fish” for a “catch-of-the-day” prize.
- Brochures, flyers and take-aways all about the programs and amenities offered by Delaware’s 15 state parks.
- Drawings for cool stuff including bird feeders, bicycles, helmets and other bicycle safety accessories for adults and kids, and more.
Delaware’s Greenways & Trails Program display focuses on promoting active lifestyles with children. Activities will include “Lights. Camera. Blue Ribbon Action!” Kids can have their pictures taken and attached to pledge card. By signing the card, a child pledges to take a hike or ride a bike and explore the great outdoors this summer. The pledge card also includes a summer activities log for kids. Information on trails in local, county and state parks will also be highlighted. This display is featured on Thursday, July 24.
DNREC’s Office of the Secretary will feature several displays including:
- Outdoor Delaware magazine, DNREC’s award-winning conservation magazine.
- Information about the 2008 Delaware Coastal Cleanup in September, part of the world’s largest annual clearing of trash from coastlines and lakes by volunteers.
- The Pollution Prevention Program (P2) will have a touch-screen educational quiz on pollution prevention strategies and benefits, with giveaways and prizes including rub-on tattoos and carrying bags made from recycled materials.
DNREC will also host special single-day displays and events on its main porch. The Brandywine Zoo, Indian River Life-Saving Station, First State Heritage Park, Fort Delaware, Killens Pond, White Clay Creek, Lums Pond, Cape Henlopen, Bellevue and Wilmington state parks will host displays and activities. Several will be presented by costumed interpreters from different eras including Colonial, Civil War and World War II.
The DuPont Nature Center - with special robotic guest Professor Green - will be featured on Saturday, July 19. On Wednesday, July 23, the Delaware Energy Office will offer energy- and money-saving tips. Visitors can learn about DNREC’s Emergency Response Team on Friday, July 25, when team members will be on hand with some of their equipment.
On Governor’s Day, Thursday, July 24, the annual DNREC Awards will be held on the porch, with special guest presenter Governor Ruth Ann Minner. Awards to be presented this year include the Young Environmentalists of the Year, the winners of the Annual Youth Fishing Tournament and the new Wetland Warrior Award. Also on the agenda will be a special Governor’s Citation for four DNREC Fisheries staff members who rescued eight young canoeists from Rehoboth Bay in May.
For a complete schedule of events on DNREC’s main porch, please visit the DNREC website at www.dnrec.delaware.gov.
