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Junior Paddlers Float On First Yellow Breeches Youth Sojourn
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The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Yellow Breeches Watershed Association, and Blue Mountain Outfitters recently hosted the first sojourn specifically for youth.
Kids ranging in age from 12-18 kayaked nearly 28 miles from July 12-14 on an educational river tour led by guides from DCNR and Blue Mountain Outfitters.
“Sojourns are typically for family groups made of primarily adults. We hope a trip exclusively for kids will provide an additional model for river sojourns,” said Brook Lenker, DCNR manager of education and outreach, who helped to organize and manage the kayaking adventure.
The main goal of the sojourn was to get youth interested in conservation through paddle sports. Each of the 44 youth paddled his or her own kayak. The Fish and Boat Commission provided eight kayaks for those who did not own one. Instructional guidance was given to those who were not as experienced on the water.
Between paddling, paddlers had the opportunity to listen to several conservation-related presentations and participate in hands-on activities. Along the way, they installed bird boxes, picked up trash, and pulled invasive plants. Trout Unlimited held a fly tying/fishing presentation with personalized instruction on what insect was being mimicked.
“The kids really took advantage of that opportunity,” Lenker said. “I was surprised that they were so patient.”
Not only did the kids learn about the environment, but they also learned how to capture nature’s perfect moments. They learned about outdoor photography and the advantages of changing the shutter speed.
Lenker said that the unstructured learning was very important as well. “While we kayaked, the adult guides would point out various aspects of what the paddlers were seeing, giving the youth one-on-one instruction.”
One mother even wrote to say that she was thrilled that her son, who had only been involved in organized sports before, came home with a love of the outdoors. “That’s what it’s all about—getting youth to fall in love with the outdoors so that they will consciously take care of it,” Lenker said.
Click Here for a list of Pennsylvania sojourns by the PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers.
(Written By: Brittany Spriggle is an extern in DCNR’s office of education, communications and partnerships and reprinted from the most recent issue of DCNR's Resource online newsletter.)
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7/25/2011 |
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