​Riverkeeper's note: As a unique way to showcase a special theme for 2024, our Riverkeeper ​is using the following poem to encourage people to use their various talents and abilities to give a voice to the vulnerable across the greater watershed. It could be via poetry or artwork, anywhere from the classroom to the courtroom, the workplace to the home, everyone has a chance to make a difference in their own social circles. If you would like to get more involved, take our 2024 Susquehanna Survey, consider volunteering as a volunteer Sentinel or reach out directly to Riverkeeper John Zaktansky at [email protected]

Who speaks for the hellbender on the bed of the creek?
Unassuming, nocturnal, alone and unique
Lurking beneath boulders, a crayfish regulator.
And where present in our streams, a clean-water indicator.

And yet ...

The Emert family of Winfield was honored with the Kathleen Snavely Susquehanna River Environmental Advocate Award in December for their numerous contributions throughout 2023 as volunteers in various capacities for the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association and in educating others about conservation and nature.

"The Emerts have been involved in numerous programs of ours over the past year. Their oldest daughter, Fallon, was one of our first EELS (Environmental Education Leadership for Students) graduates and has helped run a Floating Classroom on the Hiawatha and an aquatic mammal station at our Scout Day. The girls volunteered as instructors at our HERYN program, too," said Riverkeeper John Zaktansky. "They all walked with us, with their mom, Tammy, in the Selinsgrove Halloween Parade and their dad even helped out when our kayak trailer axle broke unexpectedly. Plus, they do all sorts of programming as a family on their own in the local community which is really cool."