River Sojourn celebrates our wild and scenic river

WEST TRENTON, NJ — The 2008 Delaware River Sojourn will be held from Sunday, June 22 through Saturday, June 28. The event combines canoeing, kayaking, camping, educational programs and more. It marks its 14th year in 2008 and is one of the oldest river sojourns in the nation.

The theme for this year’s journey, “Conserving Our Wild and Scenic River,” commemorates the 40th anniversary of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which protects certain rivers and their immediate environments for the enjoyment of present and future generations. This law made possible the Upper and Middle Delaware’s Wild and Scenic designation, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, as well as the action taken in 2000 to add key segments of the Lower Delaware to the national system. In all, three-quarters of the non-tidal Delaware River, along with portions of several tributaries to the main stem river and bay, are currently designated wild and scenic.

The sojourn is suitable for people of all ages and with varying paddling skills. Participants may sign up for the entire seven-day trip or for the day(s) of their choice. This year, over 60 miles of the main stem Delaware River will be paddled, split into daily trips ranging from six to 14 miles.

The daily price for participants 16 and older is $70 per person ($50 for children 15 and under). As a way to encourage more families to participate, the pricing schedule has been changed this year, allowing paddling children 15 and under to be eligible for the reduced fee. (Previously, only non-paddling children 12 and under riding in their parents’ canoe were entitled to receive the discount.) In addition to the daily fee, a one-time $5 per person insurance fee will be charged to non-members of the American Canoe Association, which sanctions the event. A limited number of scholarships are available for first-time paddlers.

For more information visit www.delawareriversojourn.org.

Sojourn schedule

Sunday, June 22: Narrowsburg (NY) to Ten Mile River (NY).

Monday, June 23: Callicoon (NY) to Narrowsburg.

Tuesday, June 24: Milford Beach (PA) to Dingmans Ferry (PA).

Wednesday, June 25: Smithfield Beach (PA) to Driftstone (PA).

Thursday, June 26: Theodore Roosevelt Recreation Area Access (PA) to Giving Pond (PA).

Friday, June 27: Giving Pond to Point Pleasant (PA).

Saturday, June 28: Quaker Penn Park (PA) to Matinicunk (aka Burlington) Island (NJ).