Delaware Sojourn launches on June 20

Take Dad on the river and support the environment BARRYVILLE, N.Y. — The 16th annual Delaware River Sojourn will kick off its week-long paddling, learning, and camping adventure on June 20 with three days of canoeing and kayaking on the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. People of all experience levels are welcome to join the guided trip for one day or more. Registration is $70 per day for ages 16 and above, and $50 for ages 15 and under. There is a one-time insurance fee of $5 per person, with the exception of current American Canoe Association members. Registration covers boat rentals if needed, shuttle transportation, interpretive programs, designated meals, and optional overnight camping. Each participant will receive a commemorative T-shirt touting the 2010 Delaware River Sojourn theme, “Bridging the Delaware Valley - Connecting Communities.” Representatives from the Upper Delaware Council, National Park Service (NPS) Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, National Canoe Safety Patrol, and Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition have planned the itinerary for Sojourn Days 1-3. Sunday, June 20 (Father’s Day) - Registration and campsites set-up at Kittatinny Canoes’ Barryville Campground starts at 10 a.m. A kick-off lunch catered by Il Castello Pizzeria & Ristorante of Barryville and welcome ceremony will take place at noon at the campground pavilion. Sojourners will be shuttled north to the Ten Mile River Access for a safety briefing and launch of the day’s eight-mile trip. An afternoon program will visit the “NPS Towpath Trail” in Minisink Ford, NY for a short hike before the approximately 6 p.m. take-out in Barryville. A chicken barbecue dinner will be offered at 7:30 p.m. in camp, followed by a NPS presentation on “Roebling’s Delaware Aqueduct” at the pavilion. Monday, June 21 - Breakfast and registration will begin at Kittatinny Canoes’ Barryville Campground at 7:30 a.m. The safety briefing and launch of the day’s 13-mile trip to the Staircase Rapids Base will occur at 9:30. During a cookout picnic lunch at Kittatinny’s Pond Eddy Base, Catskill Mountainkeeper Program Director Wes Gillingham will speak about “Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Exploration.” The river trip’s approximately 4 p.m. take-out will be followed by a 6 p.m. baked ziti dinner at the pavilion. Sojourners are invited to travel the short distance to Lackawaxen, PA for a 7:30 p.m. program on “New Exhibits at the Zane Grey Museum” hosted by NPS. Tuesday, June 22 - Breakfast and registration will take place at Kittatinny Canoes’ Matamoras Base at 8 a.m. Sojourners will be shuttled north to the Staircase Rapids Base for their safety briefing and to launch the day’s seven-mile paddle back to Matamoras. A paddler pack lunch stop and NPS program on “Water Snapshot” will occur at the Mongaup Sandy Beach Area. Take-out will be at approximately 3 p.m. to allow Sojourners who are continuing on time to travel to the Delaware Canal State Park’s Giving Pond Recreation Area in Upper Black Eddy, PA for camping set-up, dinner, and an evening program. Kittatinny Canoes & Campgrounds is providing all livery services, camping at Luke’s Landing, and catering for six Sojourn meals on Days 1-3. For registration assistance or questions, contact Dejay Branch of the Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition at P.O. Box 204, Lackawaxen, PA 18435, e-mail udpc@udpc.net or phone (646) 205-2724.