Attention: Due to recent public health concerns, The Conservation Service Center is open by phone appointment only. To view contact information for NCCD, FSA, or USDA please view the building's full COVID 19/Coronvairus Policy
Education and Outreach
To ensure the protection of New Castle County’s natural resources for future generations, NCCD staff provides a variety of educational outreach through the different formats you'll find below. Our efforts target school children, civic associations, farmers, homeowners, and legislators.
Public Events
The District exhibits at many public events where we engage all ages in activities and distribute conservation materials. These events, located all around New Castle County, are a great way for NCCD to spread conservation and showcase the work we do! Find us at some of these events:
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White Clay Creek Fest
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Blackbird Creek Fall Festival
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University of Delaware Ag Day
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New Castle County Farmer's Markets
District display at University of Delaware's Ag Day in 2019.
Educational Programs/Workshops
Non-Point Source Pollution Model
A program can be scheduled to present the Non-Point Source Pollution model where children learn about watersheds, where water goes, and how what we do to the land affects our water quality. The program usually lasts around 20-30 minutes. To schedule this program contact Rick Mickowski.
Urban Agriculture Workshops
NCCD does a variety of workshops on urban agriculture topics that can be adapted for any audience. If you are interested in scheduling a workshop for your organization or want to learn more about our offerings, contact Madison Walter.
To learn more about the Grow It Yourself program, our container gardening workshop series, check out our Urban Agriculture program page.
Rick Mickowski doing a classroom program on non-point source pollution
Students competing at the Delaware Envirothon 2019
Delaware Envirothon
The Delaware Envirothon, sponsored by the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts, is used to instruct high school students in conservation methods, promote the conservation message, and highlight potential career choices to students. Teams of five students compete in different environmental challenges in the areas of:
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aquatic ecology
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soil/land use
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forestry
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wildlife
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air quality
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public speaking
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special environmental topics (a different one each year)
For more information and program specifics, visit www.delawareenvirothon.org.
The Delaware Envirothon marked its 25th anniversary in 2020 but will celebrate in 2021 due to last year’s event cancellation. High school students representing five schools and one 4-H team will compete virtually for the title of 2021 Delaware Envirothon champions and to win college scholarships and prizes. The virtual competition will test students’ knowledge and practical application of various environmental topics, including this year’s special environmental topic, “Water Resources Management: Local Control and Local Solutions.”
Congratulations to Charter School of Wilmington Team C on winning First Place in the 2021 Delaware Environthon!
Each member of the winning team earned a $500 college scholarship from the Delaware Envirothon and the team will receive an award plaque for their school. Charter School of Wilmington Team C will now represent Delaware in the virtual 2021 National Conservation Foundation Envirothon out of Lincoln, Neb., at the end of July. The official results are as follows:
First place: Charter School of Wilmington Team C
Second place: Charter School of Wilmington Team A
Third place: Charter School of Wilmington Team B
Fourth place: Peach Blossom 4-H Club
Fifth place: Middletown High School FFA
Sixth place: Odessa Ducks FFA
Seventh place: Newark Charter School Dino Nuggets
The 2020 Delaware Envirothon Annual Report is now available!
Conservation Poster Contest
NCCD serves as the local sponsor for the annual National Conservation Poster Contest. Students in grades K-12, from public, private, and home schools, create posters centered around a different conservation theme each year. Past themes have included:
"Where Would We BEE Without Pollinators"- 2020
“Life in the Soil: Dig Deeper” - 2019
"Watersheds: Our Home, Our Water"- 2018
The posters are judged at the county and state levels and cash prizes are awarded to
winners in each grade category. Check below to see this past year's winners!
Information concerning the 2021 contest "Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities," will be available in September. If you have further questions, contact Rick Mickowski at (302)365-8979, or visit the National Association of Conservation District's website.
See the photo gallery below to view the 2020 contest winners!
Educational Materials
The District has a variety of educational materials focused on conservation topics for children from kindergarten through 6th grade. These materials are free of cost for class room teachers, but are subject to current availability. Examples of the types of materials include:
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Conservation activity booklets
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Posters
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Bookmarks
In celebration of the 2021 Soil and Water Stewardship Week, "Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities," check out these forestry specific educational materials.
More 2021 Stewardship Week resources can be found on the NACD's website,
Contact Rick Mickowski for an update on what’s available and for more information.
Education and Outreach Photo Gallery
Congratulations to the 2020 Conservation Poster Contest Winners!
There were 122 poster entries in this year's Conservation Poster Contest. A panel of judges from DNREC reviewed the 1st place posters from each Conservation District/County to select state winners. Five of the six state winners came from New Castle County! The state winners receive a $50 cash award from the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts. The state winners are submitted to the National Association of Conservation Districts for national level judging. The winners will be announced in February as part of the NACD national virtual conference. All county-level winners receive a certificate and a gift card - $50 for first place, $25 for second place, and $15 for third place.
Click in the center of each gallery to enlarge the images.
1st Grade - Tarbiyah School
1st Grade- Linden Hill E. S.
Kindergarten - Tarbiyah School
1st Grade - Tarbiyah School
K- 1st Grade
3rd Grade - Cedar Lane E.S. **1st Place State Level**
3rd Grade- Linden Hill E.S
3rd Grade- Linden Hill E.S
3rd Grade - Cedar Lane E.S. **1st Place State Level**
2nd-3rd Grade
6th Grade - Odyssey Charter School **1st Place State Level**
6th Grade - P. S. duPont Middle School
4th Grade - Cooke E.S.
6th Grade - Odyssey Charter School **1st Place State Level**
4th- 6th Grade
7th Grade- Cab Calloway School of the Arts **1st Place State Level**
7th Grade - Cab Calloway School of the Arts
6th Grade - Alfred Waters Middle School
7th Grade- Cab Calloway School of the Arts **1st Place State Level**
7th-9th Grade
10th Grade - Tower Hill School **1st Place State Level**
12th Grade- Del Castle High School
12th Grade- Appoquinimink High School
10th Grade - Tower Hill School **1st Place State Level**
10th- 12th Grade
11th Grade- Del Castle High School **1st Place State Level**
12th Grade - Appoquinimink High School
11th Grade - Newark High School
11th Grade- Del Castle High School **1st Place State Level**