​Riverkeeper note: The following column was written by Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky. You can contact him directly via email here.

As Michael Kinney and his girlfriend, Missy, bedded down after a storm two nights before the final leg of their epic 24-day, 228-mile kayaking/canoeing West Branch Adventure, they shared a unique experience.

“We slept in a mass hoard of hellgrammites. They were everywhere, crawling on us, our gear, even under the tent and I could them through my air pillow all night,” he said. “We had to keep watching our legs while we cooked and ate. (They were) just everywhere.”

While most people would squirm at even the thought of those sleeping arrangements, Kinney referred to the experience simply as: “Cool! … I am hoping they are back out again the next night so I can get photos and video of the large number of them.”

Sixteen middle school girls from across the Susquehanna Valley visited the Montour Preserve on Thursday, June 27, 2024, for a special CSIU STEM Camp program.

They got to visit various popular areas of the preserve, getting a wide variety of experiences designed to expand their STEM skills while showcasing all the preserve has to offer.

The day began in the fossil pit with a presentation from Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper board member Doug Fessler and Vernal School Program Supervisor Marissa Crames. The students then spent about a half-hour searching for fossils and taking some home with them afterward.

Fifteen youths concluded the first batch of HERYN (Helping Engage our River's Youth with Nature) program at the Central PA Wesleyan Campground near New Columbia on Wednesday, June 26. 

The experience included learning key fundamentals about each activity and working toward building confidence in competitions in kayaking and fishing the campground's lake, where participants caught more than 100 panfish.

​“I fished some and kayaked once before, but now I know about both and want to do them both more,” said 11-year-old Jack Scerbo, of Bloomsburg, in his exit survey after attending the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association’s June 25, 2024, HERYN (Helping Engage our River’s Youth with Nature) program.

“And I learned to make sure I pick up my fishing line if I go fishing,” he added.

Nineteen students, ages 9-11, attended the program day, the largest number of participants for one day in the four years the program has been offered. They are taught the fundamentals of fishing and kayaking, building confidence and skills so they can teach others and hopefully continued these hobbies while serving as stewards for our natural resources.

Eleven-year-old Malachi Kuhns, of Middleburg, admitted that Monday, June 24th's HERYN (Helping Engage our River's Youth with Nature) program expanded not only his fishing skills, but also his excitement for kayaking.

"I am always up for fishing,  but today also gave me a lot more confidence in kayaking," he said in an exit interview after the program. 

Fourteen young people representing a wide variety of towns across the watershed, converged at the Central PA Wesleyan Campground near New Columbia for the program.

"I learned that fish and bug invasive species populations can effect an ecosystem drastically," said 13-year-old Alyssa Almedilla, of Bloomsburg, in her exit survey for the Saturday, June 22, 2024, HERYN (Helping Engage our River's Youth with Nature) kayaking and fishing program day. "It is important to consider the environmental effect your actions can cause."

Alyssa was one of thirteen participants during the program day, held at the Central PA Wesleyan Campground neawr New Columbia. The experience is designed to help engage kids with the fundamentals of kayaking and fishing while inspiring the next generation of stewards. 

Ten young people participated in the Friday, June 21, HERYN (Helping Engage our Rier's Youth with Nature​) kayaking and fishing program day, catching nearly 100 fish and learning the important fundamentals of both kayaking and fishing.

"I learned new ways to cast and fish and had never kayaked before today," said Maddie, age 12. 

"The program today made me want to fish and kayak a lot more," said 11-year-old Nolan.

Thirteen students, ages 8-13, completed the first day of HERYN (Helping Engage the River's Youth with Nature) kayaking and fishing day camps at the Central PA Wesleyan Campground near New Columbia.

The participants learned the fundamentals of both fishing and kayaking while developing confidence and building up to competitions in kayaks and catching more than 100 fish from the campground's lake. 

On Saturday, June 15, 2024, many of the board members of the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association along with family members, interns and employees of the group met at the Central PA Wesleyan Campground near New Columbia for a workday preparing for its annual HERYN (Helping Engage our River's Youth with Nature) kayaking and fishing program, as well as enjoying a picnic together and holding its monthly meeting in person. 

Check out some images from the workday and some fun shared afterward in the photo gallery below.

"We have a great team that is dedicated to clean water and connecting people to our resources to inspire the next generation of stewards," said Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky. "It was great to have everyone together preparing for one of our flagship programs and bonding over some kayaking, fishing, a picnic and then our monthly board meeting."