Aquatic Resources Education Facilities

Facility Use Forms

and Field Activity Information

 

Facility Guide	Facility Use	Field Activity Kits
Directions to the ARE Center	Online Facilities Use Request Form	Group Leaders Guidelines to Field Loaner Equipment & Activity Kits

 

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding use of the AREC/Lodge Facilities

Facility Use Request Agreement - Mallard   Facility Use Request Agreement - AREC

Field Equipment/Activity Kit Request List

 

ARE Facility Use Information:

 

The Division of Fish and Wildlife purchased the buildings and property on the northern edge of Taylor’s Gut in 1991 for its new Aquatic Resource Education Center. The Mallard Lodge was placed in operation in 1995. After renovation, the facility became a comfortable, well-equipped conference center for groups and organizations involved in environmental education and wetlands management. The ARE Center also provides office and laboratory space to environmental scientists in the Division's Fisheries, Wildlife, Mosquito Control, & Natural Heritage sections. The center's conference room has accommodations with seating for 40 and an open fireplace. The Mallard Lodge overnight facility has accommodations for up to34individuals sleeping overnight or 40 individuals using the building as a conference/meeting facility. The ARE staff also provides ongoing schedules of teacher in-service workshops in wetlands and environmental education at the center.

The AREC, Mallard Lodge, and ARE Pavilion facilities are available to school groups from both public/private institutions, youth groups, conservation organizations, non-profit organizations, and governmental agencies, with educators conducting aquatic resource education programs receiving scheduling priority. Due to extremely high use by educators during the spring and fall seasons, facility use will be limited - without exception - to education programs during March, April, May, June, September, October and November. These facilities are available without charge to groups specifically involved with Aquatic Resources Education program. The fee is waived if you are doing aquatic resources education activities and you have attended a 3 hour facilities-use orientation workshop. A group leader must attend a facilities workshop and be present during the groups visit. Users not conducting ARE programs will be charged a fee for day use and overnight accommodations. Private use for parties, receptions, etc., is not permitted.

 

Reserving Facilities – Instructions

 (refer to “Frequently Asked Questions” link above for further information)

 

> Call 302-653-2882 to check for date availability.

 

> Immediately after date has been penciled in on ARE calendar, send in appropriate list of forms to insure reservation.

 

> After approval and all forms have been completed & signed, a confirmation will be returned to you.

 

> Cost for Facility use is $50 per day use and an additional $50 for overnight accommodations.

 

> For fee waiver, groups must be doing ARE Activities and attend an ARE facilities I workshop.

 

Forms that must be returned 2 weeks prior to reserved date

 

> Facility Use Request Form (completed)

 

> Facility Use Agreement (signed and dated)

 

> Agenda (if requesting fee waiver, for aquatic education related uses only)

 

> Equipment list (training required)

 

Field Facilities Available

 

> Boardwalk - A 940-foot boardwalk trail constructed through the tidal salt marsh of the Woodland Beach Wildlife Area funded by the Coastal Heritage Greenways Program. The boardwalk's raised observation platform and marsh monitoring deck provide a safe and convenient gateway to the ecosystems. The boardwalk brochure compliments the facility open to the public throughout the year.

 

> Pavilion - Established to provide educators with a quality destination for hands-on environmental education, the outdoor classroom is located near the boardwalk.

 

> Canoes - Ten, Old Town Camper model canoes are available to qualified user groups along with life jackets (required). Canoeing arrangements must be made with ARE staff. Access to canoes on Taylor’s Gut pond closes Oct 1 – April 1.

 

> Fishing - Several ponds on the ARE property are stocked with largemouth bass, catfish and bluegills. The Fisheries section for catch-and-release angling only manages the ponds.

 

> Field Equipment - A variety of field equipment includes: water quality sampling kits, nets, field guides, binoculars, identification guides & educational field activity kits are also available for loan to educators & youth group leaders who have attended a facilities training (equipment list link above).