University of Delaware’s Coast Day celebration is back!

After a two-year hiatus, Coast Day returns to UD’s Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes on Sunday, Oct. 1 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine.

Now in its 40th year, Coast Day encourages visitors to explore the ways that scientists study coastal environments through this year’s theme, “Discoveries on land, in the air and at sea.”

The event, hosted by the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment (CEOE) and Delaware Sea Grant, is an opportunity for citizens to consider ways they can get involved and promote marine stewardship and environmental awareness, too.

Food, contests, music, educational activities, touch tanks

Coast Day appeals to visitors in a variety of ways. Here’s what to expect throughout the day:

Food enthusiasts will enjoy a variety of demonstrations, contests and events ranging from a delectable crab cake cook-off, to the chowder challenge, to an oyster shucking contest.

Kids can tour UD’s research vessels, watch a chemical magic show, attend story time, or visit the critter touch tanks for an educational, up-close look at sea creatures, including dogfish sharks and horseshoe crabs. They also won’t want to miss the Lego model ship exhibit presented by TEACH FLEET (Technology’s Effects and Contributions Highlighted for Learning Ecological Environmental Topics).

Created by former ship designer Wilbert McKinley, TEACH FLEET presents a diverse collection of Lego model ships—including UD’s state-of-the-art research vessel, the R/V Hugh R. Sharp— to educate and engage students interested in pursuing a future in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

Other highly anticipated exhibits at the event include tours of CEOE’s Robotics Discovery Laboratories, which are home to advanced robotic technologies such as autonomous underwater and aerial vehicles used for leading-edge environmental research. 

Rounding out the day, visitors can watch live musical and dance performances, wander through tents featuring educational exhibits, enjoy research presentations by CEOE faculty on environmentally relevant topics, and visit informational displays by local partners. 

Follow along on social media with the hashtag #DECoastDay.

Free transportation available

Free bus transportation from Newark to Lewes is available for UD students, employees and members of their immediate family on Coast Day. Seating is limited, and early registration is encouraged.

To reserve a seat, contact the Environmental Public Education Office by phone at 302-831-8083 or by email at CEOE-epe@udel.edu.

Eclipse glasses drop-off site

Coast Day will promote environmental education abroad this year, as well. Any time during the event, attendees may drop off their solar eclipse glasses at the information tent for the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment and Delaware Sea Grant to forward to the Astronomers Without Borders (AWB) eclipse glasses take-back program.  UD’s Lewes campus location is the only drop-off site in Delaware and one of only two locations on Delmarva. AWB will redistribute collected glasses to schools and libraries in South America for the 2019 eclipse. 

This year’s Coast Day sponsors include the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Edible Delmarva, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Overseas Shipholding Group, and WMDT-47.