Clarion Sojourn Wades Through
Sojourners traveling to the Clarion last weekend found themselves against the current even before attempting to boat on Friday morning. But Friday eventually brought sunshine and camaraderie, if not paddling as expected.

Last week’s round of major thunderstorms across the Midwest reached well into northern Pennsylvania, and got underway just in time to affect Sojourners arriving Thursday night to camp at Clear Creek State Park. Lightning cast a spreading glow across the skies as thunderous booms accompanied a downpour of epic proportions in Jefferson, Elk and Forest counties.

Those able to make it to the park through the storm found themselves confronted with flooded roadways from Phyllis Run and Clear Creek, that effectively cut off areas of the campground until the waters subsided. And the next morning brought the unfortunate news that boats were unavailable from the partner outfitter due to the high water levels. Non-deterred, the show went on but a little altered.

Friday morning’s scheduled press release to announce the publication of the Clarion River Water Trail Map & Guide, of which the Clarion Sojourn was to be the first planned trip utilizing said map, was a success. Nick Pinizzotto, Director of Watershed Programs at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s Watershed Assistance Center, hosted the press event and introduced the morning’s speakers. Barnett Township Supervisor Mike McMurray (also owner of Pale Whale Outfitters), Tom Ford and Ted Walke from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Carol Burd from the Allegheny National Forest, and Senator Mary Jo White of Pennsylvania’s 21st District spoke on the successes of Water Trails in Pennsylvania, and the importance they have for economics and recreation along Pennsylvania Waterways. Local Clarion River activist Dave Strong gave a heartfelt and compelling wrap-up to the event.

Without the possibility of paddling, a hike was then on order for Sojourners this day. The group ascended Seneca Trail to Seneca Point, a grand view of the Clarion River set atop a rock outcropping, where bag lunches that would have been eaten on the Clarion were instead enjoyed overlooking it. The group then returned via Mohawk Trail, all the while accompanied by able naturalists from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, who never failed to point out features of the forest landscape that is part of the Clarion’s watershed.

Evening activities went on as normally planned with dinner, a campfire and professional storytelling to boot. On this weekend, Sojourners showed their ability to be flexible and enjoy the Clarion from a different angle.

Visit http://www.pawatersheds.org/WWeekly/issue.asp?ID=198 to view this week's full issue of Watershed Weekly that this article was published in.
- posted by frank cetera @ 2:41 PM (1) comments

 
POWR’s Foray into Blogging for Non-Profits
Visitors to POWR’s PA River Sojourns and Watershed Awareness Month webpages can now view current program happenings posted directly by staff via two new blogs. A "blog" is short for weblog, and is an online journal that will keep you regularly updated on programs, trips, news, views, stories, and related links. At it’s essence, a blog is another automated tool (such as bulletin boards) for sharing information and enlivening a website.

The 2004 PA River Sojourns weblog and the 2004 Watershed Awareness Month weblog are both powered by Blogger.com, a free on-line client and host that allows easy posting without requiring intensive programming or potentially expensive server-software interactions. The benefit of this is that the time spent on the blog focuses on content and not website creation.

Green Media Toolshed makes an interesting note on the value of blogs to the non-profits that utilize them and their constituent members through consideration of the “value of making more of the thinking and learning of the organization available to staff, friends and the public.” GMT also recommends an article by Zafar S. Shah at http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/section/466.html that further “makes a contribution to the chorus pushing nonprofit staff to be more transparent through use of the blog as an easy content tool.”

Both POWR blogs are considered external in that their purpose is sharing project and activity information with a wide public audience. An external blog may also be used for campaign organizing or themed training opportunities. Organizations may alternately choose to utilize blogs internally as training and record keeping tools. Or for updating associated individuals such as Board members about strategic planning or other related progress reports. In this case, it may be preferred to keep the blog on a private section of the organization's server for internal viewing only, as opposed to free hosting online.

The new practice of blogging has quietly taken over the on-line computing world in the last year or two, with notable contributions from Howard Dean’s grassroots campaign at http://blog.deanforamerica.com/, and the NPOblogs site (news from people who are getting things done) at http://www.npoblogs.org.

- posted by frank cetera @ 11:12 AM (0) comments

 
Paddle the Clarion or the AKC
Two sojourns slightly overlap this weekend as the Clarion (hosted by the Western PA Conservancy) and the Allie-Kiski-Connie (hosted by the Strongland Chamber Foundation) get underway. Slight overlapping is a common occurrence in the scheduling, as 10 trips of up to 7 days, trying to fit into good water months of May and June, and take advantage of weekends that people have available to participate, jockey for points on the calendar.

But the good news is that whatever trip you miss this year, you can look forward to next year. I am joining the Clarion for both days this year, with camping at Clear Creek State Park, and boats from the Pale Whale Canoe Livery. I'll be leaving Thursday and heading up to camp that night, then getting on the water for the trip on Friday and Saturday.

Shorter trips that are only 2 or 3 days may not seem as epic to join in on as the longer 7 day trips on the Delaware and Susquehanna for example, but they offer people a chance to have a feeling of continuity and closure through participating in a full event. Making friends from day one that last over till the end, and seeing the sights along the full route is a great experience.
- posted by frank cetera @ 2:40 PM (0) comments

 
Bald Eagle Sojourn
Here is a hearty welcome to a new sojourn that has popped up this year in Pennsylvania. If you can't join any of our POWR promoted and sponsored PA River Sojourns, the Bald Eagle Sojourn is another option for you.

first annual BALD EAGLE SOJOURN
Saturday, May 22, 2004
Sponsored by the National Slalom Training Center #9, Bald Eagle State Park, and the Centre and Clinton County Conservation Districts.

Paddle from Milesburg to Upper Greens Run with your friends! Optional (unorganized) extension of trip from Upper Greens Run to the beach.

Cost: $10 for adults, $6 for children under 12
Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
Registration fee includes: Insurance Event Coverage through the American Canoe Association, Boating lessons from Tussey Outfitters, Shuttle service. (Bring your own lunch and drinks, pre-registration required; Boat rentals available through Tussey Outfitters 814-355-5690)

Call the Centre County Conservation District (814-355-6817) or Bald Eagle State Park (814-625-9369) for a registration form.


- posted by frank cetera @ 3:44 PM (0) comments

 
Swatara Sojourn Recap
I'm happy to report that the Swatara Sojourn, our first of the season, has been reported to have gone off splendidly. For a full recap with pictures, please visit the Swatara Creek Watershed Association's website at 16th Annual Swatara Sojourn.

A sample comment from a participant:
"Hi Jo-Ellen.........I just wanted to drop a note to let you know that my friend Tom and I had a great time on the Swattie with you guys......we picked up 5 tires, numerous cans, bottles, plastic, and even the front of an ATV!.......I belong to the Quittapahilla Audubon Society and we do many flora & fauna walks in Swatara State Park, so it felt good to do anything to help in the Swatara Creek Watershed. I am going to join the Swatara Creek Watershed Association!......but back to the trip for a moment.......you did a great job as leader (very organized!) and I felt very safe on the water with the experienced people in the group!......looking forward to getting to know you better and do this sojour again next year!.......Art"
- posted by frank cetera @ 3:48 PM

 
Be Prepared (CPR and First Aid)
An education in first aid and CPR is the most valuable item we can carry along with us on our outdoor outings, sojourns included. PA River Sojourns are renowned for complete and inclusive coverage of safety issues while on the river. Trips have numerous safety boaters, a safety committee, adequate gear such as first aid kits, barrier devices, and cell phones. But we all need to be prepared individually as well, because as in any outdoor activity, all circumstances can't be planned and accounted for. I recommend taking at the least a First Aid and CPR course. There are numerous types available at numerous locations in towns all across Pennsylvania. A quick web search for the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross or your local community center or college is a good start.

I renewed my CPR last night at Harrisburg Area Community College. The course was a Basic Life Support class that lasted five hours and covered infant, child and adult, as well as Automated External Defibrillator lessons. You can find shorter classes though that only cover adult and child for instance that may only last 1 or 2 hours.

And although a basic first aid class is grand, if you are going to be spending significant time in the outdoors, where help may not find you so easily, or arrive as quickly as if you were injured on a city street, I recommend a wilderness first aid or even wilderness first responder course. I'll be recertifying my WFR next weekend at West Virginia University where I have patronizd since I took my first WFR class there in 1999. And it's close to the folks so I can stop by for a visit. Check out SOLO online for more info on courses near you.
- posted by frank cetera @ 1:40 PM