Paddlers can now register for the 22nd Annual Delaware River Sojourn taking place June 18-25 starting in Skinners Falls, N.Y. and ending in Quaker Penn Park, Pa.

The Delaware Sojourn, one of the oldest river sojourns in the nation, combines the experiences of guided paddling excursions with interpretive programs, camping, and camaraderie. 

Participants may sign up for the entire eight-day trip or for the day(s) of their choice.

“This year's theme, Find Your River: Celebrating 100 Years of the National Park Service, celebrates the agency’s centennial and highlights its important mission of safeguarding and preserving our country’s most special places,” said John Mauser, Director of the Martins Jacoby Watershed Association and chair of the sojourn steering committee.  “The Delaware River Basin is home to the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, and the Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River, all units of the National Park Service, and the sojourn will be paddling parts of each of these river stretches.”

Nearly 85 miles of the mainstem Delaware River will be paddled in 2016, split into daily trips ranging from 7.5 to 15 miles.  In brief, the sojourn will include the following stretches:

-- June 18: Skinners Falls, N.Y. to Ten Mile River, N.Y.

-- June 19: Zane Grey Museum, Pa. to Landers’ Pond Eddy Base, N.Y.

-- June 20: Worthington State Forest, N.J. to Driftstone on the Delaware, Pa.

-- June 21: Driftstone on the Delaware to Martins Creek, Pa.

-- June 22: Tinicum Park, Pa. to Lambertville, N.J.

-- June 23: Belle Mountain/Fireman’s Eddy, N.J. to Yardley, Pa.

-- June 24: Florence, N.J. to Burlington Island, and back to Florence

-- June 25: Morrisville, Pa. to Quaker Penn Park, Pa.

“The Delaware Sojourn is a wonderful way to discover the Delaware River and experience first-hand the unique character and inherent diversity of its different sections,” said Steve Tambini, Executive Director of the Delaware River Basin Commission.  “DRBC has been working for more than 50 years to manage this shared water resource.  We encourage the public to find your river and enjoy this family-friendly paddling and learning adventure.”

The cost for sojourners who register by June 11 is $80 per day for adults and $60 per day for children (ages 15 and under).  There is an additional one-time insurance fee of $5 per person for this American Canoe Association-sanctioned event, except for current ACA members. 

Further discount opportunities are available on a first-come, first-served basis for adult paddlers new to the Delaware River Sojourn.  Add $10 to the daily rates for registrations made after June 11.

Registration fees cover the guided river trip, single or tandem kayak rental (with paddle and life jacket), shuttle transportation, educational programs, most meals, a souvenir T-shirt, and optional overnight camping sites. 

Participants may bring their own river-worthy boat, but please note that aluminum canoes are not recommended.

Several exciting programs are being offered this year, including an overnight stay on the grounds of the Zane Grey Museum (part of UPDE, Lackawaxen, Pa.), a stop at the Ramsaysburg Historic Homestead (part of LDEL, Knowlton Twp., N.J.), a trip on the SPLASH Delaware River Steamboat Floating Classroom (part of LDEL, Lambertville, N.J.), and tours of the Roebling Museum (Florence, N.J.) and Pennsbury Manor (Morrisville, Pa).

“This year, the Delaware Sojourn received donations from various individuals, corporations, and not-for-profits, including ShopRite and the Martins Jacoby Watershed Association,” said Ian Kindle, Environmental Educator with Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Delaware Canal State Park, and assistant chair of the 2016 sojourn steering committee.  “The sojourn is also supported by grant funding from the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers and the Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic Rivers Program.”

“These funds help subsidize sojourn expenses, keeping costs as low as possible for participants, and also allow the sojourn to continue its First-Time and Youth Paddle programs,” added Lou Metzger, steering committee assistant chair and ACA Public Policy Chief.  “These two programs provide subsidies to adult sojourn first-timers and full scholarships for a limited number of student groups and their leaders, respectively.”

This non-profit, annual event is organized by a steering committee comprised of representatives from federal, state and local agencies, non-profit organizations, and individual volunteers. 

The DRBC has served on the steering committee since the sojourn’s early years and is represented by Communications Specialist Kate Schmidt.

Space is limited, so please register early!  Registration details, itinerary overview, and sojourn guidelines are available at the 22nd Annual Delaware River Sojourn website. 

Sojourners are again offered the option to register online using Paypal. 

Registration-related questions and discount availability inquiries may be directed to Dejay Branch at 646-205-2724 or send email to: info@riversojourn.com.  

5/23/2016