Due to unsafe river conditions and a forecast of more inclement weather this weekend, the “Student Heritage Sojourn” coordinated by the Endless Mountains Heritage Alliance for May 12 to 14 has been modified. The public launch and media event planned for the kayakers on Friday morning has been postponed, but the public is invited to participate in programs at Camp Lackawanna on Saturday evening.
Participating in the renamed “Youth Heritage Camping Adventure,” at least 30 students from three counties, plus their chaperons and instructors will spend the weekend enjoying the sites and sounds of Camp Lackawanna, the Endless Mountains Nature Center, and the Howland Preserve – together providing nearly 1,000 acres of hiking trails and river frontage on Vosburg Neck in Wyoming County.
Students will arrive at Camp Lackawanna on Friday morning, and partake in a variety of activities and educational presentations throughout the day. Fire starting, a discussion on watershed preservation, and hiking will fill the afternoon.
Weather permitting, participants will gather around a campfire after dinner at 6 pm for welcoming remarks from event organizers, supporting partners, and local officials. Local adventurist Charlie Anderson (above) is slated to make a presentation. If it rains, the opening ceremony will be held inside spacious Merrill Hall.
Team-building exercises, lessons on survival skills, natural dyes, and nature photography will fill much of Saturday for the students. The Public is invited to Camp Lackawanna to enjoy a discussion about local history by Joe Fisher (above) on topics such as Native American history and Sullivan’s Expedition beginning at 6:30 pm, followed by guitarist Don Sheppelle (below) singing songs about the river at 7:30 pm.
Funding from the Endless Mountains Heritage Region, POWR (Pennsylvania Organization of Watersheds and Rivers), Community Bank, and BradCo Supply has helped to cover costs for the students’ meals, insurance, camp rental and guest speakers.
The same youths and others will be invited to take part in a “make-up” paddle on Thursday and Friday, June 15 and 16.