What a busy year the Delaware Chapter had in 2022. Take a look at our year in review and get ready for a productive 2023.
The chapter launched two new programs in 2022. The Blue Water Task Force is a partnership with DNREC and the University of Delaware. Our volunteers test Herring Point and Indian River Inlet Northside in the spring and fall, and then test the bays at the Narrows and Rusty Rudder during the summer. Be sure to check out the BWTF website for test results, and be sure to look for our weekly social media posts of results from mid-March through mid-November.
The Hold On To You Butt program was launched with a grant from the Temper of the Times Foundation. The chapter was one of only 8 organizations nationwide to receive a grant. With the help of the Delaware State Parks and Plastic Free Delaware the program launched in the spring of 2022. The program is a media campaign to educate beachgoers about the harm cigarette waste does to our beaches and oceans. In 2022 we focused on the state park beaches, but in 2023 we plan to expand to our beach towns and even state-wide education. Find out more about this program at this link.
Another popular project in 2022 was also a collaboration with local organizations. The Surf Safe education project was a joint effort with the Delaware State Parks and Surf Captain, a locally owned surf forecast website. This project created and installed signs at Herring Point and Indian River Inlet Northside which educate surfers of all levels on how to safely surf in the line-up.
With the relaxation of Covid restrictions, we were able to attend local events in person. Overall the chapter participated in several local events throughout the year. We look forward to attending these events in 2023 as well as a few more. Be sure to keep an eye on our event calendar and your social media posts.
- YES! Delaware - Youth Environmental Summit hosted by Plastic Free Delaware
- Wilmington Earth Day Celebration
- Dogfish Head Beer & Benevolence Night
- Zap Pro-Am Skimboarding Championships
- DNREC Paddlefest
- International Coastal Cleanup Day
- University of Delaware Coast Day
- Dogfish Head Analog A Go-Go
- Rise Up Coffee Surf Movie Night
- Screenings of Five Summer Stories and Big Wave Guardians with Rehoboth Beach Film Society
- Rehoboth Beach Library Weekend Summer Youth program
We conducted 71 beach cleanups this year, which includes our chapter-sponsored cleanups, solo cleanups, and our new corporate cleanups. The cleanups enlisted 289 volunteers and collected 1,117 pounds of trash. This is more than twice the amount of trash collected in 2021.
Surfrider Foundation launched a new volunteer portalthat allows our volunteers to pre-register for events and track their volunteer hours. They also launched a new, modern website.
We fought to pass an EPS/Single Use Plastic ban with several local organizations and state government officials. However, on the last day of the session special interests were able to stop the bill from coming for a vote. We will continue to work on this bill in 2023.
Our chapter chair was profiled in the December Making Waves Newsletter.
As you can see it was a busy and productive year. If you want to learn more about the chapter or how to get involved then attend a monthly chapter meeting. They are held every third Tuesday at 6:30 pm via Zoom.