LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Out and About in Delaware's State Parks |
by Stephen Schilly |
The Summer That Never Was Sitting down to write this column, I found myself doing a double take as I looked at the publication schedule for Letters. In bold letters I read the words "Labor Day." How could this deadline be for the Labor Day issue? Didn't summer just begin? I've barely gotten a tan. I've hardly been on the beach this season. What is going on here? Normally, summer arrives for me with a familiar set of patterns and expectations. The wet weather of spring gives way to the hot dry conditions of summer. There will be plenty of sun and lots of time to enjoy the sand and surf...right? Wrong! This summer the monsoons of June barely gave way to several sunny weeks in July. It wasn't long before humid conditions brought cloudy days and frequent storms from late July into August. Even when there was sun, the ocean temperatures remained unusually cold. This just wasn't your typical summer at the beach. And now, before it's really begun, summer is drawing to a close. I couldn't help but wish there was some way to do this season over again to get it right. Since that's not possible, I'll have to console myself with hopes for a beautiful autumn. After all, September and October often feature some of the best beach weather for the year. I'm determined to stay optimistic. Something has to make up for this "summer that never was!" It's a Dog's Life With unpredictable summer weather and a very busy work schedule, my partner, Bob, and I focused our limited free time mostly around our home. This was much to the delight of our two "children", the welsh terriers Scribbles and Sketches. Like Bob and I, these special members of our family are a real contrast in personalities. Scribbles is much like Bob, friendly and loving. She basically rules the roost...or at least thinks she does! She conserves her energy limiting most physical activity to those that have a reasonable payback. She considers every angle before she commits herself to any endeavor. As a result, she is the perfect lap dog...quiet, loving and loyal. Sketches, on the other hand, is her overly energetic counterpart. Like me, he often doesn't know which way to turn first. From early in the morning to late at night he bounces from one activity to another. His overactive curiosity tends to get him into constant trouble. Even though he is now full grown, he still maintains many of the qualities of a puppy. As a consequence, we have learned through experience to "child" proof our home. Items left within reach frequently become Sketches' latest play toy. He has laid claim to prescription eyeglasses, watches, loose change, ink pens and clothing. Unfortunately, that also frequently means he has destroyed the items as well! Getting ink stains out of carpeting is no easy task...believe me, we know! Sketches' antics have definitely tried our patience. As lovable as he is, enough is enough. Bob came to the conclusion sketches has ADHD...attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He went so far as to discuss this with our veterinarian. Wouldn't you know, it turned out Sketches is quite normal for the breed. It is sweet, calm Scribbles who is the exceptional child...go figure! Commitment Ceremonies in the Parks I recently received an email from a reader interested in knowing if commitment ceremonies were permitted in state parks. I thought it was a great question and wanted to share the information with everyone. State Parks are available for all sorts of ceremonies and services. Over the years, our parks have been used for religious services, baptisms, weddings...and yes, even commitment ceremonies! With such wonderful natural resources, our state parks are frequently the perfect setting for such important "life" events. Each park has its own unique character and special resources to make these occasions a success. Individuals interested in having such events are encouraged to contact the park office to discuss arrangements. Fees will vary according to the specific needs of the event. For those special times in your life, our state parks may be just the place for you! Calling All Volunteers for Coastal Cleanup Do you enjoy Delaware's beautiful beaches? Do you believe in protecting and preserving our precious environmental resources? Do you want to make a difference? If so, then have we got an opportunity for you! Volunteers are being sought to participate in the 17th annual statewide Coastal Cleanup on September 13 from 9 a.m. to noon. This year there will be 49 cleanup sites located along Delaware's 97-mile coastline. Sites will include river and ocean shoreline, wetland and watershed areas. Last year 1,611 Delaware volunteers used 1,118 trash bags to collect 22,049 pounds of debris from Delaware beaches and waterways. Cigarette butts were the #1 item collected. Volunteers picked up 32,475 cigarettes! A set of false teeth found at Fenwick Island tops the list of strange finds. Other unusual finds included a kitchen sink, license plate, bicycle frame, charcoal grill, and car bumper. All together more than 4,850 hours of volunteer time were involved in the 2002 cleanup effort in our state. The annual program is part of the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanupthe world's largest volunteer effort to clear trash from coastlines and lakes. It was started to provide a way to monitor the amount of trash being thrown into the oceans and waterways by fishing vessels, cruise ships, and recreational boaters. The cleanup has now grown to include participation by 55 states and territories and 90 countries, with the number growing each year. Volunteers are urged to sign up for the 2003 statewide Coastal Cleanup event through electronic registration on the DNREC website at www.dnrec.state.de.us, using the link Coastal Cleanup 2003 in the right column of the home page. Registrations can also be taken by phone by contacting Jason Gleockler, DNREC Public Affairs, (302) 739-4506. We hope you'll come out and help make a difference. As the old slogan says..."Delaware's Good Nature Depends On You!" Nature's Best Bets If you are looking for fun activities, here are a number of "best bets" at the Seaside Nature Center in Cape Henlopen State Park: Seining the Bay Saturdays in September 2 p.m. Discover the organisms inhabiting the warm end-of-summer waters in Delaware Bay. (Photo at left.) Assist in hauling a 30-ft. seine to observe crabs, various fish species, and other invertebrates. Please wear shoes and clothing that can get wet. Limited to 30. Tickets go on sale at 1:45 p.m. at the Nature Center. $3 per person. Autumn Hawk Watch Sundays in September 9 a.m. Noon Help in this international effort to monitor and record migrating hawks, falcons, and eagles. Experienced hawk watchers will be on hand to assist with identification and answer questions. Meet at the Bunker Overlook. Full Moon Walk Wed, Sept. 10 8 p.m. Take a hike along the moonlit dunes with a naturalist. Learn facts and lore about Earth's closest neighbor. Limited to 25. Pre-registration is required. $2 per person. Meet at the Nature Center. Seaside Stroll Sat, Sept. 13 1 p.m. Hike along the Seaside Interpretive Trail to view the bountiful vegetation that inhabits our dunes. Learn about the various uses and folklore of these plants that have stood the "sands of time". For more information on these and other park programs, contact the Seaside Nature Center at 302-645-6852. Stephen Schilly is Park Operations Administrator Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation. He may be reached at sschilly@state.de.us. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 13 No. 12 August 22, 2003. |