DE Center for the Inland Bays

08/31/2026

🐚 What will you find on the beach? 🌊

Join us at James Farm Ecological Preserve on September 10 from 1–2 p.m. for Beachcombing, a free public program all about the fascinating shelled animals found along our shores!

Learn tips and tricks for identifying different shells and find out why these creatures are so important to our coastal ecosystem. 🐌🦪

📍 James Farm Ecological Preserve
📅 September 10 | 1–2 p.m.
🎟️ Free and open to the public!

Space is limited—register today!
https://app.betterunite.com/delawarecenterfortheinlandbays-beachcombing-1

08/29/2026

🌊 Let’s clean up our coast! 🌊

The 39th Annual Delaware Coastal Cleanup is happening Saturday, September 19, from 9 a.m.–noon! Volunteers across Delaware will spend the morning picking up litter and helping keep our beaches, waterways, and public spaces clean. 💙

Want to join us? Some of our Center staff will be at the North Inlet cleanup location, and we’d love to see you there! Or, choose a cleanup site closer to you and pitch in wherever you are. 🌱

Grab your friends and family, get outside, and help keep Delaware’s coast clean!

08/27/2026

🦀🔎 Is It an Invertebrate?!

Our Fall Homeschool Series, Wonders of Wildlife, kicks off September 8 at James Farm Ecological Preserve! 🌿

Students will learn about species identification and classification, then put their knowledge to work investigating the fascinating invertebrates found right here at the Preserve. 🐌🦋🪱

📅 September 8 | 10 AM–12 PM
📍 James Farm Ecological Preserve
💲 $10 per student

Pre-registration is required, so save your spot and get ready to explore the wonderful world of wildlife!

👉 Register here: https://inlandbays.org/events/fall-homeschool-series-it-it-and-invertebrate/

08/26/2026

🌿 September is full of opportunities to explore the Inland Bays! 🌊

Join us at the James Farm Ecological Preserve for a month of FREE public programs designed to get you outside, learning, and connecting with our local environment!

🐚 Sept. 10 | Beachcombing — Discover the shelled animals that call our coast home.
🦀 Sept. 15 | Kids’ Day: Discover Bay — A hands-on adventure perfect for families!
🌾 Sept. 22 | Mysteries of the Marsh — Explore why salt marshes are so important to our ecosystem.
🌎 Sept. 29 | Resiliency in Action — Learn about coastal resilience and visit the Resilient Earth, Resilient Communities traveling exhibit.

📅 Space is limited, so register today!
To register and for more information, please visit inlandbays.org

📍 James Farm Ecological Preserve | Ocean View, DE
✨ All programs are FREE and open to the public!

08/25/2026

🔔 REMINDER 🔔 Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting is this week!

Join the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) of the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays for the third Citizens Café of 2026, part of a year-long conversation exploring the theme Resilience in the Inland Bays Watershed: Adapting, Protecting, and Thriving.

Throughout the year, Citizens Café gatherings explore resilience at different scales—from individual actions to community collaboration and public policy—recognizing that lasting progress depends on the combined efforts of residents, organizations, and decision-makers.

This August session builds on previous conversations by focusing on Delaware’s resilience efforts through policy development, statewide planning, and implementation. Featured speakers include Senator Stephanie Hansen, 10th District and Susan Love, Administrator of Climate & Sustainability Programs with DNREC.

Come be part of the conversation. Citizens Café offers a welcoming space to learn, ask questions, and connect with others who care about the future of the Inland Bays and the communities that depend on them.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
Come join in person at the Center (39375 Inlet Road, Rehoboth Beach DE) or virtually through Zoom, (details on our website: https://inlandbays.org/about/committees/citizens-advisory/).

08/24/2026

🍰✨ ONE MONTH UNTIL DECKED OUT! ✨🍰

We’re officially ONE MONTH away from Decked Out on Thursday, September 24, from 6:30–9:30 PM at Big Chill Beach Club—and this year, we’re bringing a little extra sweetness to the party!

🎂 Introducing the Decked Out Dessert Contest!

Think your signature dessert deserves the spotlight? Bring your best creation and compete in three categories:
🍪 Most Creative (bonus points for bay-themed!
🍰 Best Tasting
🥧 Best Presentation

🏆 Winners in each category will take home a $100 gift card! And the best part? Everyone attending Decked Out gets to vote for their favorites!

Bringing a dessert? Let us know here! https://ow.ly/ZaXp50ZCvHW

Come ready to taste, vote, and celebrate the Inland Bays with us. Plus, enjoy dinner, drinks, live entertainment, and an exciting lineup of auction items—all while supporting the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays.

Auction prizes include:
- Art by local artist John Donato and Center staff
- Trips and experiences
- Premium Kayaks
- Local Business Baskets

🎟️ Tickets are $100/person. Tickets here 👉 https://ow.ly/SjcY50ZCvHV

Thank you to our sponsors!
Coastal Plant Care
Del-Coast Design & Build
Carl M. Freeman Foundation
Lord Baltimore Women’s Club
Rich Weissmann and Patti Drago
Ashton Pools
Nally Homes
Williams Insurance Agency
Dogfish Head
Starboard

08/21/2026

Want to see what we created with artist John Donato Art 👀🎨

Grab your tickets to Decked Out and discover the paintings we made as a team—plus see John put the finishing touches on them LIVE and bid on them in the auction! 🎟️✨

Tickets here 👉 https://app.betterunite.com/delawarecenterfortheinlandbays/page/delawarecenterfortheinlandbays-2026deckedout

08/20/2026

🍻 Sponsor Spotlight: Cheers to Dogfish Head! 🌊

We’re raising a glass to Dogfish Head for being a longtime supporter of the Center for the Inland Bays and an Estuary Sponsor!

From protecting our waterways to bringing people together around the places we love, Dogfish Head shares our belief that a healthy environment and a strong community go hand in hand. Their support helps us continue our work in restoration, education, outreach, and stewardship throughout the Inland Bays watershed.

Their sponsorship also helps make signature Center events like Journey Up the Coast, Decked Out, and our Volunteer Appreciation Celebration possible—creating opportunities for our community to learn, connect, and celebrate the Bays.

Thank you, Dogfish Head, for raising a glass to the Inland Bays and helping us build a healthier watershed for generations to come! 🌿🍻💙

Interested in becoming a Center sponsor? Contact our Development Coordinator, Milan, at [email protected] to learn more!

08/20/2026

08/18/2026

Who's ready for another Inland Bays Homeschool Series?

🍂 Join us this fall for Wonders of Wildlife! Each month, students will investigate local wildlife and practice their identification skills.

🦋 September 8th: Is It an Invertebrate?
🐦 October 13th: Wild About Birds
🦊 November 10th: Mammal Mania

Visit for more information 👉 https://inlandbays.org/inland-bays-homeschool-series/