DuPont Nature Center near Milford to Open for 2026 Season April 1st
The DuPont Nature Center at the Mispillion Harbor Reserve near Milford will reopen for the 2026 season on Wednesday, April 1. During April the Center will be open from 9am to 4pm Wednesdays and Saturdays. In May the Center will be open Tuesday through Saturday through August. DNREC officials say that this year the nature center will showcase a new environmental art exhibit created by the community help guests to connect to the local environment with the center at the heart of it. There will also be a variety of programs that focus on the Delaware Bay ecosystem and local wildlife.
Additional information from DNREC:
The DNREC facility, managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife, will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the following days:
- April:聽Open Wednesdays and Saturdays only
- May through August:聽Open Tuesdays through Saturdays, closed on Sundays and Mondays
- September:聽Open Wednesdays and Saturdays only
- October through March: Closed to general admission, open for special events and programs only
In the spring, the DuPont Nature Center鈥檚 large deck overlooking the harbor offers wildlife watchers an unparalleled view of the spectacle of spawning horseshoe crabs and migrating shorebirds, including federally-listed threatened red knots that depend on horseshoe crab eggs to help fuel their 9,000-mile journey to the Arctic. More information on horseshoe crab and shorebird viewing is available from the nature center at the de.gov/dnc webpage.
Inside, visitors will find exhibits that describe the environmental and historical importance of the Mispillion Harbor and can view saltwater tanks showcasing a diversity of aquatic species. This year, the nature center will be showcasing a new environmental art exhibit created by the community helping guests connect to the local environment with the center at the heart of it. Along with educational exhibits, the nature center hosts a variety of programs that focus on the Delaware Bay ecosystem and local wildlife.
The DuPont Nature Center also offers live views of nesting osprey and wildlife visiting the area through its osprey cam and Mispillion Harbor cam. Both live cams can be viewed at the de.gov/dnc webpage.
DNREC鈥檚 DuPont Nature Center is located in the heart of Delaware鈥檚 Bayshore Region at 2992 Lighthouse Road, near Slaughter Beach, east of Milford. Admission is free and open to the public. For inquiries about the center鈥檚 programs and operations, email聽patrick.ruhl@delaware.gov,聽or call 302-422-1329.