About Delmarva Low-Impact Tourism Experiences (DLITE)
DLITE represents a union of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia businesses, conservation organizations, and local, state, and federal partners which have formed an alliance
to encourage nature- and heritage-based tourism and conservation on the Delmarva Peninsula.
Mission: To strengthen and promote low-impact tourism on Delmarva. Low-impact tourism plans, manages and promotes the enjoyment and protection of the environment and local culture to generate income, employment, and the conservation and sustainability of local ecosystems.
Goals: Through activities such as birding, biking, and kayaking, DLITE seeks to build a conservation ethic across a wide audience that will ultimately support the protection
and restoration of the region’s vast and unique natural, traditional, and historical treasures.
DLITE Director Jim Rapp (with binoculars) and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine kayaking with Southeast Expeditions on the Eastern Shore of Virginia in 2009.
DLITE seeks to increase:
- the visibility, access, quality, and economic value of low-impact tourism on Delmarva.
- the utilization of existing resources to strengthen low-impact tourism on Delmarva.
- Delmarva’s identity as a region rich with low-impact tourism opportunities.
DLITE History: Ocean City, MD, Businessman and DLITE Founder Charles “Buddy” Jenkins brought together a group of Maryland, Delaware and Virginia tourism officials, natural resource managers, and businessmen and women, who organized and incorporated DLITE in 1999. This group of nature-based tourism partners realized that they shared a common interest in promoting the Delmarva Peninsula as a destination for birders, paddlers, cyclists, and travelers interested
in nature and heritage. The partners also shared a desire to keep Delmarva from losing its natural and rural character.
In 2001, thanks to support from U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski and U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes, DLITE received a $150,000 Economic Development Initiative grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Using the grant as match with $140,000 from local and regional funding, DLITE created the Great Delmarva Bicycling Trail, the E.A. Vaughn Kayak Trail, African-American Heritage Markers, and hosted several successful Delmarva Birding Weekend, Great Worcester Herp Search, and Cycle Across Maryland events.
DLITE Accomplishments: DLITE promotes birding, cycling, and paddling opportunities across Delmarva through the creation of trails and the hosting of regional events. We train park and museum interpreters and nature tour providers to help them tell great stories to our visitors, and practice low-impact, “leave no trace” travel. We host tours for travel writers and work with journalists who share our experiences with millions of readers and viewers. We provide a one-stop shop that connects tourism providers with visitors through our websites and newsletters. Recent trail projects include the production of the Great Delmarva Bicycling Trail, Smith Island Water Trail, and the EA Vaughn Kayak Trail. Annually, DLITE hosts low-impact tourism events, such as the Delmarva Birding Weekend. DLITE was instrumental in helping the Smith Island cake become the official state dessert of Maryland in 2009.
DLITE Awards: DLITE has been recognized with numerous awards for programs and projects promoting low-impact tourism on the Delmarva Peninsula.
Coastal Stewards, a summer youth employment program created by DLITE in partnership with
the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, Assateague Island National Seashore, Assateague State Park, and the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance, won the "Best New Heritage Initiative" from the Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Council in January 2010.
(left to right): Coastal Stewards Kedena Thompson, Todd Nock, and Janae Dorman.
Host Our Coast partners with Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley at the 2009 Maryland Tourism Summit after receiving the "Visit Maryland" award from the Maryland Office of Tourism.
(left to right): Melanie McLean, Emmet McGovern of Full City Media, Scott Thomas of Southern Delaware Tourism, Jim Rapp, Governor O'Malley, Michael Day of the Town of Berlin, Paul Cox,
Dan Kuennen of the Rural Development Center, and Ann McGinnis-Hillyer of Maryland.com.
Host Our Coast partners at the 2009 Maryland Tourism Council awards banquet after
receiving the "Professional Impact" award. (top): 2009 hosts of Host Our Coast Paul Cox and Melanie McLean (bottom, left to right): Michael Day of the Town of Berlin, Lisa Challenger of Worcester County Tourism, Ann McGinnis-Hillyer of Maryland.com, and Jim Rapp.
Maryland First Lady Katie O'Malley (left) with Maryland DNR Secretary John Griffin, Leah
Klump of OceanCity.com, and Jim Rapp with the 2008 "Best Electronic Marketing" award from
the Maryland Tourism Council.
Awards include:
2007: Delaware Governor's Award for "Best Itinerary" for the Delmarva Birding Weekend
2008: "Best Electronic Marketing" Award from the Maryland Tourism Council for Wilds of Worcester
2008: DLITE Director Jim Rapp named Worcester County Tourism Person of the Year
2009: "Visit Maryland" Award from the Maryland Office of Tourism for Host Our Coast
2009: "Professional Impact" Award from the Maryland Tourism Council for Host Our Coast
2010: "Best New Heritage Initiative" from the Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Council for Coastal Stewards
