From May 6 to August 27 you can join an educational canoe or boat trip on one of 12 sojourns scheduled for this year around Pennsylvania.

Sojourns are scheduled for Swatara Creek, Allegheny-Kiskiminetas-Conemaugh Rivers, Stonycreek and Kiskiminetas-Conemaugh Rivers, Schuylkill River, Juniata River, Chartiers Creek, Clarion River, Susquehanna River, Delaware River, Lehigh River, Allegheny River and Ohiopyle Over the Falls.

Educational, multi-day canoeing and float trips have been organized throughout Pennsylvania and along many of its riverways since the 1980's. The common term for these trips is River Sojourn. A wide variety of organizations, agencies and corporations are involved in each event.

Most are multi-day trips and cover anywhere from dozens to over one hundred river miles. Some people participate for a day and some for the entire length of the trip. Evening stops are usually large river community events with a public meal, presentations, discussions, singing and other festive activities. Multiple-day participants normally camp at public campgrounds along the river travel route.

Having a good time, relating to the river ecosystem and educating the public about "their" local river are all reasons to organize a sojourn. Sometimes specific issues and accomplishments are highlighted or future river changes are focused upon during sojourns and their related activities.

A Sojourn can serve as an interactive outdoor classroom that allows those who participate to have an up close and personal experience that will change the way they view their effect on water resources.

River Sojourns have become a statewide effort in Pennsylvania thanks in part to the partnership between the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers.

Since 1991, DCNR has provided funding for and actively participated in developing River Sojourns to raise awareness of the beauty, importance and economic value of rivers throughout the Commonwealth. DCNR has also selected a Feature River for Pennsylvania every year since 1983 for a June Rivers Month poster.

For more information, visit the PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers Sojourn webpage.

Link: GreenTreks River Sojourn webpage – See and Hear the fun!

3/10/2006