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.

Highlights from the 17th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn

The 17th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn was one for the record books. We had 73 paddlers make the full 112-mile journey. That's more full-trippers than we've ever had in the event's 17-year history. We also filled each day with the maximum number of boats on the river (about 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, filled with friendship, laughter, a few water fights and, oh yeah, paddling. Lots of paddling. Overall, it was an amazing week. Here are some of the highlights.

Friday June 5

Sojourners check in at Schuylkill Haven Island Park and many camp out there the evening before the event begins. Once again this year restored steam Locomotive 113 arrived on the tracks behind the park. Paddlers were invited to climb aboard or just look at and learn more about the anthracite coal fired engine is an important piece of Schuylkill County's history. Several of our staff members climbed aboard and, yeah, we pulled the whistle.

Day 1, Saturday June 6:  

Before the launch

The Chutes

Sojourners launched from Schuylkill Haven and paddled to Port Clinton. Rain earlier in the week made for absolutely perfect water levels. Watching over 100 kayaks launch on their 112-mile journey is always an impressive site. Check out this video on YouTube taken by our photographer Ted Danforth. See his photos here.

Our program theme this year was Schuylkill Canal: Legacy & Landmarks. At Saturday's lunch, Schuylkill Haven Historian Rick Nagle gave a presentation about the Early Days of the Canal.  After lunch, sojourners took an exhilarating paddle through "The Chutes."

Day 2, Sunday June 7: 

As they paddled from Port Clinton to Muhlenberg Township, sojourners portaged Kernsville Dam. Shortly before the portage, the flotilla of kayaks as filmed by this drone video taken by Al Kershner.  Haley Sheeler, long popular with sojourners, entertained with her original music. Sojourners then paddled to the beautiful Jim Dietrich Park, in Muhlenberg Twp., where they set up camp and heard an entertaining presentation about Women on the Canal by re-enactor Nancy Bossler from the Berks County Heritage Center.

Day 3, Monday June 8:   

Crazy Hat Day!

Monday of the sojourn is always one of the most popular days of this seven day adventure.  For one thing it features Kelly's Rapids, just outside of Reading, and for another it's Crazy Hat Day!. This year, there were more crazy hats than ever! Sojourners also learned about the canal in Reading at lunch, and, in the evening, about the Allegheny Aqueduct that served to carry canal boats over the creek. While camping in Allegheny Aqueduct Park, sojourners braved a severe thunderstorm. Some took refuge in the historic Beidler House on the property, even though we were told it is "definitely haunted!"

Pottstown Dragon Warriors

Day 4, Tuesday June 9: 

Sojourners paddled from Gibraltar to Pottstown. They lunched at Morlatton Village, where they heard a presentation by fellow paddler Dave Kohler about the Irish contribution to the Canal. Afterward paddlers were joined on the water by the Pottstown Dragon Warriors, who traveled with them to Pottstown's Riverfront Park and offered sojourners an opportunity to test out dragon boating. Another highlight of the day: we were joined on the water by our new Executive Director Silas Chamberlin (left). And Reading Eagle reporter Paige Cooperstein also joined us and wrote this first person account of her journey. The evening ended with a band playing music by the river.

A Group Shot at Lock 60

Day 5, Wednesday June 10:  

Sojourners capped off one of the longest paddling days (17.8 miles) with an annual tradition of
locking through the restored Lock 60, the only operating lock remaining of the former Schuylkill Navigation System.  At lunch they were welcomed at Royersford's Victory Park with some delicious local foods, including a fun box of Schuylkill Mud candy from Sweet Ashley's. In the evening, sojourners were entertained by author Charlie Adams who talked about the Schuylkill Rangers, a group of pirates who once terrorized canal boats.

Norristown Dragon Boat Club

Day 6, Thursday June 11: 

Sojourners continued on to West Conshohocken. They stopped at Valley Forge National Historical Park for lunch, where park Ranger Deirdre Gibson talked about the desilting basing  in the park. Once again this year, the Norristown Boat Club accompanied us for part of the trip and allowed some kayakers to take a turn in the Dragon Boat. In the evening, after a delicious dinner of barbeque ribs and chicken, Kay Sykora of Destination Schuylkill River talked about the Manayunk Canal.

Heading to the final take out in Philly (Photo: Gene Miller)

Day 7, Friday June 12:  

The 17th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn ended as always at Boathouse Row. Paddlers stopped for lunch at the historic Philadelphia Canoe Club where they got to gaze at some beautiful wooden canoes and hear a presentation on INVISIBLE RIVER'S performances that celebrate the river. A reporter from Billy Penn joined us for this leg of the journey. You can read her excellent first person account here.

To learn more about the sojourn or to sign up for our email updates visit our website at www.schuylkillriver.org 

A Few Highlights from the SRT Spree

From April 17-22, a two-person team from Sly Fox Brewing Company traveled over 110 miles by bike, kayak, horseback and on foot along the Schuylkill River and Schuylkill River Trail. Dubbed the SRT Spree, their journey helped promote the new Schuylkill River Trail Ale (SRT Ale), while drawing attention to the trail, which stands among the region's most treasured recreational resources.

They set off in Schuylkill Haven by kayak on April 17 and pedaled into Philadelphia on Earth Day, April 22, with support from Take it Outdoors Adventures. In between, Sly Fox held two 5K races as well as tastings of the new SRT Ale at 11 different establishments located in trail towns. The Schuylkill River Heritage Area held five trail cleanups, and volunteers got free SRT T-shirts and a voucher to taste the new ale.

Overall it was a great event, and a fun way to celebrate a new beer that benefits the Schuylkill River Trail through a portion of the proceeds. Here are some highlights from the Spree.

Day 1 Fri. 4/17 (15.5 miles Schuylkill Haven to Port Clinton by kayak): The two-man team--Sly Fox Brewery Sales Manager Corey Reid and Todd Palmer, Creative Director at Virtual Farm Creative--carried flags bearing the SRT Ale image along every leg of their journey. Corey's flag made it all the way to Schuylkill Banks in Philadelphia, while Todd's disappeared off his bike in East Falls. The photo on left shows Corey (left) and Todd at the start in Schuylkill Haven. They celebrated their arrival in Port Clinton at the Port Clinton Hotel.
.

Day 2 Sat. 4/18 (18.3 miles Port Clinton to Muhlenberg Twp by bike & kayak): The pair cycled two miles to the Kernsville Dam Trail Head, where they greeted a team of volunteers who were raking and pruning along the trail. Then, they were joined by about a dozen other paddlers as they kayaked 16.3 miles to Jim Dietrich Park in Muhlenberg Township.

Day 3 Sun. 4/19 (19.6 miles Reading to Pottstown by bike & horse): Following a 9.5 mile ride along the Schuylkill River Trail from Trooper Thorns Pub in Reading to the Unionville Township Trailhead in Birdsboro, Corey and Todd met up with a team of about 30 hardworking volunteers who were assisting with a trail widening project. From there, they hopped on horses and trotted
to Pottstown.

Day 4 Mon. 4/20 (17.8 miles Pottstown to Lock 60 by kayak): Joined by a contingent of kayakers, Todd and Corey got a rainy start to their day at Riverfront Park, stopped for lunch and a tasting at the Railroad Street Bar, and finished the day with sunshine and by locking through Lock 60 of the Schuylkill Canal.  There, 25 volunteers worked to beautify the park with plantings and mulch, while the Sly Fox team biked to a ribbon cutting for a new piece of trail in Phoenixville, then attended an afterparty and a Sly Fox 5K.

 Day 5 Tues. 4/21 (23.5 miles Lock 60 to Manayunk by bike and foot): Two Schuylkill River Heritage Area staff member pedaled with the Sly Fox team from Lock 60 in Mont Clare to the Conshohocken Brewery. There, representatives from the two breweries had a good-will exchange of their beer. The day ended in East Falls, with a tasting at the bike-friendly In Rival bar.

Day 6 Wed. 4/22 (5.5 miles East Falls to Schuylkill Banks by bike): The SRT Spree came to an end at the beautiful Schuylkill Banks in Philadelphia. About 50 volunteers were on hand to pick up trash, rake, mulch, paint and tidy up the trail. Another 5K and park cleanup was held at the nearby Paine Park. Then the SRT Spree finished up with an Earth Day SRT Ale  Release Party at Philadelphia's World Cafe Live.

Why Not Paddle on One of the Sojourn's Mid-Week Days?

Photo by Ted Danforth, 2014 Sojourn

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 6-12) 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! Tuesday through Friday offer plenty of fun paddling opportunities. 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 is Schuylkill Canal: Legacy & Landmarks.

Click here to register

 Tuesday June 9. (13.9 miles: Gibraltar to Pottstown)

If you have never done the sojourn before, and want to test out a day, this is the day to try.  It's an easy paddle featuring beautiful scenery and, often, interesting wildlife. Last year a bald eagle was spotted along this section (see photo on left).  Another reason to consider Tuesday? Great programming! The lunch stop is at Historic Morlatton Village, a beautiful and historic setting where we'll have a presentation on the Irish & the Schuylkill Canal.  And the evening stop, at Riverfront Park in Pottstown, includes arguably the best dinner on the trip, catered by Bause Catering. The evening program will feature a special Battle of the Bands program with multiple area bands in celebration of Pottstown's Bicentennial.
paddling day, featuring  beautiful scenery and interesting wildlife.

Wednesday June 10. (17.8 miles: Pottstown to Mont Clare 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). This year, with the program theme focused on the canal, it's worth doing Wednesday for that alone. 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 listen to author Charlie Adams talk about pirates that once plagued the Schuylkill Canal.

Thursday June 11. (14 miles: Mont Clare to West Conshohocken) This is a great day to paddle for several reasons. 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.  Later in the day sojourners encounter some interesting bridges and urban settings. At dinner, in West Conshohocken, they'll learn about the fascinating history of the Manayunk Canal.

Friday June 12 (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 presentation on Invisible River, a performance art that celebrates the Schuylkill River.  The final takeout is Lloyd Hall on Boathouse Row. 

10 Reasons to Sign Up for the 17th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn

Registration for the 17th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn is now open! If you've always wanted to participate in at least one day on the sojourn, let this be the year you do! This 112-mile, seven day guided canoe/kayak tour takes place from Saturday June 6 to Friday June 12. Keep in mind that the first three days fill up quickly, so if you want to paddle on Saturday, Sunday or Monday, register early! Partial trip registration opens April 15; full-trip registration opened April 1. Click here to register.

Still not sure whether to sign up? 

Here are 10  reasons we think you should:

1. You don't have to do the full trip: Every year, people ask us if they need to sign up for the entire seven-day event. The answer is no! In fact, only about half the people on the water each day are full-trippers. So customize the trip to suit your needs. Try out one day or any combination of days you like. (Partial trip registration opens April 15).

2. You can go it alone: No friends want to join you? No sweat. The sojourn features a lead boat and a sweep boat that keeps the group from spreading out too far. That means you'll be paddling along with about 100 other fun-loving people. You are bound to make new friends.

3. We make it easy for you: How easy? We give you breakfast, lunch, dinner and a place to camp. We shuttle your gear and take you  back to your car. We provide water and Gatorade at all stops, and on long paddling stretches, we take breaks.  Our amazing guides from Canoe Susquehanna have been leading the sojourn for 17 years. If you're a novice, they'll give you pointers to make sure you have a great time.

4.You'll learn something fascinating: We provide speakers at all lunch and evening stops. This year,  the program theme is Schuylkill Canal: Legacy & Landmarks. Among the highlights are: a tour of the Allegheny Aqueduct,  a  talk about pirates on the Schuylkill Canal, and an opportunity to visit the Port Clinton Transportation Museum.  See Full List of programs.

5. You don't even have to own a kayak or canoe: Hey, we know not everyone has a boat. That's why we partner with an outfitter, Take it Outdoors Adventure Group, who can rent you a kayak for as many days as you need it. Kayak rentals include life vests and paddles

 6. Experience not necessary: While it is helpful to have some paddling experience under your belt, it's hardly necessary to be an expert. Every year we have beginners join us, sometimes even for the full-trip. Our guides are particularly good at assisting newcomers.

7. Your age doesn't matter: Octogenarians and elementary school children have paddled on the sojourn and loved it.
8. It's a bucket list item: Don't believe us? It was number 17 out of 25 on the Philly Fitness Bucket List   put together by Philadelphia Magazine's Be Well Philly.   

9. Every day is fun: People often ask us which sojourn day is best. Well, here's the truth: All the days are great! Saturday and Sunday are favored for their scenery (and also because they are weekend days!) Monday features a short section of white water called "Kelly's Rapids."  Tuesday is a nice, easy stretch ending at our headquarters, where we promise a great dinner! Wednesday ends with sojourners "locking through" the only watered lock remaining of the Schuylkill Canal. Thursday features a lunch stop at Valley Forge National Park. On Friday, the journey ends at Boat House Row, and sojourners paddle with the Philly skyline as their backdrop.

10. It only happens once a year: If you've always wanted to paddle on the sojourn, but don't do it this year, you'll have to wait all the way until June 2016 to get another chance!

We hope we've convinced you! If so, hurry: we only allow about 100 people on the water each day, so registration can fill up quickly for certain days. You can learn more about the sojourn on our website.
Or, if you're ready to join us for the 17th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn, Register Here!