On April 22, 1970, Earth Day was established, the vision of Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin who had long been concerned about the deterioration of the environment. In an effort to celebrate in 2025, Dupont Nature Center has three programs available during the week.
On Tuesday, April 22 at 10 AM, volunteers will meet at the Slaughter Beach pavilion for a beach cleanup. All ages are welcome and trash bags, gloves as well as a limited number of trash pickers will be provided.
The celebration of Earth Day continues on Wednesday, April 23 at 4 PM when DNREC Fish and Wildlife Environmental Program Manger Anthony Gonzon presents a special lecture on the Delaware Wildlife Action Plan. This plan plays a critical role in understanding and protecting Delaware’s threatened and endangered species. The lecture is also available virtually via Teams.
On Saturday, April 19 and 26, meet at the beach to walk the shoreline with a naturalist. Those interested meet at the Slaughter Beach Pavilion where they can explore the beach and learn about different objects that can be found that provide evidence of the many marine animals that call the Delaware Bay home.
At 11 Am on Saturday, April 26, children can enjoy an Earth Day-themed Storybook Saturday program. The book is a fun way to connect the importance of protecting the planet. Children will then make a craft using recycled material.
The first Earth Day was inspired by an emerging desire to address air and water pollution in the late 1960s. Nelson recruited Denis Hayes, a young activist, to organize campus teach-ins. The date of April 22 was chosen as it fell between spring break and final exams which would allow for the greatest student participation.
The first Earth Day inspired 20 million Americans, which at the time was 10 percent of the population, to take to the streets, parks and auditoriums to demonstrate against 150 years of industrial development. Many of the groups had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides and loss of wilderness for decades. Earth Day 1970 provided a rare political alignment, enlisting support from both sides of the political aisle, rich and poor, urban dwellers and farmers.
The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of many other environmental laws that were the first of their kind.
To learn more about Dupont Nature Center and Earth Day events, call 302-422-1329. Dupont Nature Center is located at 2992 Lighthouse Road in Milford. The Slaughter Beach pavilion is located next to the Slaughter Beach Fire Hall at 392 Bay Avenue in Milford.
