We had a great time hosting Canoemobile at Columbia Crossing and River Park on October 16th and 17th. Fifth graders from Columbia School District, Eastern York, and home school groups participated in this day of adventure and learning on land and water. So inspiring to see so many kids discover the Susquehanna up close on a beautiful fall day – for many their first time in a canoe or on the river!

Our mission is to connect people to the river and its history and there’s no better way than getting on the water. Susquehanna Heritage worked with Wilderness Inquiry, National Parks Conservation Association and National Park Service Chesapeake Bay to coordinate and create an amazing experience for students. Thank you especially to National Parks Conservation Association for funding the bussing and programming. The partners plus Pennsylvania State Parks‘ Educator Curtis Sherwood also joined the Susquehanna Heritage team to offer land stations that directly tied the on-water experience with our local history, environment, and watershed.

 

Explore the images and videos below to see how this great program impacted students.
Wilderness Inquiry brings 24 foot long canoes to explore the river.

 

Wilderness Inquiry welcomes students in a circle on the lawn.

 

Wilderness Inquiry welcomes students to this amazing on water experience.

 

Cory from Wilderness Inquiry teaches paddling safety and paddling techniques

 

Boats away.

 

It’s a little scary at first.

 


Heading north
Canoes move north towards the Wrights Ferry Bridge

 

Traveling down river from the Veterans Memorial Bridge

 

Students learn about the watershed with National Parks Conservation Association

 

DNCR Ranger Curtis discusses the way mussels reproduce and clean the river.

 

Exploring the relationship between mussels and fresh water eels in the Susquehanna.

 

Students meet freshwater eels

 

National Park Service Ranger discusses how Native Americans communicated without written language.

 

Susquehanna Heritage staff, Paul Nevin & Zach Flaharty show students how Susquehannock Indians built dugout canoes.

 

This 20′ long dugout, created by the Pennsylvania State Museum, helps explain how Native Americans traveled the Susquehanna River.

 

Canoes float on the mighty Susquehanna.