Abbott's Mill Nature Center of Delaware Nature Society

Days/Hours of operation: Nature Center: 9 am – 4 pm, Monday – Friday, 12 pm – 4 pm, Saturday – Sunday (April through November only). Trails: Open from Dawn until Dusk, 7 days a week

Guided lesson/tour: Self-directed tour - Visit our Nature Center for animal exhibits and enjoy a walk on our trails.  We have an accessible boardwalk along the stream.  Trail maps are available. To schedule educational programs for your Home School group, please contact the office.  We require  minimum program fee, based on 12 participants, and length of the lesson. For self-guided tours, please note posted hours of operation.

Programs & Field Studies: Abbott's Mill offers a variety of public programs throughout the seasons. Please check our Facebook page for details. On weekend afternoons, April through August, join a Teacher/Naturalist for a family program. The "Running of the Mill" takes place every 3rd Saturday of the month, April through October (Free for DNS Members, $5 for Non-members). Abbott’s Mill also offers a variety of experiential, hands-on educational field studies for students, K-12, based on the DE Science Curriculum Standards.  At the Abbott's Mill site, programs focus on the plants and animals of our habitats: stream, pond, meadow and woodlands and the historic Gristmill; at Slaughter Beach we engage students in marine studies and geology. To reserve a program and date, please contact the office. A complete listing of programs may be found on the Delaware Nature Society website under “schools” or by calling the office. Available programs at Abbott’s Mill include Insect Investigations, Pond Study, Soil Sleuths, Native Americans of Delmarva, and Weighing in the Mill. At Slaughter Beach: Seashore and Saltmarsh, Beach Ecology (spring focus on the Horseshoe Crab/migrating shorebirds). Most programs are 2 to 3 hours long. Abbott's Mill Nature Center is open year round.  Programs are available upon request.  Programming at Slaughter Beach is available April-October due to weather conditions.

Ages/Grade levels: Educational programs are available for Grades K-12.  Specific programs are designed for PK-K, Grades 1-3, Grades 4-5, Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12. A program may be adapted to encompass a broader age range. Exploring by Canoe is available for 12 years and older. 

Cost: Visit website