Opportunities From: Volunteer Delaware

Wilmington State Parks welcomes volunteers who would like to help care for any of the garden beds throughout the park system.Wilmington State Parks — Brandywine, Rockford, H. Fletcher Brown, and Happy Valley parks, along with Kentmere Parkway — are home to a variety of garden beds.Some park garden beds are not just decorative; they are increasingly becoming functional spaces intended to support local ecosystems. Volunteers help to meet the needs of these garden beds and thus make a significant difference.

Primary duties:

Report safety concerns or damages

Rake leaves and remove branches and other debris

Pull or dig up weeds and invasive plants Prune, deadhead, or remove dead or damaged garden plants

Cut back and remove vines

Other projects as requested

Needs can be significant after weather events. We are grateful for the countless volunteers who have helped to steward the garden beds in our parks and maintain their purpose as well as beauty. Note: The Jasper Crane Rose Garden is NOT part of this opportunity.  





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Want to get a little workout in early on Saturday and help out the parks and the environment?  Come join us on these Saturdays. 

Invasive plants grow aggressively and crowd out our native plants by stealing sunlight and soil nutrients.  Our insects and wildlife depend on native plants for food.

June 13 - 9:00 a.m.-11 a.m.

June 27 - 9:00-11 a.m.

July 11th - 9:00-11 a.m

July 25th - 9:00-11 am.

August 8th - 9:00 a.m.-11 a.m.

August 22nd - 9:00 a.m.-11 a.m.

September 5th - 9:00 a.m.-11 a.m.

September 19th - 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

October 3rd - 9:00 am.-11:00 a.m.

October 17th - 9:00 a.m.-11 am.

You will be working with the Friends of Wilmington State Park on this endeavor!  Come join us and help protect the ecology. Please register for this opportunity and you will receive all the details.  You meet at the old boat house at the southwest end of the Swinging Footbridge at the Brandywine Park.  This work is lead by veteran volunteers of the project.  No experience necessary.  Please register!

Did you know that invasive plants grow aggressively, stealing the sunlight from our native plants and nutrients in the soil? 

Invasive plants disrupt local ecosystems because they lack natural predators and grow aggressively. They outcompete native flora for critical resources like sunlight, water, and nutrients. This unchecked spread chokes out native plants, which in turn starves the local insects and wildlife that rely on them for food.

We have groups that meet on Fridays and Saturdays to work two hours to remove the invasive plants.  You do not need any experience.  Come help our habitat and our wildlife while meeting new people!

Come Help the Butterflies!!

This is the time of the year that Monarch Butterflies lay eggs on milkweed and then those eggs turn into larvae and eventually become butterflies!  It is necessary for their survival that this process is monitored and documented. We ask that you plan to monitor once per week at the designated milk weed beds, ideally on the same day each week.

If you're unable to go out on your usual day, please try to monitor within 24 hours of that day.  This monitoring takes place May through September.

We provide an orientation so no experience is necessary!  Training will be June 8th at 4:30 p.m. at the Josephine Fountain across from the Brandywine Zoo.  Parking is available.

This orientation starts next week and takes about an hour.  You will be given days/times to choose from. Why are Monarch Butterflies so important? Monarch butterflies are vital ecological components that act as key pollinators for wildflowers, support biodiversity, and serve as a crucial food source for various predators. As a "flagship" or indicator species, their population decline highlights broader environmental issues, including habitat loss and pesticide overuse. They are essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems and, as part of the pollinator community, help support the food web. You will be given instructions on how to monitor and record your data.

For more information about the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project, visit: https://mlmp.org

Email Manager of Volunteers Nancy.Kersey@delaware.gov.  Thank you.

Help us save the trees from being strangled by English Ivy Vines in Brandywine Park!

Many of our trees are in danger of being harmed or killed by the invasive English Ivy which is pretty to look at but deadly.  The vines climb up the trees blocking out the sun, susceptible to breaking branches, serious diseases and even death.  Removing these vines (you cut from the bottom of the tree) helps control the spread of invasive plants throughout the park and in surrounding neighborhoods.

During the fall and winter months, we meet every Saturday 10 a.m-12 p.m.  Get on our mailing list so you know when and where to meet.  Email plantladylucy@gmail.com

IMPORTANT: if you plan on volunteering, email volunteer lead Lucy first, as the location of this event changes every time.  Email plantladylucy@gmail.com

You will need to wear long sleeved shifts and long pants, along with closed-toed shoes as you will be in the woods where there is poison ivy.  Everything will be identified to you and no experience is necessary.

Individuals and corporate groups are welcome.  Parent consent form required for children under 18.  Parent or Guardian supervision required for children under 16.