Home > News Bytes > DRBC Staff Participate in PA Coast Day, part of the Delaware River Festival
DRBC Staff Participate in PA Coast Day, part of the Delaware River Festival

DRBC staff returned to Penn's Landing, Philadelphia, Pa. to participate in the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary's (PDE) 17th Annual Pennsylvania Coast Day, a celebration of Pennsylvania's coast and its importance to the region.

You may be asking yourself, Pennsylvania has a coast? Yes, indeed! In the Delaware River Basin, Pennsylvania has roughly 55 miles of shoreline along the Delaware River Estuary, the tidal part of the river where fresh and salt water mix.

In addition to talking with Coast Day attendees about the commission, DRBC's Kate Schmidt and Donna Woolf relayed fun facts about the watershed and about horseshoe crabs and bald eagles, two interesting and unique creatures that call the Delaware River Basin home. Staff also shared stories about the region's connection to baseball and about how the Delaware River played a role in why Philadelphians call their sandwiches hoagies.

PA Coast Day highlights Philadelphia's connection to the tidal Delaware River. In this urban region, the river is a vital natural resource and important for commerce and trade. It is a source of drinking water and also a means of recreation. Coast Day attendees were able to learn about all of this through interactive, educational exhibits, water-related kids' activities and crafts, guided boat tours, pedal boating and kayaking, and more. And, best of all, everything was offered for free, thanks to the event's host (PDE) and various sponsors.

This year's PA Coast Day was part of the first ever Delaware River Festival, held in partnership with the Alliance for Watershed Education's River Days' event in Camden, N.J. The two waterfronts were easily accessible for attendees via free ferry rides on the RiverLink Ferry! 

DRBC staff thoroughly enjoyed participating in this annual event that focuses attention on the Delaware River and its estuarine environment around Philadelphia.

To learn more, please visit the above links.
DRBC's table is set up and ready for visitors. Photo by DRBC.DRBC's large Delaware River Basin map is always popular! It's a great visual that shows the delineation of the Delaware River Basin, major tributaries and cities, and county boundaries. Photo by DRBC.The Marina at Penn's Landing was the site of free pedal boat and kayak rides. Photo by DRBC.DRBC's Donna Woolf talks baseball mud with Coast Day attendees. All baseballs used in the major leagues are rubbed with a special mud before play, and that mud only comes from a tidal tributary to the Delaware River! Photo by DRBC.DRBC's Kate Schmidt talks with a young Coast Day attendee about horseshoe crabs and their connection to the Delaware River Basin. Photo by DRBC.It was a perfect day to do a little boating on the Delaware River. Photo by DRBC.DRBC's Kate Schmidt talks American shad and how they return to the river each spring with a young Coast Day attendee. Photo by DRBC.DRBC's Donna Woolf explains how horseshoe crabs use their tails to help them flip right side up if a wave overturns them as they come ashore. Photo by DRBC.The Delaware River at Penn's Landing. Photo by DRBC.These kids couldn't wait to leave our table to start doing our Delaware River Basin word search! Photo by DRBC.
The Marina at Penn's Landing was the site of free pedal boat and kayak rides. Photo by DRBC.DRBC's Donna Woolf uses the basin map to explain the concept of a basin, which is simply a large watershed. Essentially, all the land near the Delaware River or near bodies of water that drain to the Delaware River are part of the Delaware River Watershed, aka the Delaware River Basin. Photo by DRBC.DRBC's bald eagle, American shad, and horseshoe crab bookmarks are always a hit! These species all have special connections to the Delaware River Basin, and DRBC staff enjoy telling their stories at outreach events like PA Coast Day. Photo by DRBC.The Delaware River with the Ben Franklin Bridge in the background. Photo by DRBC.These two gentlemen loved the story of the baseball rubbing mud and its connection to the Delaware River Basin. Photo by DRBC.These young Coast Day attendees are excited to get their hands on DRBC's bookmarks! Photo by DRBC.The Delaware River looking south towards the Walt Whitman Bridge. The sun shined bright on this year's Coast Day, which was a welcome change to recent weather patterns! Photo by DRBC. This young Coast Day attendee was so excited by the story of the horseshoe crab! Photo by DRBC.DRBC's Donna Woolf listens to a gentleman's story of why he loves the Delaware River. The two ladies behind them are checking out our basin map! Photo by DRBC.People took advantage of the great weather and the opportunity to paddle the Penn's Landing Marina for free at Coast Day. Photo by DRBC.