The Endless Mountains Heritage Region (EMHR) and Endless Mountain Outfitters are teaming up to host EMHR’s annual Youth Heritage Sojourn on the Susquehanna River’s Upper North Branch for middle and high school-level students in across our four-county region. The goal of this sojourn is to educate our youth about kayaking safety, area history, environmental stewardship, and the ecology of the remarkable natural resource known as the Susquehanna River.
Day 1: Friday, June 24th – Arrive at Endless Mountain Outfitters by or before 11 a.m. for registration. Our trip starts at EMO and goes 8.5 miles to Laceyville. Students will be asked to bring a packed lunch or snack for the trip. After the trip we will shuttle back to EMO to get vehicles (if needed) and go to Camp Lackawanna (1219 Vosburg Rd, Tunkhannock, PA). Upon arrival, students will set up camp, eat a provided dinner, play games and watch a movie on a blow-up screen. Prior to the movie, Wyoming County Cultural Center director Erica Rogler will talk about her organization and its connections to the Susquehanna.
Day 2: Saturday, June 25th – After eating breakfast, students will be shuttled to Laceyville and, following a safety briefing, begin their 15-mile paddle back to Camp Lackawanna. The evening will consist of a provided dinner and a guest speaker, EMHR executive director Cain Chamberlin, who will talk about the organization, local river history and the many outdoor recreation opportunities the Heritage Region promotes.
Day 3: Sunday, June 26th – Following breakfast, students will break down camp and hear a boating safety presentation from David Raulfs of the PA Fish & Boat Commission. Participants will then paddle the remaining 6.5 miles from Camp Lackawanna to Tunkhannock Riverside Park. It is common to see eagles and other bird of prey along this section of the river, which Keith Brown will speak about. Lunch will be brought to paddlers at a pre-determined point along the river.
Cost per student: $150 (Covers the cost of the kayak rental, meals, camping site and insurance)
An additional $20 if booked after the early bird cutoff date of June 1st, 2022
All middle- and high-school level students in the four-county region of Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Wyoming are invited to partake in this three-day journey down the mighty Susquehanna River’s North Branch. Throughout the weekend, young paddlers will learn about kayaking safety, environmental stewardship, wildlife, camping and the history of this remarkable natural resource that we are fortunate enough to have flowing through our region. Led by Towanda Area School District teacher and EMO owner, Keith Brown, participants will embark on a three-day, two-night journey from Wyalusing to Tunkhannock. Students will paddle 30 miles over three-days! All lunches and dinners are provided, but students should bring snacks and water bottles. Evenings at Camp Lackawanna will include campfires, games, hiking, an outdoor evening movie on the big screen and more! For more information about the sojourn, contact Keith Brown at (570) 764-7102 or send an email to KBrown@tsd.k12.pa.us. Interested parties can also find more information and register: www.emheritage.org/events.