Delaware Nature Society receives Chamber of Commerce award

Abbott’s Mill Nature Center is part of the Delaware Nature Society, now recognized as a Superstar in Business

Delaware Nature Society, which manages Abbott’s Mill Nature Center and DuPont Environmental Education Center, recently received the Marvin S. Gillman Superstar in Business award from the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce. This award honors non-profits and businesses for outstanding achievements as well as model approaches to business and management.

“We’re celebrating our 60th anniversary this year, and over those years, we have had a lot of great accomplishments, both in environmental education and conservation and in advocacy, but we still have a lot of work to do, and we rely on a lot of different partners to do that,” Executive Director Jen Adkins said.

Adkins stated that before there was the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Earth Day, Delaware Nature Society existed with a simple goal – to take care of nature so that nature can take care of us. Board member Dan Barbato pointed out that the society manages four sites in Delaware.

“Delaware Nature Society is comprised of four different sites here in Delaware. Those are Ashland Nature Center, Coverdale Farm Preserve, DuPont Environmental Education Center and Abbott Nature Center,” Barbato said. “In order to get all the work done, it takes literally hundreds of people get their own free time along with the staff who works here. And we’re all together, and we’re all invested in this one machine.”

The award is named for Marvin Gilman, president of Gilman Development Company, who operated one of the most respected home-building construction companies in the Wilmington area. The award recognizes his high ethical standards, innovation and inspiration to others. Adkins explained how Delaware Nature Society meets those rigorous standards.

“The three main pillars of our work, how we do our work, are education, conservation and advocacy,” Adkins said. “We run a host of education programs year round at all four of our sites and many other places around the state, providing education for the youngest of children to the oldest of adults.”

Adkins stated that although education is one of the main focuses of the society, the other two pillars are critical as well.

“For conservation, we work on protecting and restoring some of our most important natural areas, places like wetlands and forests and open space that’s critical for people in clean water and clean air,” Adkins said. “In advocacy we work towards policies to help create environmental protection for those natural areas and for the communities. So, receiving a Superstars in Business Award is a wonderful acknowledgement of the importance of what we do beyond the conservation world.”

In 2024, Delaware Nature Society began working on their new strategic plan with a goal to honor the post, focus on the future and create a healthy environment for all.

“This year we offered a full suite of programs at each of our sites and beyond, and we are growing our focus on young learners,” Adkins said. “We shifted from assessing the problem of climate change to taking action with a group of bills establishing a clear pathway to clean energy for Delaware. This year, we also made big gains in small spaces, restoring habitats that support pollinators, clean water and rivers and community resilience.”

Barbato expressed gratitude for recognition of the hard work many volunteers do for the nature society.

“This is a recognition of all the hard work the past few years to bring the organization and to reach more people with their mission.”

Learn more about Delaware Nature Society by visiting them online.