Cape Henlopen REECH Program Provides Hands-on Investigation of our Coastal Ecosystem

Residential                          
Ecosystem                              
Exploration at
Cape
Henlopen

Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware has been operating the REECH program since 1998, and the Nature Center has been running school programs since the 1970’s. Today's REECH program focuses on hands-on investigation of our coastal ecosystem over a 2-day, 1-night session, with courses designed to meet the state standards.

Cape Henlopen State Park’s location readily facilitates investigating and learning about how ecosystems work. Students explore the diverse coastal habitats, including the Delaware Bay, sand dunes, maritime forests and coastal wetlands.

Experienced environmental educators, all holding college degrees, conduct students in engaging hands-on learning. This strategy prompts students to make claims about the Cape ecosystem based on evidence gathered from various observations made during the program.

Facilities

The drive to Cape Henlopen State Park is under two hours from Baltimore, Philadelphia, or anywhere in Delaware or the Eastern Shore.

REECH operates out of the Park’s Nature Center and one of its Youth Camp facilities.

Indoor programs take place at the Nature Center’s auditorium, and can accommodate up to 60 participants. Most programming takes place in the park, exploring the environment. Participants stay in dorm-style housing, with 15 beds per room. Separate bathhouse facilities (toilets and showers) and a mess hall are located within the youth camp facility. Participants must provide their own bedding, towels and toiletries.

The REECH facilities are accessible to persons with disabilities. A beach wheel chair is also available to provide some access for most of the field programs.

Meals are catered and served buffet style.

Programs

REECH offers a custom hands-on, learning experience over a 2-day, 1-night period. Students collect samples, take measurements, make observations, and record data, with the goal of understanding how well the coastal ecosystem is functioning. The following topics are addressed: 

– Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems

– Cycles of Matter and Energy Transfer in Ecosystems

– Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning and Resilience

– Biodiversity and Humans

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Visit DE State Parks Reech for more information.