An estimated 1,000 visitors migrated their way over to Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge and discovered the hidden wildlife treasure of Sussex County, Delaware. Among the featured events were exhibits from 57 natural resource organizations, a guided canoe trip on Prime Hook Creek, live music, grilled food, bird and plant walks, a door prize and a silent auction sponsored by the Friends of Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. In addition, visitors saw demonstrations on fly fishing, champion duck and goose calling, kayak demonstrations, turkey calling, wild game cooking and demonstrations of hunting with retrievers. Children could also make a bluebird house, paint their face, create T-shirt art, make creatures from recycled plastic, take a refuge tour by hay wagon, and try their skills at archery in an enclosed shooting facility.

And that was not all. In a special ceremony, U.S. Senator Tom Carper was honored by The Nature Conservancy of Delaware and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for his efforts to preserve bayshore habitats for horseshoe crabs and migratory shorebirds.

Speaking at the ceremony were many distinguished guests, including Mark Lally, congressional aide to Senator Carper; Roger Jones, state director for The Nature Conservancy in Delaware; Tony Lèger, chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System in the Northeast Region; and Jonathan Schafler, the manager of Prime Hook refuge.

Also part of the ceremony was a ribbon cutting event dedicating the new maintenance shop, and the winners of the First Annual Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge Nature Photography Contest were announced. Nearly 150 spectacular entries were received from over 50 photographers.

The day closed with the inaugural presentation of The Vandegrift Memorial Series, sponsored by the Friends of Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. This year's presentation was held at Eagle's Nest Fellowship Church and featured Case Hicks — a living historian who portrayed Theodore Roosevelt. Participants also viewed the U.S. premiere of ?Eggs on the Coast,? a wonderful British Broadcasting Corporation documentary about the horseshoe crab-shorebird connection in Delaware. Next, they got a bonus treat with the screening of "Teddy and Puddles the Blue Goose," an animation highlighting the National Wildlife Refuge System. Finally, folks were entertained by the soothing music of violinist Michelle Peters. The performances were a great way to kick off this series!