Registration is open for the 2023 Youth Heritage Sojourn, which will take place from Thursday to Saturday, June 15 to 17. This unique collaboration between the Endless Mountains Heritage Region (EMHR) and Endless Mountains Outfitters (EMO) provides and opportunity for students from grades 6 to 12 to learn about kayaking, the history of the Susquehanna River and the valleys through which it flows, and environmental stewardship.
The entire trip, over three days, will encompass more than 33 miles of the Susquehanna River’s North Branch from Laceyville to West Falls in Wyoming County. Participants will stay at Camp Lackawanna, adjacent to Vosburg Neck State Park, both nights of the trip. Towanda High School teacher and EMO owner Keith Brown will oversee the trip again this year along with his team of river guides.
According to Brown, participants have equally enjoyed all of the elements of the paddling trip in previous years. Making new friends and finding out how much fun they can have at camp and on the river with less phone time is their greatest take away,” he related. “Most of the kids have seen the river from the road. Not many have seen it the other way around. They also really enjoy learning about the outdoors and listening to the stories.”
Presenters on the first night will be EMHR executive director Cain Chamberlin and a representative of the Bradford County Historical Society. On the second evening, sojourners will be visited by storyteller Steve Davenport. Chamberlin noted that the EMHR successfully nominated the Susquehanna River North Branch as the 2023 Pennsylvania River of the Year contest, which makes this year’s sojourn especially poignanTh
The first leg of the trip will be from Laceyville to Camp Lackawanna, from there to Whites Ferry on day two, and on to the West Falls Boat Launch on the third morning. Participants will provide supplies such as their sleeping bags, blankets, pillow and canteen, as well as personal hygiene items. A complete list of suggested items, including proper clothing and footwear, and miscellaneous items like flashlights and sunscreen can be found under the event listing at EMHeritage.org, where interested readers will also find the registration form.
“Spots are filling up fast,” said Brown, who noted that registration will be capped at 70 youths, nearly half of that have already signed up.
The cost per student is $120, which includes kayak rental, accommodations in cabins at Camp Lackawanna, educational programming, insurance, and shuttling. The EMHR has been able to keep costs low thanks to funding provided by the PA DCNR; POWR (Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds & Rivers), which sponsored the PA River of the Year contest, and the generous support of businesses along the way. Additional sponsors and contributions are welcome.
On day three, students can be picked up at the West Falls Boat Launch at 12:30 pm or at Endless Mountains Outfitters in Sugar Run at 3 p.m. For more information, Keith Brown can be reached at 570-746-9140 or via email at [email protected]
