Why Not Sign Up for the Schuylkill River Sojourn's Mid-week Days?

It's happened again. Only hours after we opened up registration for individual days on the annual Schuylkill River Sojourn the first three days of the seven-day guided canoe/kayak tour (June 4-10) are sold out. Sure, everybody wants to paddle on the weekend. But, to keep things safe we allow only about 100 boats per day. That means we wind up turning people away on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, while Tuesday through Friday fill up more slowly--or sometimes don't fill up at all.

If you are one of those who hesitated a bit too long to get on the sojourn's weekend days, don't despair! Here's a day-by-day guide to the sojourn's mid-week days. All have openings so you can sign up for one or all four! As always the sojourn will begin in Schuylkill Haven and end at Philadelphia's Boathouse Row with participants paddling 14-18 miles per day. The program theme celebrates the Centennial of the National Park Service.

Click here to register

 Tuesday June 7 (13.9 miles: Gibraltar to Pottstown)

Riverfront Park, Pottstown

This is a great day for Sojourn newcomers!  It's an easy paddle featuring beautiful scenery with the opportunity to spot interesting wildlife. The lunch stop is at Historic Morlatton Village, one of our region's best kept historic secrets. There, we'll have a presentation about the region's fascinating iron history. And the evening stop, at Riverfront Park in Pottstown, includes arguably the best dinner on the trip, catered by Bause Catering. We're teaming up with Pottstown Borough this year for an entertaining evening featuring a live band followed by screenings from Pottstown's first film festival.

Wednesday June 8. (17.8 miles: Pottstown to Mont Clare Lock 60) 

Lock 60

One of the major highlights of the week-long sojourn happens on this day. Sojourners end the day by "locking through" the restored Lock 60 on the former Schuylkill Canal (see photo on left).. But, there's also some nice scenery and an enjoyable lunch setting  at Victory Park, in Royersford, where the Borough officials welcome sojourners with a delicious cake.  In the evening, paddlers can camp out near the canal, eat spaghetti dinner at nearby St. Micheal's Pavilion, and watch a slideshow about the Philadelphia Flower Show's National Park Service displays.

Thursday June 9 (14 miles: Mont Clare to West Conshohocken)

The river features a nice mix of scenery through this area. Paddlers begin the day in the canal and make their way into the river and through some wooded areas. The sojourn lunch will be at Valley Forge National Historic Park where a park ranger will give sojourners a rundown on how the park is celebrating the Centennial.  This stop always features an entertaining free raffle by Stony Creek Anglers. Later in the day sojourners encounter some interesting bridges and urban settings. At dinner, in West Conshohocken, they'll eat an amazing barbecue dinner served up by the Rib House.

Friday June 10 (16 miles: West Conshohocken to Philadelphia).

This may be the final day, but it's also one of the best days of the sojourn! Sojourners love having the opportunity to paddle with the Philadelphia skyline as their backdrop and alongside the iconic Boathouse Row. If you need another reason to paddle on Friday, lunch is at the historic Philadelphia Canoe Club, where you eat surrounded by some amazing antique boats. You'll also hear a brief presentation about the Washington Rochambeau National Historic Route.  The final takeout is Lloyd Hall on Boathouse Row. 

A Look at What We Have Planned for 2016

We expect 2016 to be another year chock full of events and programs that improve the Schuylkill River, expand the Schuylkill River Trail, and make this region a better place to live, work and play.

 
Improve the Schuylkill River Trail

We are always working with partners to improve, promote, expand and maintain the Schuylkill River Trail. Our Safe Crossings Program is one of the trail projects we will address in 2016, making areas where trails and roads intersect safer for trail users.

Organize a Ride for the River

Ride for the River is a new 40-mile bike ride that will take cyclists from Pottstown to Reading along the Schuylkill River Trail on September 24, 2016. We're holding this event in partnership with Sly Fox Brewery, beginning and ending at the Sly Fox Can Jam festival in Pottstown, which features 8 hours of free, live music.

Promote River Recreation with the 18th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn

The18th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn will be held from June 4-10, 2016 and will incorporate special National Park Service programming at lunch and evening stops in recognition of the NPS Centennial. Since it was first initiated in 1999, the annual Schuylkill River Sojourn has grown increasingly popular. Over the years the 112-mile, seven-day guided canoe/kayak tour has introduced over 3,000 participants from 25 states, Canada, France and Switzerland to paddling the river. 

Complete the Pottstown RiverWalk 

We will cut the ribbon on  the new Pottstown RiverWalk this spring. This new addition to Riverfront Park in Pottstown will connect to the Schuylkill River Trail, creating a one-mile loop through a wooded area and along the river. The RiverWalk will be enhanced by interpretive signs offering information about area wildlife, watersheds, plant life and more. Located behind our offices, it will provide a new amenity for trail users and visitors to our River of Revolutions Interpretive Center.

 Support a Cleaner River with the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund

The 2016 grant round of the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund opened in January. Since 2006, the fund has collected over $2.5 million and awarded grants to 73 projects that improve water quality in the river and its tributaries by reducing pollution from stormwater runoff, agricultural contaminants and abandoned mine drainage.

Host an Evening for the Schuylkill River

On March 12, we will host a dinner and awards ceremony at the Historic Sunnybrook Ballroom in Pottstown. This first-time event will celebrate our work and recognize some of our key partners. Attendees will enjoy an evening of delicious food, live music basket raffles and silent auction items. 

Hold Six Pedal & Paddle Events

Our popular Pedal & Paddles take people on a round trip adventure in Pottstown that includes a 4.5 mile bike ride along the Schuylkill River Trail, a tour of Historic Morlatton Village in Douglassville, and a return trip via kayak on the river. This year, one of our Pedal and Paddles will be held at Schuylkill Canal Park in Mont Clare. Since Pedal & Paddles were first initiated in 2011, they have proven so popular that nearly each event has sold out. Over the years we have introduced hundreds of people to paddling the river and biking the trail through this program. 

Support the Arts through Scenes of the Schuylkill

We recently expanded the reach of our annual Scenes of the Schuylkill Art Show by displaying a selection of 16 pieces of art from last fall’s show at Valley Forge National Historical Park Visitors Center. That exhibit is on display from January 13 to February 26, 2016.  Scenes of the Schuylkill will enter its 13^th year next November. Each year, the shown has grown and consistently attracted talented artists whose work celebrates the beauty and character of the Schuylkill River region.

Partner on the SRT SPREE

Last April, we partnered with Sly Fox Brewery to introduce the new SRT Ale, a seasonal beer that celebrates and benefits the Schuylkill River Trail. The beer was launched through a unique event dubbed the SRT SPREE, which took a two-man team on a 110-mile journey along the river and trail. This year, a shorter, weekend SPREE is planned when the next round of SRT Ale becomes available again on Earth Day. In 2015, the sales of the beer yielded over $4,000 for the Schuylkill River Trail.

Introduce a New Water Trail Guide

We are working with a designer on the development of a new Schuylkill River Water Trail guide that includes detailed maps of the river and information on access points, hazards, parks, amenities and notable sites along the river. The guide will be published later this year, replacing our popular but outdated and far less detailed existing guides, and making the river safer and more accessible for recreational boaters.

 

How We Spent 2015: Our Year in Review

Wow, 2015 was an amazing year here at the Schuylkill River Heritage Area. We saw our events grow in popularity and introduced new events. We created new opportunities for people to connect with the river. And we improved, promoted and celebrated the Schuylkill River Trail. Take a look at our Year in Review. We worked hard, accomplished a lot, and in the process, we can't deny it, we managed to have some fun.

1. Celebrated the Schuylkill River Trail as America's Best Urban Trail

The Schuylkill River Trail was voted America's #1 Urban Trail in a USA Today Reader's Poll. We thought this was a big deal. So did a lot of our trail partners and top state officials. Over 100 people came to celebrate at Schuylkill Banks in Philadelphia. Speakers included Secretary of DCNR Cindy Dunn, Secretary of PennDOT Leslie Richards, Secretary of the PA DEP John Quigley and National Park Service Northeast Regional Director Mike Caldwell, as well as a number of other state and local officials.

2. Introduced an Ale for the Trail

 In April, we partnered with Sly Fox Brewery to introduce the new seasonal SRT Ale. Billed as an Ale for the Trail,  a portion of the proceeds went directly to the Schuylkill River Trail. Sly Fox launched it with a particularly fun event, the SRT SPREE. A two-person team traveled over 100 miles, covering nearly the entire length of the Schuylkill River Trail by kayak, bike, horseback and on foot. Overall, the beer was a great success. In September, Sly Fox presented us with a check for over $4,000 for our Schuylkill River Trail Safe Crossings project, improving areas where the trail intersects roadways. Look for more SRT Ale and a second SRT SPREE in April 2016. Learn more.

3. Led a Record-Breaking 17th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn

The 17th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn was a record breaker. More people than ever before (74) made the full 112-mile trip  from Schuylkill Haven to Philadelphia. And  we filled each day with the maximum number of boats allowed on the water, 100-120, something we haven't done since the Sojourn's 10th anniversary in 2008. All those people on the water made for a particularly fun seven days. We are already planning the 18th Annual Sojourn for June 4-10, 2016, with special programming that will celebrate the Centennial of the National Park Service. Read more.

4. Began Construction on a New RiverWalk in Pottstown

 In November, work crews began construction on a new trail in Pottstown right outside our offices. The new multi-use, crushed stone trail spans a wooded area of Riverfront Park, right outside our office, creating a one-mile loop that links to the Schuylkill River Trail. It will feature a series of interpretive signs that offer information on local birds, woodlands, watersheds and more. Look for a ribbon cutting in the spring.

5. Enhanced our Volunteer Programs

  
We rely on volunteers to help us maintain the Schuylkill River Trail in Berks and Schuylkill Counties, where we operate and maintain about 30 miles of trail. For that reason, we have a number of volunteer opportunities, including our Trail Ambassador program and Sponsor-a-Trail and Adopt-a-Trail programs. This year, thanks to our Trail Sustainability Coordinator Kaitlin Flahive, we added three new Adopt-A-Trail members, including Children's Home of Reading, Alvernia University students (shown above right) and White Deer Run Blue Mountain (above left), a residential treatment facility for adults. These groups will now clean up several miles of the Schuylkill River Trail in Reading and Hamburg.

6. Printed and Distributed 1000s of Schuylkill River Trail Maps

This summer, we printed 50,000 Schuylkill River Trail Maps that have proven to be incredibly popular. Our volunteers handed them out along the trail on August 1, and we have delivered dozens of cases to our partners and Gateway Centers. People keep asking for more. The accordion-style, full-color foldout brochures delineate the entire 130-mile trail, including planned, finished and on-road sections. On the flip side is information about amenities and attractions in trail towns. Find out where you can get a trail map. 

7. Welcomed our New Executive Director

 

In June, we sadly said goodbye to our longtime Executive Director Kurt Zwikl (left), who retired after leading the Heritage Area for 12 years. We were pleased to welcomed on board Silas Chamberlin who was selected through an extensive search. Silas holds a doctorate in environmental history from Lehigh University, and formerly served as a regional advisor for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Prior to that time, he worked as senior director for the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. Silas has already brought a lot of positive energy to our organization and we look forward to more in the coming year. Read more.

8. Organized a Unique Colonial Dining Experience at a Historic Site

This spring we held a colonial dinner at the Historic White Horse Inn (c. 1762), in Morlatton Village, in Douglassville. The dinner featured a colonial inspired menu, a candlelit atmosphere, and waitstaff in period costume. Diners enjoyed harpsichord music and local wines and beer, as well as a hearth cooking demonstration. It was an enjoyable evening that received rave reviews from participants. Look for information soon about our next dinner at Historic Sunnybrook Ballroom on March 12! Learn more.

9. Continued our Commitment to Cleaning the River

 

 In September, we distributed $275,000 in Schuylkill River Restoration Fund grants to  projects that will improve water quality in the Schuylkill River and its tributaries. The grant announcement was held at the Rice Farm in Kempton, PA, where a restoration fund grant funded agricultural improvement projects that keep manure and other pollutants out of nearby Maiden Creek, which drains into the Schuylkill. Since the Restoration Fund was established in 2006 through a public/private partnership,  it has garnered more than $2.5 million and funded 73 projects that have reduced stormwater run-off, agricultural pollutants and abandoned mine drainage.

10. Hosted Six Pedal & Paddle Events

Our round-trip Pedal and Paddle biking/kayaking adventures continue to be among our most popular programs. For 2015, we held six events--including our first Hike and Paddle at Lock 60 along the Schuylkill Canal. All together we took a total of 95 people along the trail and on the river.  Since we introduced our first Pedal & Paddle in 2011, we have sold out nearly every session offered. Most Pedal & Paddles include a 4.5 mile ride along the Schuylkill River Trail in Pottstown, a tour of Historic Morlatton Village and a return trip via kayak. Our goal is to get more people to enjoy biking the trail, paddling the river and learning about the region's history.

11. Held our 12th Annual Art Show

 







 The Annual Scenes of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area art show continues to draw more excitement each year. This year, we had 163 works submitted, 93 of which were juried into the show. The exhibit, at the Montgomery County Community College West Campus Gallery, ran from Nov. 9-Dec 11. In January, we will display a selection of the art at Valley Forge National Historical Park in the Visitors Center.

12. Expanded our Educational Program for At-Risk Students 

For the past three years we have been fortunate enough to have VISTA workers serving one-year terms in our office, working as trail sustainability coordinators. They have created and expanded the Schuylkill Outdoor Leadership Odyssey, an  educational program that connects at-risk high school students to the outdoors and sparks their interest in environmental careers. This year, VISTA Kaitlin Flahive expanded the program to include schools in Philadelphia, Berks and Schuylkill Counties.  The 10 to12-week  program consists of classes with guest speakers, field trips and service projects. It was highlighted by a kayaking trip on the river. Kaitlin further impacted at-risk youth by partnering with the National Park Service to conduct Canoemobile programs that taught nearly150 students about the environment through hands-on activities. 

13.  Continued Our Free Bike Share

For 2015 we shared our Bike Pottstown and Bike Schuylkill cruisers over 1,000 times to people who used them for recreation along the Schuylkill River Trail and for transportation downtown. Available in three communities, Pottstown, Hamburg and Phoenixville, the bikes were borrowed by people from 10 different states, Ireland, Canada and Holland. Learn more. 

14. Planned for 2016 

We're already busy planning our next Fundraising Dinner for March 12, another SRT Spree in April, our 18th Schuylkill River Sojourn in June, Pedal and Paddle events throughout the summer, and a 40-mile round-trip Ride for the River bike ride along the Schuylkill River Trail. Visit www.schuylkillriver.org  to learn more.

12th Annual Scenes of the Schuylkill Art Show

The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance -- Aristotle

Each year, when we host the annual Scenes of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area art exhibit, we invite artists to celebrate not only the beauty of the region, but its inward significance. We are never disappointed. In fact, we are consistently amazed by the talented artists who are inspired by the river, landscapes and other sites that makeup the Schuylkill River region. This year was no exception. We think it is the show's best year yet. On October 26, a total of 163 pieces of art and photography were delivered to the Montgomery County Community College West Campus Gallery in Pottstown.  By comparison, last year, we received 112 submissions.

This year's judge, Charles Stainback (shown left), Director of Art at the Berman Museum, Ursinus College had the difficult job of jurying the show. He selected 92 works overall, named three winning entries and two honorable mentions (See winners below), and then went one step further, picking three "Judge's Selections." In addition, he chose a total of 15 pieces that will be exhibited at Valley Forge National Historical Park from Jan. 13-Dec. 11. A staff choice award was also determined by the Schuylkill River Heritage Area staff.

I must admit the process of selecting works for this exhibition was exceedingly difficult. Difficult first because of the number of entries received, but more importantly because of the consistent quality of all the works, from the very first thing that I looked at to the last. Truly, virtually everything was first rate.                                                                      Charles Stainback, judge  

 Visit our website to learn more about the art show.

                                         

2015 Scenes of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area winners:

Best of Show: Listening Woods, oil, by Helen Mirkil

2nd Place: Memento Mori,oil on wood by, Jonathan Bond

3rd Place: Autumn Reflections, pastel, by Cathy Grygiel

Staff Choice: Wissahickon in the Fall, watercolor, by Susannah Hart Thomer

Honorable Mention: Festival, watercolor by Lori Quinque Quinn

Honorable Mention: Pine Woods Trail, oil by Russell Slocum

Visit the 12th Annual Scenes of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area Art Show & Sale from November 9 through December 11 at the Montgomery County Community College West Campus Gallery, 16 W. High St., Pottstown. Gallery Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

 Visit our website to learn more about the art show.

10 Ways to Celebrate the Schuylkill River Trail's Designation as Best Urban Trail

The Schuylkill River Trail came in first place in USA Today's 10 Best Reader's Choice Awards, beating out 20 other trails from around the country. We couldn't be happier, and if you use the trail you probably want to celebrate the trail's newest honor. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. Explore the trail: Sure, the SRT was named best urban trail, but what makes it so terrific is the varied landscape it traverses. So take an hour or two to get to know a different section of the trail. Ride from Pottstown to Reading, for example. Or take a day trip up to Hamburg and ride six miles (12, round trip) on the very scenic section known as the Bartram Section. Visit our website at schuylkillrivertrail.com for maps and trail head locations. Or pick

2. Take a walk on the Boardwalk: The Schuylkill River Boardwalk (pictured at top) is the trail's newest amenity. Built to extend the trail in Philadelphia past Locust Street, this 2,000-foot long structure allows trail users to literally walk, ride or jog on top of the water. This beautiful addition to the trail opened last fall and has been extremely popular. If you haven't visited it, now's a great time to see one of the Best Urban Trail's best urban features.

3. Pick up a Free Trail Map: Our popular, full-color, accordion-style Schuylkill River Trail Brochures area available at trail heads and other visitor locations. The map shows completed, on-road and planned sections of the entire trail. Click here for a list of sites carrying the maps
 4.  Bike the Trail: If you haven't ridden on the trail, you're missing out. The section from Phoenixville to Philadelphia is mostly paved, and it's flat, making for a nice, easy ride. The Chester County piece, from Phoenixville to Parkerford, is gravel and shady. And the Pottstown to Reading section is also mostly gravel and tree canopied, with a paved piece in Pottstown. Wherever you ride, we can pretty much guarantee a fun and often peaceful experience.

5. Borrow a bike:  In Pottstown, Phoenixville and Hamburg, you can take advantage of our completely free bike share, Bike Pottstown and Bike Schuylkill to take a ride on the trail. The program's signature yellow cruisers (above) are available to anyone age 16 or older at absolutely no cost, and you can use them for an entire day if you want. Visit bikeschuylkill.org for more details.

6. Learn about the Trail: Did you know, for example, that the trail will one day total 130 miles? Today, there are about 60 miles complete. It is being built in sections by a number of partners who own and maintain various sections of the trail. You can learn more by visiting schuylkillrivertrail.com.

Trail Ambassadors on the Trail's Thun Section in Berks Co.

7. Volunteer!: In Berks and Schuylkill Counties, the trail is managed and maintained by the Schuylkill River Heritage Area, which relies on Trailkeepers to help with upkeep and Trail Ambassadors to assist trail users. In fact, volunteers play a key role along most sections of the trail. Click here to learn more about volunteer opportunities.

8. Become a Trail Advocate: It takes many organizations to build the trail, and those organizations seek support in many different ways. You can learn more about Greater Philadelphia's Regional Trail Network at connectthecircuit.org.  Or to learn about other organizations that build and maintain the trail here.

9. Experience the Schuylkill River Water Trail:  The Schuylkill River has many areas that are great for kayaking and canoeing. The Schuylkill River Water Trail Guide pinpoints access points and hazards to make recreational boating on the river safe and accessible. Or take a guided paddle with Take it Outdoors Adventures, which offers kayak rentals, shuttles and regular kayaking events on the river.

10. Celebrate with an SRT Ale!: This spring, Sly Fox Brewery debuted its seasonal Ale for the Trail, known as SRT Ale. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Schuylkill River Heritage Area in support of the trail. So after you've ridden, hiked, jogged you can top off the day with an SRT Ale and know that you've done your part to support the trail.