Upcoming Opportunities

Delaware Bay Day: Saturday, June 1, 2013
The Bayshore Center at Bivalve will host Delaware Bay Day on Saturday, June 1, 2013 in Bivalve, N.J. It is a fun-filled family day celebrating the rich maritime history, vibrant culture, and phenomenal natural resources of the Delaware Bay. Entrance is free and highlights of the day include a street parade, blue crab races, oyster shucking contest, educational exhibits in the Bivalve Shipping Sheds, and more. For complete details, please click on the above link.

Schuylkill River Sojourn: June 1-7, 2013
The Schuylkill River Sojourn, a paddling event on the Schuylkill River, will take place from Saturday, June 1 - Friday, June 7, 2013. Sponsored by the Schuylkill River Heritage Area, this popular event includes canoeing/kayaking, camping, and educational programs focused on the theme The Schuylkill During the Civil War. For complete event information, please visit http://www.schuylkillriver.org/sojourn.aspx.

Perkiomen Creek Sojourn: Saturday, June 8, 2013
The 2013 Perkiomen Creek Sojourn will take place on Saturday, June 8 (raindate: Saturday, June 15). Sponsored by the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy, the sojourn will paddle a 7-mile stretch from Red Fox Park in Schwenksville, Pa. and end at Hoy Park in Lower Providence. For complete event details, please visit http://www.perkiomenwatershed.org/Events/pwc_PerkiomenCreekSojurn.aspx.

Lehigh River Sojourn: June 21 - June 24, 2013
The Lehigh River Sojourn will take place from Friday, June 21 - Monday, June 24, 2013. Hosted by Wildlands Conservancy, this paddling trip will explore the history, importance, and significance of the Lehigh River to the region and beyond. For complete event details, please visit http://www.wildlandspa.org/education/lehigh_river_sojourn.html.

Delaware River Sojourn: June 22 - June 29, 2013
The 19th Annual Delaware River Sojourn will take place from Saturday, June 22 - Saturday, June 29, 2013. Themed Our Remarkable River, the sojourn combines canoeing/kayaking, camping, educational programs, and more. The sojourn is organized so interested participants can join for one, several, or all eight days and is suitable for novice to experienced paddlers. Guided by members of the National Canoe Safety Patrol, the trip will paddle seven days on the Delaware River and one day (June 24) on the Lackawaxen River, a tributary to the Delaware. Stretches to be paddled include sections of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, and of the Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River, which are all part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The sojourn's concluding paddle on June 29 is centered around Penn's Landing, Philadelphia, Pa. and will include a guide from the Independence Seaport Museum, who will discuss the region's maritime history. For complete event details, please visit the above link. Register by June 15 and save $10/day!

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary 2013 Educators Watershed Workshops: Estuary Explorers - July 10-12 & Urban Waters - July 16-18
The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary will hold watershed workshops for educators this summer in two sessions: Estuary Explorers from July 10-12 and Urban Waters from July 16-18; it is not required to attend both sessions. The cost of each workshop is $50, which includes free educational and classroom materials, field trips at locations around the Delaware Estuary (Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania), and approximately 15 continuing professional education hours/professional development hours for each workshop upon completion. For complete information and registration details, please visit http://www.delawareestuary.org/wetland-workshop. Contact Cheryl Jackson at (800) 445-4935, extension 112, or CJackson@DelawareEstuary.org with any questions.

Sunday, July 28, 2013: Narrowsburg, N.Y. Riverfest
The 23rd Annual Narrowsburg, N.Y. Riverfest will take place on Sunday, July 28, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival celebrates the region's connection to the Delaware River and its vibrant arts community. Presented by the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, the festival will feature the popular dog parade, poster auction, and various arts and crafts for sale. For event information, please visit http://www.artsalliancesite.org/programs/riverfest.html.

AmeriCorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program
The Americorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program is an environmental community service program administered by the N.J. Dept. of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to raise public awareness about water and watershed issues and to promote watershed stewardship through direct community involvement. AmeriCorps members are assigned to different watersheds throughout the state to serve as "watershed ambassadors" to their watershed communities.

Over the course of 1,700 hours, members assist the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection in monitoring the rivers of New Jersey through visual and biological assessment volunteer monitoring programs. Members train community volunteers to participate in these monitoring programs. Through audio visual presentations, members provide information to community organizations and schools in order to have an informed citizenry about water and watershed issues in New Jersey. To learn more, visit the above-linked web site or contact Program Manager Kimberly Cenno at 609-633-1441 or by email at Kimberly.Cenno@dep.state.nj.us.

DRBC is a proud supporter of this program and annually hosts the watershed ambassador for Watershed Management Area 11 (WMA-11), which covers the central Delaware portion of New Jersey.

To get a feel for some of the activities a watershed ambassador undertakes, check out the 2013 Miry Run Stream Clean Up and 2013 Earth Week Events organized by the 2012-2013 Watershed Ambassador for WMA-11, Jade Greene.

Nurture Nature Center's Science on a Sphere Exhibit
The Nurture Nature Center (NNC) in Easton, Pa. is pleased to offer programming utilizing their new Science on a Sphere Exhibit. The exhibit displays up to 250 global views of earth and space. In addition, NNC sponsors programs geared to helping communities address local environmental risks through science, art, and dialogue.

For additional details, please call 610-253-4432 or visit the above link.

FREE Guided Tours of The University of Delaware's College of Marine and Earth Studies Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes, Del.
Members of the public are welcome to attend free tours of this world-class marine research institution! Tours typically begin with a 20-minute video that highlights many of the college's research activities. Following the video presentation, knowledgeable guides take visitors on a walking tour of the facilities that house University of Delaware College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment (CEOE) and Delaware Sea Grant College Program scientists. A favorite stop on the tour is a tropical reef tank, which introduces students to one of the most diverse communities on Earth. With the rapid deterioration of coral reefs worldwide, the tank provides a springboard for discussions about the causes of and solutions to this global crisis.

The college hosts year-round private tours for groups of five or more people between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Requests should be made at least one week in advance by calling the College of Marine and Earth Studies at (302) 645-4346 or by writing to the Sea Grant Marine Advisory Service, University of Delaware, College of Marine and Earth Studies, 700 Pilottown Road, Lewes, DE 19958-1298. The Hugh R. Sharp Campus is accessible to people with disabilities.

Public tours take place from June until early September -- at 10 a.m. on Fridays in June and on Tuesdays and Fridays in July, August, and early September. Individuals can call 302-645-4346, no later than noon the day before, to reserve a place.

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and the Philadelphia Water Department's Philadelphia Storm Drain Marking Project
The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and the Philadelphia Water Department are proud to co-sponsor this project, which calls for volunteers to help affix "Yo! No Dumping, Drains to the River" medallions onto the street in front of storm drains across the region in areas which are not already marked. All supplies will be provided at no cost, and volunteers are welcome to participate year-round.

For more information and to register, please contact Dee Ross, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Program Specialist, at (800) 445-4935, ext. 106 or by email at dross@delawareestuary.org. For online details, please click here.

Upcoming Events at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center
The Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, located along the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, near the Museum of Art and Boathouse Row, is busy with various event opportunities for kids and adults alike. Come and learn something new while having fun at this excellent education center! For hours, directions, and other contact information, please visit http://www.fairmountwaterworks.com and also download their education programs brochure! (pdf). An evening series entitled Schuylkill Soundings is offered on the third Thursday of every month from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. For specific information on this series and other events at the Fairmount Water Works, please visit http://events.fairmountwaterworks.com or call (215) 685-0723. Learn more about its fascinating history!

The Stroud Water Research Center
The Stroud Water Research Center, one of the premier stream research laboratories in North America, offers teacher workshops throughout the year. The workshops will be held at the center in Avondale, Chester County, Pa. unless otherwise noted. Please dress for the outdoors. Space is limited. For more details about their specific offerings, please visit the Stroud Center's web site, where you also can learn about the center's student programs.

Contact: Education Programs Manager Christina Medved at (610) 268-2153 ext. 258 or cmedved@stroudcenter.org for additional questions and information.

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This information is being provided to the Delaware River Basin Commission by various sources and compiled here as a public service. A listing on this page does not necessarily imply endorsement by the DRBC. Since the information is subject to change, you are encouraged to contact the person(s) listed for the most complete information.

If you have upcoming opportunities you would like to share, please contact the DRBC.