DuPont Environmental Education Center

Located along the Christina River and on the edge of the Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge, DuPont Environmental Education Center (DEEC) is where the city, river, and marsh meet. The refuge is 212 acres of freshwater tidal marsh adjoining the Christina River and is home to many birds such as American Bald Eagles, Virginia Rails, Belted Kingfishers, Wood Ducks and a wide variety of other nesting and migrating species. Also, American beaver, river otter, Snapping, Red-bellied, and Eastern Painted Turtles can be observed in the river and tidal pool. In summer, several kinds of colorful dragonflies swoop over the marsh in search of small insect prey. DEEC is open to the public year-round and features a Visitor Center with panoramic river and marsh views, a 10-acre ornamental garden, and a quarter-mile handicap-accessible pond loop that extends into the marsh. DEEC serves as a trailhead access to the 7 mile long Markell bike/hike trail from Wilmington to New Castle. DuPont Environmental Education Center is a partnership with the Riverfront Development Corporation and New Castle County.