Every year, visitors flock to the University of Delaware’s annual Coast Day to enjoy hands-on activities, tours and lectures that highlight how the College of Earth, Ocean and Environment is working to understand the state’s rich environmental resources. It’s the perfect place for nature lovers to learn about the college’s work — and to join a like-minded community.

Last month, at this year’s Coast Day event, the college also announced the launch of its Mariners community, a Southern Delaware organization for lovers of land and sea, scientific discoverers and protectors of Southern Delaware’s coastal beauty. The community is free to join, and members will receive exclusive access to environmental events, advocacy opportunities and an insider’s look at the next frontier of scientific exploration.

In just a few weeks, the community has begun to take shape. More than 200 people joined Mariners at Coast Day, and registration is now open to all.

“We are so excited that Mariners provides a connection between the Southern Delaware community and the UD scientists at work on environmental research,” said Mariners representative Robin Wray. “When we invited Coast Day attendees to join, as soon as we said, ‘If you care about the environment…’ they said, ‘Count me in!’ It was clearly a universal sentiment.”

Interested in getting involved? To learn more about Mariners or to join the community, visit the website or contact Robin Wray at rwray@udel.edu.

There will be more information coming soon, and new members can expect a full slate of programming early in the new year.