Delaware Seashore State Park offers summer programs starting June 17

Delaware Seashore State Park offers a wide variety of educational programs and events led by park staff throughout the summer season.

Located about a mile north of the Indian River Inlet is the Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum. This site, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, not only introduces visitors to Delaware’s maritime history, but also acts as the anchor point for all educational programs offered by Delaware Seashore State Park. These programs range from kayaking and hiking to jewelry-making and museum tours.

Each week from June 17 to Aug. 16, park staff will be offering over 24 individual programs allowing visitors to experience the natural beauty and ecology of the Delaware coast, learn about the area’s rich maritime heritage, and try new recreational activities under the guidance of trained park staff.

For a fun and educational day on the water, two different pontoon boat tours will be offered every Thursday. Participants can choose to have a picnic lunch and explore the world of bay-dwelling creatures with the new Island Discovery Boat Tour, or just sit back and enjoy the view with the classic Rehoboth Bay Sightseeing Tour.

For those who enjoy being active, Kayak Eco-Tours are offered every Tuesday through Friday morning. These trips provide participants with an opportunity to learn how to paddle while experiencing the sights and creatures of the bayside habitat and enjoying a unique view of the historic Indian River Life-Saving Station.

To learn about the various critters of the coast, visitors should check out the park’s newest programs: Jelly Jelly Jellyfish, From Beach to Bay, Marsh Walk and Clamming 101 as well as classic programs like Seining the Bay and Crabbing 101. Each will cover a specific creature of habitat unique to the area.

The park also offers indoor programs for those looking to escape the heat. The Nautical Accessories course teaches a rotating set of maritime knots made into unique accessories, and the sea glass jewelry classes will teach step-by-step how to make pendants and earrings using sea glass and wire-wrapping techniques.

For night owls, Delaware Seashore State Park will also offer several evening programs.  A great activity for children is the Wild Crab Chase, where families use flashlights to try to spot the nocturnal ghost crab. Lantern Tours, held on Wednesday evenings, allow visitors to tour the Indian River Life-Saving Station by lantern light and to experience what it was like to be a surfman patrolling Delaware’s coast over 100 years ago.

A full calendar of all of Delaware Seashore State Park’s summer programs can be found at destateparks.com. For more information, and to register for programs, call the Indian River Life-Saving Station at 302-227-6991 or stop by and pick up a program guide.