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Delaware Nature Society (DelNature) is celebrating our 60th anniversary! Learn how we’re commemorating this big milestone.
Our Mission
Connecting people and nature to create a healthy environment for all through education, conservation, and advocacy.
Our Vision
We envision Delaware as a place where people:
- View themselves as part of nature and understand that nature is essential for life
- Recognize the immediacy of addressing environmental issues
- Take pride and find joy in caring for the natural world
Our Core Values
- We are nature
We take care of the places that sustain us. Humans are part of nature, and our fates are interconnected. - Integrity
We are a trusted partner. We act and make decisions driven by our mission and desire for a healthy environment and respect for the science that supports that outcome. - Engagement
We share knowledge, resources and opportunity so everyone can feel a sense of ownership and share responsibility for causing positive change. - Nature is for all
We collaborate to change practices to enact environmental justice. Inclusive and equitable access to the natural world is not a privilege. It is a basic human right. - Creativity
We thrive when different perspectives are welcomed, and new ideas are shared. Innovation will uphold our relevance.
Our Work
DelNature is a regional leader in environmental education, conservation, and advocacy. Founded in 1964, we are a state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation. We provide local communities with the tools to take action and promote the health of the environment through land preservation, wildlife protection, and watershed stewardship.
We manage over 2,000 acres of land, including four nature preserves, and operate four educational sites: Ashland Nature Center, Abbott’s Mill Nature Center, DuPont Environmental Education Center, and Coverdale Farm Preserve.
Thousands of members and over 1,000 volunteers assist our staff and interns, helping our year-round educational programs, conservation, and advocacy efforts continue to improve and grow.
Our Commitment
DelNature believes everyone has the right to visit safe, natural outdoor spaces, live on a healthy planet with access to healthy food, land, water and air, and have their voices and concerns valued equally. We are dedicated to working with people regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability. We commit to being inclusive and equitable, educating communities on local environmental issues, learning from the public to inform our actions, partnering with local communities on programs and initiatives, hiring staff that reflects the audiences we work with, and supporting and developing equitable environmental policies.