What We Do
Annual Special Needs Fishing Derby
The last Saturday of every April, the Friends group, along with park staff and Fish & Wildlife, host a fishing derby for families with special needs. We love offering the community a special chance to come out and fish, enjoy the park, have lunch, and win a trophy!
The original fishing derby began with Gary Lasko, who was a longtime volunteer with the park and member of the local Elks Lodge. He coordinated the first annual fishing derby in the park. For over 40 years we have continued this tradition, and two years ago it became a Friends of BCSP event. The friends are honored to host and continue this event each year.
Quarterly Friends Trail Workdays
Join members of the Friends group for quarterly trail workdays! Meet the other members and learn about more of the activities we support throughout the year while helping to maintain our trails. Pre-registration is required as group size is limited. Please contact Julie.Lawrence@delaware.gov for upcoming dates and more information!
Enchanted Meadows
In its third year, the Enchanted Meadows Trick or Treat event has been a growing success! 30 volunteers come out each night to dress up and delight the children as they trick or treat through a meadow of characters. This fun family event happens the 3rd weekend of every October. The Friends group helps support the park by selling concessions for Enchanted Meadows.
Cross Country
Brandywine Creek State Park is the home cross country course for several local high schools. On average, the park has around 20 meets per year and sees students practicing on the course daily during the fall season. The park hosts several large invitationals each year including the Salesianum Invitational that has been happening for more than 40 years and hosts around 40 teams each year. The annual state championships meet occurs every other year at Brandywine Creek. During the large meets the Friends of Brandywine Creek are out selling food and drinks to the runners and attendees as a fund raiser to support the park.
Scholarships and Programing
The Friends of BCSP contribute annually to scholarships for Title One schools and scholarships for summer camp. The Friends scholarships are important to provide equity in environmental education and access to the park. We receive a donation from the Wilmington Trail Club to help support our efforts. We also provide funding for exhibits, repairs, updates, and other programming needs.
A Message from the President
Hello,
My name is David Sheppard and I serve as the President of the Friends of Brandywine Creek State Park. Our mission is to champion volunteerism, education and stewardship at Brandywine Creek State Park (BCSP) in support of the Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation. From performing trail "clean ups" to hosting events like the special needs fishing derby, from sponsoring environmental education programming to holding Friends' fundraisers, like that at the State Cross Country Championships, the Friends of BCSP work to support Brandywine Creek State Park in a variety of ways.
If you have ever had the opportunity to visit our beautiful park, you understand how important it is to help protect and preserve our little slice of heaven. Will you come join us? Be a Friend of BCSP!
Regards,
David Sheppard
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41 Adams Dam Road
Wilmington, Delaware
Phone: (302) 577-5920
Email: Julie.Lawrence@delaware.gov