Registration open for Delaware River Sojourn

LACKAWAXEN, Pa. — Paddlers are invited to register for the 23rd annual Delaware River Sojourn, to be held from June 17 to 23.
Guided excursions combine with interpretive programs, camping, and camaraderie. Participants may sign up for the entire seven-day trip or for the days of their choice. All skill levels are welcome.
“The sojourn is a wonderful way to discover the Delaware River and experience first-hand the unique character and diversity of its different sections,” said Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) Executive Director Steve Tambini. “We encourage the public to participate in this family-friendly paddling and learning adventure.”
More than 55 miles of the main stem Delaware River will be paddled this year, split into daily trips ranging from six to 13 miles. The sojourn will also paddle a section of the Lehigh River, the Delaware’s second largest tributary, on June 21.
“This year's theme, Flowing Together, highlights the river’s tributary watersheds that make up the Delaware River Basin, as well as the individuals who come together to protect it,” said Mark Zakutansky, Director of Conservation Policy Engagement for the Appalachian Mountain Club and chair of the sojourn steering committee.
ItineraryThe sojourn will include the following stretches:
Saturday, June 17: Zane Grey Museum, Lackawaxen, Pa. to Corwin Farm, N.Y.
Sunday, June 18: Staircase Rapids Access, N.Y. to Matamoras, Pa.
Monday, June 19: Dingmans Ferry, Pa. to Bushkill, Pa.
Tuesday, June 20: Bushkill to Worthington State Forest, N.J.
Wednesday, June 21 (Lehigh River): Rt. 33 Access, Pa. to Hugh Moore Park, Easton, Pa.
Thursday, June 22: Martins Creek Access, Pa. to Scott Park, Easton, Pa.
Friday, June 23: Scott Park to Riegelsville, N.J.
FeesRegistration fees are $80 per day for adults and $50 per day for children (ages 15 and under). There is an additional one-time insurance fee of $5 per person for this American Canoe Association (ACA)-sanctioned event, except for current ACA members.
Registration fees cover the guided river trip, single or tandem kayak rental (with paddle and life jacket), shuttle transportation, educational programs, most meals, a souvenir T-shirt, and optional overnight camping sites.
Participants may bring their own river-worthy boat. Neither aluminum nor wooden canoes are recommended.
Sojourn expenses are subsidized by donations and grants. The regional supermarket cooperative ShopRite has sponsored the Delaware River Sojourn annually since 2013. The sojourn also receives grant funding from the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers and the Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic Rivers Program.
The sojourn’s Youth Paddle Program funds full scholarships for a limited number of student groups and their leaders. Scholarships are still available. Interested teachers or scout leaders should visit delawareriversojourn.org to learn more.
The sojourn’s First-Time Paddler’s Program is another savings opportunity available on a first-come, first-served basis for adult paddlers new to the Delaware River Sojourn.
River cleanupOn Friday, June 16, the day before the paddle trip begins, the sojourn and the National Park Service Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River are hosting a river cleanup from 1 to 5 p.m. Volunteers will clean up a five-mile section of the Delaware River starting at the Ten Mile River access in New York and ending at Lackawaxen, Pa.
Volunteers must pre-register through the Delaware River Sojourn website. Canoes and equipment will be provided.
For more information visit delawareriversojourn.org or contact Dejay Branch at 646-205-2724 or info@riversojourn.com.