May 2019 — Cape Henlopen
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Cape Henlopen outside Lewes, Del., is many things: the mouth of the Delaware Bay, a jewel in the state park system, a terrific place to watch a sunset. But it was also home to Fort Miles, part of the nation’s coastal defenses from World War II into the 1970s. There is an interesting museum at the park where you can learn about its role.
Lewes and the University of Delaware College of Earth, Ocean and Environment (CEOE) continue to have connections to the military. Midshipmen from the United States Naval Academy often receive training in underwater robotics from CEOE faculty, with some midshipmen spending the summer learning and working in the Robotic Discovery Laboratories. And researchers there have studied various topics related to the military, from discovering planes lost in the ocean during World War II with to studying how unexploded ordnance in the ocean moves in our coastal environment, the subject of this month’s Sea Talk.
Notable Dates:
May 11 — The conservation theme of the 2019 World Migratory Bird Day is “Protect Birds: Be the Solution to Plastic Pollution,” which is a great way to protect the ocean too!
May 13-19 — Participate in Bike-to-Work Week as part of National Bike Month to benefit your health and the environment! The Wilmington Area Planning Commission (WILMAPCO) works on transportation options throughout northern Delaware and collects Delaware Bike Month events and links to bicycling groups on its website. The week concludes with includes many other events like the Wilmington Grand Prix, where you can ride with the governor and enjoy professional racing.
May 17 — Endangered Species Day is officially this Friday, although in Delaware, the Brandywine Zoo is holding its public event the day after. (School groups will get to celebrate the day of.) No matter where you are or when this weekend you can commemorate the day, take some time to learn about endangered species at what you can do to help.
May 22 — Along the same lines but global in scope, this is International Day for Biological Diversity, a United Nations event to encourage awareness around the world. This year’s theme is Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health, which speaks to how much we depend on a healthy environment.