The guest speaker at our September Banquet meeting was Deloras Freeman. She is a Visitor Specialist at the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Deloras and her family have lived in Chesapeake, near the eastern boundary of the refuge, for 34 years. The title of her presentation was “The Great Dismal Swamp: Past, Present, Future”.
Deloras’ presentation covered some of the history associated with the original “swamp”, it’s transformation and use over the years, when and how it became a National Wildlife Refuge, what some of the current activities and programs consist of as well as what the future may hold. During the presentation there was discussion on the long relationship between the Refuge and our chapter. The Suffolk Nansemond chapter was instrumental in helping to establish the swamp as a wildlife refuge. The chapter members were involved in the initial studies done in 1973. The results of those studies and the resultant reports and testimony went before congress and in 1974 Congress established the site as a National Wildlife Refuge. Since then members have maintained involvement with the refuge in various ways including volunteering to man deer check stations, performing repeated clean up efforts along Jericho Ditch and supporting Eagle Scout projects within the refuge.
If you are not familiar with the refuge or have never been there, this October would be a great time to visit. The refuge is holding a “Legends and Lore” fall festival. The festival is Sunday, October 30th from 12:00am to 4:00pm. The address is 3100 Desert Road, Suffolk. The scheduled events include a “Walk of Lore” through Pines Trail which is a guided walking tour with folk tales and legends, pontoon boat tours of Lake Drummond and guided bus tours of the refuge. All the events are free but you must contact the refuge by telephone to reserve a space for any of the events. You can call 757-986-3705 Monday thru Friday between the hours of 8:00am and 4:00pm to make reservations or to obtain additional information and times for the various events.