Chocolate tasting at Cape Henlopen State Park set Sept. 10

It has been said that there's nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend with chocolate. Saturday, Sept. 10 is the date of the 10th Annual Chocolate Tasting sponsored by the Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park, good friends with chocolates, to be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Biden Center in the park. Veterans of this event already have the date marked on their calendars. There will be plenty of chocolate for all and plenty of room to park at the Biden Center.

The chocolate tasting features chocolate candy and baked goods prepared by local volunteers. Admission is $6 and includes six tastes. Additional tastes go for 50 cents apiece. Park entry fees are in effect. There will also be a selection of fabulous chocolate baked goods to take home from the bake sale table for the perfect gift or family treat. Attendees are asked not to bring their own containers.

Cochairs Pamela Plaza and Trish Baines say there will be raffles of various items and gift cards. Drawings will be held through the afternoon. Raffle tickets will sell for $1 apiece or six for $5. There is also a raffle for a chance on a weekend in either a cottage at Delaware Seashore State Park or a three-bedroom cabin in Virginia State Parks. Tickets for this raffle are $5 apiece and the ticket buyers can choose which of the prizes they want when they buy the ticket. To purchase tickets, call 302-858-6127 or 302-644-2356. One does not need not be present to win this raffle.

A family visit to the park offers a wide array of activities to help work off that chocolate high. There are trails to suit every walker, or visitors can borrow bicycles at the Bike Barn and ride around the park. Children can enjoy hours of fun on the equipment in the new playground. The whole family can play disc golf on the course across the street from the playground. And then there’s the beach.

Proceeds will go to replenish the Richard and Mirth Thatcher Education Fund. In this era of tight school budgets, teachers are finding it harder to finance  field trips to Cape Henlopen State Park where hands-on experiences with nature and history can be provided. To counter this trend, the Friends of the Education Fund provides support with the cost of transportation to bring Sussex County school groups to the educational programs conducted through the park's Seaside Nature Center.

The Friends of Cape Henlopen State park is a nonprofit organization made up of volunteers who donate their time to promote one of the crown jewels of Delaware's state parks. They are strongly committed to public education about the park and believe that education leads to appreciation, conservation, and preservation. In addition to their educational activities, Friends volunteers participate in a monthly Trails Day and a variety of other direct activities within the park. Finally, Friends raise money for specific park projects such as the Bike Barn, restoration of the Hawk Watch and their most recently completed project, the playground.

For more information, go to www.friendsofcapehenlopen.org, email fochsp@gmail.com or call 302-858-6127.