On January 31, the PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers is now accepting applications for Pennsylvania River Sojourns Grants. Applications are due March 14.

The Pennsylvania Sojourn Program is a nationally unique program that awards more than $50,000 in grants across the state to support local organizations and their sojourn events.

These grants support on average between 10 and 15 paddling events each year, encompassing over 400 river miles and 50+ on-the-water days, offering more than 100 educational programs, and engaging over 4,000 people.

Grants are available on a competitive basis for single and multi-day paddling events on Pennsylvania’s waterways.

Sojourns must incorporate significant educational programming, and be open to all participants (i.e., private trips are not eligible).

Applicants can request up to $1,000 per on water day.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with tax-exempt status 501(c)(3), municipalities, counties and educational institutions.

Grants require a 1:1 match in the form of cash and/or eligible non-cash (in-kind) services, or a combination of both cash and in-kind.

Please note that no portion of the match can be from DCNR.

Funding for the grants is provided through the Environmental Stewardship Fund administered by the DCNR Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

Applications and instructions are now available at PEC’s Grants & Awards webpage.

Visit POWR’s Pennsylvania Sojourn Program webpage to learn more about sojourns.

The PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, an affiliate of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, administers the Pennsylvania Sojourn program.

POWR has been in place for over a decade and has sponsored sojourn/paddling trips on many of the Commonwealth’s rivers and streams.

Related Articles This Week:

-- DCNR Invites Public Comments To Help Shape A Bold Vision For Outdoor Recreation In PA; 5 Webinars Start Feb. 3  [PaEN] 

-- DCNR: Path Of The Flood Trail In Cambria County Named 2025 Pennsylvania Trail Of The Year  [PaEN]

-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Now Accepting Applications For 2025 Sojourn Grants  [PaEN]

-- Jan. 31 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation 

[PaEN] 

-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation Announces Winners Of 2024 Photo Contest [PaEN]

-- Commonwealth Financing Authority Announces $16 Million In Act 13 Funding For Watershed Restoration, Flood Mitigation, Recreation; Small Water & Sewer Application Period Opening  [PaEN]

-- Save The Date! May 13-15 DCNR Watershed Forestry Summit  [PaEN]

-- Apply Now!  PA Master Naturalist Volunteer Spring Training Offered In Adams, Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Dauphin, Indiana, Montour, Philadelphia, Somerset Counties  [PaEN]

-- Help Wanted: PA Master Naturalist - Communications/Development Coordinator  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Tribune-Democrat: Path Of The Flood Trail Earns State’s Trail Of The Year Award

-- Altoona Mirror: Path Of The Flood Trail Gets State Honor In Cambria County

-- Beaver Times: Beaver County Receives State Grants For Parks, Green Spaces

-- Altoona Mirror: Bedford Fulton Recreation Authority Received Grant For Trail Project Along Abandoned Turnpike

-- PennLive: Lebanon County Man Charged With Animal Cruelty After Trying To Run Over A Fox With A Snowmobile; Unclear With 17-Year Also Involved Was Charged

-- Inquirer: Charges Expected For Lebanon County Snowmobilers Who Ran Over Fox

-- City & State PA: PA Tourism Marketing Efforts Get Long-Overdue Upgrade

-- Erie Times: Ice Dunes At Presque Isle Are Beautiful, But Dangerous

-- Republican Herald: Scout Reservation Land In Schuylkill County Now Permanently Protected

-- PA Capital-Star: PA House Committee Unanimously Backs Bike Lane Legislation

[Posted: January 31, 2025]

2/3/2025