Who’s behind the discoveries we make? What’s it like to be a hunter? How do our K9 officers help our Natural Resource Police? Get these answers and more.
Remembering Delaware’s Original Inhabitants: How DNREC Preserves and Promotes Indigenous Heritage - The state of Delaware recognizes two Native American tribes: the Lenape and the Nanticoke. Both groups descend from indigenous Americans who lived along the Delaware River and Delaware Bay for many centuries before Europeans arrived. Learn how the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control works to protect and promote their heritage in this offering from Outdoor Delaware. Dedicated Volunteers Play Vital Role in Supporting Delaware State Parks - Hundreds of people volunteer for Delaware State Parks every year, providing a crucial service that otherwise would cost the state hundreds of thousands of dollars more annually or require it to cease some of its offerings. In 2024, volunteers contributed 153,543 hours — the equivalent of 78 full-time employees. These valued volunteers sell park passes, pick up trash, help plan events and much more. Showcasing Delaware’s Beauty: Meet the Five Winners of DNREC’s 2025 Photo Contest - The sun rising over dozens of horseshoe crabs congregating on the beach, dolphins breaching the water with a lighthouse in the background and an idyllic scene of Assawoman Bay at twilight are among the five winning images out of nearly 500 entries submitted to the 2025 Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Photo Contest. See the winning photographs and learn about the artists who took them in this piece from Outdoor Delaware. A History of Earth Day in Delaware - At the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Earth Day is far too important and multifaceted to be confined to a single 24-hour period. Though Earth Day normally takes place on April 22, in Delaware, this holiday is transformed into a monthlong event recognizing the importance of preserving our natural world. For 2025, DNREC has planned tree plantings, beach cleanups, hikes, talks and more. Meet the Dedicated DNREC Inspectors Protecting Delawareans from Environmental Hazards - The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control handles a lot of responsibilities, one of the most important yet often overlooked of which is ensuring companies and other entities are following environmental laws and regulations. This includes regularly inspecting boilers, septic systems, exhaust stacks and more around the state. Learn more about the dedicated professionals who handle these duties in this piece from Outdoor Delaware. STEM Women of DNREC - Every year on International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we’re proud to celebrate DNREC’s women scientists, engineers, biologists, directors and others in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Learn more about how some of them got started, their advice for girls and what they love about their work. To Accessibility and Beyond - Part of our mission is providing quality outdoor recreation for all Delawareans. Learn about our commitment to accessibility and recent improvements. Earth Day, 2023 - As we renew our commitment to our planet this Earth Day, we can be proud of the progress we are making toward reducing emissions by focusing on clean transportation, energy efficiency, clean energy, offsetting carbon emissions and more. Top Spots for Your Valentine’s Engagement - It’s estimated that more than 6 million couples will get engaged on Valentine’s Day. The prep work is a big deal – picking the ring, choosing the words, and finding the perfect spot. We can help with some great location ideas. The DNREC Earth Day Top 40 - How about some musical inspiration for Earth Day? We asked our DNREC colleagues for their Earth Day song suggestions and we created an “Earth Day Top 40.” Playlist: Songs Inspired by Earth Day - DNREC staff have come up with an Earth Day playlist to help you get into the mood to plant some trees, pick up trash in your neighborhood or just enjoy nature. K-9s – DNREC’s Natural Resources Police Superpower - They find lost children and suspects, sniff out illegal drugs and perform many other law enforcement tasks. But instead of two legs, they have four. They’re enforcement officers like any other with our Natural Resources Police. Answering the Call 24/7 – Our Emergency Response Team - Our Emergency Response Team is the state’s designated first responder for environmental emergencies. The team is on call 24/7 to respond to emergencies from oil spills to clandestine drug labs, chemical leaks, radiological incidents and many more that may occur.
