New This Year!
SPIRITS WITH SPIRITED PERFORMANCES Make a day of it at Auburn Heights Preserve with two new programs. Full details can be found at destateparks.com or by calling (302) 239-5687.
Home Grown Spirits Tasting
Saturday, October 10 Delaware’s own Painted Stave Distilling is coming to Auburn Heights. Join us to learn what goes into making hand-crafted spirits. Enjoy a first-floor tour of the mansion and a chance to try some of the premium small batch spirits being made right here in Delaware! The Marshall Steam Museum will also be available for tours. Pre-registration is not required for the tour and tasting, but it is encouraged since space is limited! For more information and to register, please call (302) 239-5687. Must be 21 or older. $25 per person
Plays on the Porch
Saturday, October 10 The Auburn Heights mansion becomes the back drop for one-act plays performed by the Reedy Point Players. Our wrap-around porch will be transformed into a stage and the front lawn will have seating, or you can bring a blanket and a picnic basket! Tours of the mansion and the Marshall Steam Museum will also be available. Please visit destateparks.com or call (302) 239-5687 for full details, including performance times. The funding for this program is provided by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts. Free
Evenings at the Museum
Tuesdays, September 1, October 6, November 3 6:30 p.m. New for 2015, join the Marshall Steam Museum for a series of evening programs. Each will have a special theme or presentation and offer a chance for a behind-the-scenes look at what the museum and its dedicated volunteers are up to. Parking is available across the street from the Auburn Heights mansion, in our event lot. Please visit auburnheights.org for full details. $5 per person (free for FAHP members and volunteers)
Tours by Appointment
Can’t make it to one of our Open House Tour Days? Tours of Auburn Heights, the Marshall family mansion, and the Marshall Steam Museum are available by appointment for groups of eight or more on non-event days. For smaller groups, see Open House information on this page. For questions or to schedule a tour, please call (302) 239-5687 at least one week prior to your preferred tour date. Tickets are $8 per person for either the mansion or museum tour. Tour both for $14 per person
Volunteers:
Like what you see at Auburn Heights? Why don’t you join us? We are always looking for help with collections maintenance in the mansion, working with the historic gardens, giving tours of the property, and more. Want to learn how to drive a steam car or operate a steam locomotive? Talk to the Friends of Auburn Heights Preserve. They offer a rare opportunity for volunteers to learn how to handle these amazing machines. Mechanics are always in high demand. Experience isn’t necessary, just enthusiasm!
Scout Programs at Auburn Heights Preserve
Auburn Heights is a great place to bring your scouts for a private program to work on specific badge requirements. Call us at (302) 239-5687 to learn more.
Membership has its privileges
Join the Friends of Auburn Heights Preserve and receive free admission to all Steamin’ Day events. Along with other benefits, you will receive weekly messages from Tom Marshall about the history of the area, stories about steam cars and more. Call (302) 239-2385 or visit AuburnHeights.org for more information and to become a member.
Delaware State Parks Conservation Corps
T
his summer, 23 young people joined the Delaware State Parks Conservation Corps (DSPCC) dedicating eight weeks of their vacations to make a difference in their parks and surrounding communities. They completed projects from invasive species removal, to park maintenance and administration, while also making time to participate in special events. The teams also helped to clean up storm damage and remove litter from busy park areas following the July 4th holiday weekend. The DSPCC was broken into sub-corps: The Green Corps and The Parks Corps. Two teams of five members, aged 16 to 21, each with one team leader represented the Green Corps. The northern Homo-Viridi (Green Person) team completed environmental projects in Brandywine Creek, Bellevue, White Clay Creek, Lums Pond State Parks and Auburn Heights Preserve. The southern Green Heads team completed environmental projects in Killens Pond, Trap Pond and Cape Henlopen State Parks. The teams also participated in special events and projects such as the Seafood and Arts Festival and reporting on rain gardens in Sussex County. They worked closely with park interns and the Environmental Stewardship team to battle invasive species in our parks. The Parks Corps team members were placed in parks that had the greatest need for summer help, including Lums Pond, Fort Delaware, Brandywine Creek, Killens Pond and Trap Pond. These members filled positions in boat rental, grounds maintenance, water park maintenance, program maintenance and coordination. Periodically, all members were brought together for “All Corps Days” for team building opportunities, career and personal development, educational training and FUN! Teams went on the Go Ape Treetop Adventure course at Lums Pond, envisioned their future at Career Day and even soaked up some sun on the beach at Cape Henlopen. At first, each member had a different reason for participating in DSPCC, from having a career goal in conservation to “I just want to make some money this summer.” However, by the end of the program, the teams were unified in their accomplishments, successes, stories and experiences. If you were to ask any of the members to reflect on their experience this summer, they would likely say that through their training, hard work, sweat and dedication, they made a difference in Delaware State Parks, helping to Save a Place for You! To become a member of the DSPCC 2016 team, visit destateparks.com/volunteers/ycc in February for the 2016 team updates! The following two programs are offered through a partnership between Delaware State Parks and the Delaware Nature Society (DNS). To register for these programs, visit delawarenaturesociety.org or call (302) 239-2334.
Branching Out: a Big Tree and History Tour
Friday, October 23 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tour northern New Castle County to see, appreciate, and measure the biggest trees of their kind in Delaware. Visit historic properties and other sites around Wilmington to see these trees and hear about some local history on this special experience. Bring a lunch. Van transportation provided from the Ashland Nature Center. $30 per person (DNS Members: $20)
Ashland to Bucktoe Creek Preserve Hike
Friday, October 30 Noon – 5 p.m. Hike through private property and wildlife preserves from Ashland Nature Center to the Bucktoe Creek Preserve near Kennett Square. This hike begins at the Ashland Nature Center, and return transportation is provided from the Bucktoe Creek Preserve. Note: this is a strenuous 6.5-mile hike with hills and some rough trails. $22 per person (DNS Members: $15)