To celebrate Ocean Month, in June, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is exploring the stories of our connections with the ocean. It starts with an invitation to all to share their own stories of connection with the sea.
Throughout Delaware’s history, the ocean has influenced our culture and way of life creating a rich maritime heritage that has shaped our communities and economy. What is your connection with the ocean? Is there a special person, place or perhaps a moment in time that brings back memories and reconnects you to the salty water and the sea air?
Please share your ocean connection. Tell us about how you fell in love with the ocean or how you rely on it. You may also submit one new or old personal photo associated with your story.
All submissions will be gathered into a story catalog for public viewing and will be entered into a raffle to receive a DNREC prize pack. Selected entries will be featured throughout June on DNREC media and may also be featured in Outdoor Delaware.
While this project is a celebration of Delaware’s history with the ocean, the stories will also help DNREC planners identify marine resources and activities to address in Delaware’s Ocean and Bay Plan.
Ocean lovers all have an ocean story. Whether it’s a childhood fascination with the creatures beneath the surface, the allure of unearthing buried treasure alongside a person important to you or your livelihood shaped by the sea, all stories matter.
Ocean stories will be accepted from April 23, through May 15, 2025 at 4:30 pm.
First, read all of the information between here and the form at the bottom of this page.
Then, complete the online Entry and Release Form (below). Submit your story, no more than 250 words total, sharing your ocean connection. One new or old personal photo associated with your story may be included but is not required.
All submissions must include the writer’s name, age, email and home address.
If the participant is under the age of 18 (at the time of submission), a parent or guardian must complete and submit the online form(s). If any children (under the age of 18) can be seen and recognized in the submitted photo, a parental photo release form must be completed for each child by the child’s parent or guardian. Completed parental release forms must be emailed to kristi.lieske@delaware.gov.
All submissions, along with completed release form(s), must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on May 15, 2025.
DNREC shall not accept late or incomplete entries, or entries that have not followed the official rules.
DNREC reserves the right to adjust any deadline(s) as the result of causes beyond its immediate control. DNREC will take reasonable steps to notify of any adjustments made to deadlines.
Stories must have been composed between the date of the campaign announcement and prior to the 4:30 p.m. May 15, 2025 deadline.
Ocean stories may not exceed 250 words. Stories exceeding 250 words will be rejected.
Each participant may submit one story and one accompanying photo.
Prompts to spur thought:
Submissions must not contain inappropriate, indecent or obscene content. DNREC has sole discretion in determining whether any entry contains inappropriate, indecent or obscene content. Submissions determined by DNREC to contain inappropriate, indecent or obscene content shall be rejected by DNREC.
Ocean story submissions must be original and created solely by the submitting entrant(s), and not violate the intellectual property rights, copyright or right of property of any third party. DNREC will reject submissions that it determines, in its sole discretion, contain copyrighted materials. Story submissions that have been entered into contests or have been displayed elsewhere are not eligible.
Submitted photos may not include names, signatures, logos or other identifying marks.
This campaign is open to all legal residents of the State of Delaware, ages 5 and older.
DNREC employees or their children may submit ocean stories in accordance with these official rules. DNREC employees; however, are not eligible to win the random drawing prizes.
All eligible participants will be entered into a pool to receive a DNREC prize pack. One prize winner will be randomly selected from the pool of eligible participants.
DNREC has sole discretion over the selection of the winning participant. By submitting an entry, entrants waive any right they have to dispute or otherwise challenge DNREC’s selection of the winning participants.
All participant submissions will be brought together into a story catalog for public viewing and will be entered into a raffle to receive a DNREC prize pack. Selected entries will be featured throughout June on DNREC media and may also be featured in Outdoor Delaware, at the Delaware State Fair and/or University of Delaware’s Coast Day.
DNREC will make reasonable efforts to notify the randomly selected winner via email by June 1, 2025.
Entries may be used by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) for websites and publications. Personal perspectives represented in submitted stories will be considered as public input to identify marine resources and uses to address in Delaware’s Ocean and Bay Plan. DNREC will provide credit to authors whenever their stories or photos are used.
By entering this contest and submitting this completed release form, I, on behalf of myself and, if applicable, the child identified on this release form, grant permission to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and its employees a royalty-free, world-wide, perpetual, nonexclusive license to display, distribute, reproduce, and create derivative works of the story and photo submission, in whole or in part, in any media now existing or subsequently developed, for any State of Delaware or DNREC purpose, including, but not limited to advertising and promotion of DNREC in print, its website, and its publications. By entering this contest, I further agree that the story and photo submission complies with to these official rules. I will make no monetary or other claim against DNREC or the State of Delaware for the use of any content provided DNREC in connection with my or my child’s participation in this contest.
DNREC is an agency of the State of Delaware subject to Delaware’s Freedom of Information Act (29 Del. C. 10001 et seq). Participants are advised that any information provided to DNREC in conjunction with this contest may be deemed a public record under FOIA.
This release form affects the rights, obligations, and duties of the parties only. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, nothing in this release form is intended to, nor shall it be interpreted or construed in a manner which shall: (a) grant any third party the right to enforce any of the terms, rights, or obligations set forth herein; (b) confer any substantive or procedural rights or privileges to any third party in relation to or arising out of any collateral civil or criminal legal proceeding; or (c) waive or otherwise affect the sovereignty of the State of Delaware or the application of 10 Del. C. § 4001, et seq. to any civil proceeding involving any officer, employee, or agent of the State of Delaware.
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware. Any legal action brought by either party to enforce any provision of this Agreement shall be brought in an appropriate Delaware State Court.
Related Topics: climate coastal energy, coastal programs, dcmp, ocean, ocean and coasts, ocean month, ocean planning, sea
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