The Endless Mountains Heritage Alliance (EMHA) has planned two public events in conjunction with the Student Heritage Sojourn slated for May 12 to 14. For three days, students from a number of area schools will paddle stretches of the North Branch Susquehanna River and get hands-on lessons in nature and river culture at Camp Lackawanna, which will serve as the base camp for the sojourn.
On Friday, May 12, at 10:30 am, sojourners and their chaperons will launch from Endless Mountain Outfitters at Sugar Run in Bradford County. At 10 am, a number of speakers representing the Endless Mountains Heritage Region (EMHR) and supporting organizations like DCNR and the PA Fish & Boat Commission will provide an overview of the adventure and give participants and the public an idea of what they can expect of the weekend.
On Friday evening, the students will gather around the campfire at Vosburg Neck in Wyoming County for a presentation by Hickory Edwards, representing the Onondaga Nation and talking about the importance of the river from a Native American perspective. Sojourners will also entertain each other with music and stories about the day’s journey.
On Saturday morning, Rebecca Lesko of the Endless Mountains Nature Center (EMNC) will provide information about wildlife in the area and introduce the students to some animals that are kept and cared for at EMNC’s Vosburg Neck sanctuary that cannot be released back to the wild. Students will get back on the river afterwards and paddle to Tunkhannock.
Saturday evening will involve more activities at Camp Lackawanna that are for participating sojourners only.
On Sunday, May 14, at 12:15 pm, the public is invited to the Dietrich Theater to see photos and video clips and to hear from the youths what they learned from their Student Heritage Sojourn adventure, as well as from EMHR representatives and local officials.