Delaware’s Inland Bays have the largest concentration of this important raptor in the state. Nicknamed the “fish hawk,” Osprey arrive at nesting sites in March to breed, raise their young, and enjoy good fishing before migrating south in late August. Learn how to identify them, how they fish, preferred nesting sites, and how they care for their young. Wear sunscreen and bring binoculars! Binoculars will also be available to borrow.

Price:

Free! 

Meeting Location: 

Savages Ditch

May 6 at 10 a.m.

No pre-registration necessary!

From sand to bottles to sea glass, dive into the history behind these beach treasures and make a magnet to take home! Learn about the origins of sea glass, scour the coastline for a piece of history, then create a unique keepsake. Recommended ages 12 and up. Online registration ends 24 hours prior to program, after that, please call the park to reserve, at 302-227-6991.

Price: 

$8 per person

Location: 

Indian River Life -Saving Station

Click dates below to register online:

April 29 at 10 a.m.

Interested in crabbing but not sure how to get started? Join a park naturalist to learn about the life cycle of the Atlantic blue crab, different crabbing techniques, and current Delaware rules and regulations. Then try your hand at catching those tasty crustaceans! Catch and release. All participants, observers, and chaperones must purchase a ticket. Online program registration ends 24 hours before the program. After that, please call 302-227-6991.

Price: 

$6 per person

Location: 

Fresh Pond Route 1 Entrance

Click dates below to register online:

May 20 at 10 a.m.

Have you always wanted to try surf fishing but weren’t sure how to get started? If so, this program is for you! Everything from fish identification to proper casting techniques will be covered in this three-hour program. Rods, reels, and bait are provided. Ages 12 and up. Those under 16 must be accompanied by a paying adult. $25 per person. Online program registration ends 24 hours prior to program. After that, please call the park to reserve, at 302-227-6991.  

Price: 

$25 per person

Location: 

Indian River Life -Saving Station

Click dates below to register online:

April 15 at 1 p.m.

April 20 at 1 p.m.

May 17 at 1 p.m.

Discover how the early life-savers lived, worked, and responded to shipwrecks along Delaware’s coast. This children’s program takes an interactive look at the rescue methods, communication, and tools of the United States Life-Saving Service. For ages 6-12. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Portions of the program will take place inside and outdoors, so please dress for the weather. Online program registration ends 24 hours prior to program. After that, please call the park to reserve, at 302-227-6991. 

Price:

$6 per person

Location: 

Indian River Life -Saving Station

Click dates below to register online:

April 12 at 10 a.m.

Over 100 years ago, the surfmen of the Indian River Life-Saving Station went on regular beach patrols, scanning the waters for ships in distress. After hours of walking on the beach, often in harsh conditions, they would return to the station and end their patrol with hot cup of coffee. Start your day like a surfman and venture out on a 1-mile beach patrol with a park interpreter. Coffee will be served in the museum at the conclusion of the walk. Online program registration ends 24 hours before the program. After that, please call 302-227-6991 to register. 

Price: 

$5 per person

Location: 

Indian River Life -Saving Station

Click dates below to register online:

May 13 at 9 a.m.

Make a simple sea glass pendant using a few basic wire-wrap techniques. Bring your own piece of sea glass or choose from our collection. Ages 12 and up. Online registration ends 24 hours prior to program. After that, please call 302-227-6991. 

Price: 

$20 per person

Location: 

Indian River Life -Saving Station

Click dates below to register online:    

Check back this summer!

Enjoy a guided hike over the Indian River Inlet bridge. Learn about the dynamic forces that have shaped the inlet over the last 200 years. Find out about the bridges that have spanned the inlet and how the current bridge design came to be. Online program registration ends 24 hours prior to program. After that, please call the park to reserve at 302-227-6991.

Price:

$6 per person

Location: 

North Inlet Day Area

Click dates below to register online:

Check back this summer!

Study one of the most specialized invertebrates of the sea! A park naturalist will guide participants in a dissection, and at the end of the program we will write with the squid's pen and ink! Ages 6 and up. Chaperones and observers must purchase tickets. Online program registration ends 24 hours prior to program. After that, please call the park to reserve, at 302-227-6991.

Price:

$6 per person

Location: 

Indian River Life -Saving Station

Click dates below to register online:

Check back this summer!

Saturday, August 26th, 2023

Paddlefest is a 4-mile paddling course through the salt marsh creeks of Rehoboth Bay. Participants will launch at Savages Ditch, learn about the park's natural and cultural resources along the way, and finish at Tower Road bayside. Food trucks will be waiting at the finish line for hungry paddlers, and a shuttle service will be available to bring paddlers back to their cars. Event registration fee does not include kayak or canoe rental. More details can be found at www.paddlefestde.com 

Use a 20-foot seining net to catch fish, crabs, and other marine critters. Learn to identify each species and discover their adaptations for survival. Closed-toe shoes required. Ages 2 and up. Chaperones and observers must purchase tickets. Online program registration ends 24 hours prior to program. After that, please call the park to reserve, at 302-227-6991.

Price: 

$5 per person

Location: 

Holts Landing State Park

Click dates below to register online:    

Check back this summer!

Explore Rehoboth Bay and surrounding marshes like never before! Participants will use hand-held dip nets to collect and identify a variety of marine life. Closed-toe shoes are required to walk through shallow water. Pre-registration required. Ages 5 and up. Chaperones and observers must purchase tickets. Online program registration ends 24 hours prior to program. After that, please call the park to reserve at 302-227-6991.

Price:

$5 per person

Meeting Location: 

Savages Ditch

Click dates below to register online:

Check back this summer!

Go for a hike through Thompson Island Nature Preserve with a park interpreter. Learn about the island's Native American presence and observe the abundant wildlife that calls this island home. Online registration ends 24 hours prior to program. After that, please call 302-227-6991. 

Price:

$6 per person

Meeting Location: 

Indian River Life -Saving Station

Click dates below to register online:

Check back this summer!

*Previous paddling experience required* Paddle a sit-on-top kayak through the marshes of Rehoboth Bay for a unique glimpse of the historic Indian River Life-Saving Station. Along this 2.5-mile journey, park naturalists will identify the wildlife that makes up this dynamic ecosystem, including the only nesting colony of Laughing Gulls in Delaware. Participants must bring a bottle of water and wear closed-toe shoes. Ages 16 and up. If you do not have any prior paddling experience, we highly recommend signing up for our Introduction to Kayaking program before attempting this tour. Online program registration ends 24 hours prior to program. To register after that, call 302-227-6991.

Price: 

$40 per person

Location: 

Savages Ditch

Click dates below to register online:    

Check back this summer!

Travel back in time to 1876 and the beginnings of the Indian River Life Saving Station. Learn about the lives of surfmen stationed on the coast and hear about their heroic rescues in this interactive program. Discover shipwrecks, drills, and daily struggles of men who called this place home. Top off the tour by watching park staff fire an authentic 1894 Lyle gun. Online program registration ends 24 hours prior to program. After that, please call the park to reserve at 302-227-6991.

Price: 

$6 per person

Location: 

Indian River Life -Saving Station

Click dates below to register online:    

Check back this summer!

Enjoy a unique guided tour by lantern light of the circa-1876 Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum. Learn what the surfmen went through to save shipwreck victims off the Delaware coast over 100 years ago. Venture out to the beach with a lantern and hear tales of tragedy and mystery from the station's logs. Ages 8 and up. Online program registration ends 24 hours prior to program. After that, please call the park to reserve at 302-227-6991.

Price: 

$10 per person

Location: 

Indian River Life -Saving Station

Click dates below to register online:

Check back this summer!

Investigate the dune ecosystem and shoreline surrounding the Indian River Life-Saving Station to uncover the truth behind little mysteries you might encounter while exploring Delaware Seashore State Park’s beaches. Suggested for ages 4-8. Chaperones must purchase a ticket. Online registration ends 24 hours before the program. After that, call 302-227-6991 to register.

Price: 

$4 per person

Location: 

Indian River Life -Saving Station

Click dates below to register online:    

Check back this summer!

Join park interpretive staff and try your hand at an “upcycling” paint night. Learn about the history of the International Code of Signals and how it ties in with the history of the park. Paint your own word in nautical flags on a piece of rustic, reclaimed wood from park picnic tables and beach boardwalks. Online registration ends 24 hours prior to program. After that, please call 302-227-6991.

Price: 

$25 per person

Location: 

Indian River Life -Saving Station

Click dates below to register online:    

Check back this summer!

We’re sending you on a wild CRAB chase! Join a park naturalist on the beach at night to look for the elusive, nocturnal ghost crab. All you need is a flashlight to spot them as they scurry from side to side in search of their evening meal. Meet at the Fenwick Island bathhouse.

Price: 

FREE!

Location: 

Fenwick Island State Park Bathhouse

No registration required!

Thursdays in the summer at 8:30 p.m.