In between catching fish and learning a wide variety of kayaking skills, 10-year-old Peyton Maurer, of Northumberland, joined with 13 other participants of her June 25, 2025, HERYN (Helping Engage our River's Youth with Nature) kayaking and fishing day program to hear about watersheds, pollution and how she can make improvements in her daily live to make a difference.

"One thing you can do is recycle," she said afterward. "Another think you can do in your free time is pick up trash."

"And you can use less product (when taking a shower)," added 11-year-old Ruth Killiri, of Benton.

Twelve-year-old Jackson Myers, of Watsontown, struggled to pinpoint just one highlight from his Tuesday, June 24, 2025, HERYN (Helping Engage our River's Youth with Nature) kayaking and fishing program day despite a record heat index nearing 110 degrees.

"My favorite part of the day was fishing ... kayaking and ... when I fell into the lake," he said.

Which led into the one takeaway he couldn't wait to share with friends and family when he got home.

​Despite real-feel temperatures approaching 105 degrees, eight-year-old Ezra Miller admitted during his Monday, June 23, HERYN (Helping Engage our River’s Youth with Nature) kayaking and fishing day camp that he left program yearning for more.

“I had done both before, but now I want do them even more,” he said in his exit survey.

Thirteen-year-old Adalyn German, of Bloomsburg, agreed.

​​Ten-year-old Callen Lenches, of Danville, has been anxiously waiting for his turn to follow in his older brother, Vayden’s footsteps and participate in the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association’s annual HERYN (Helping Engage our River’s Youth with Nature) kayaking and fishing summer day camps.
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On Saturday, June 21, he finally got his opportunity.

“I don’t get to fish and kayak that much, so it was good to learn how to handle when a kayak flips,” he said. Meanwhile, he caught 12 panfish after a series of morning sessions on casting and knot tying that allowed him to be more independent at the lakeside while still under the guidance of adult helpers when needed.

Unlike most participants of the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association HERYN (Helping Engage our River's Youth with Nature) kayaking and fishing day camp, 12-year-old Danville resident Isaac Bankert already had quite a bit of fishing experience before the program.

But that didn't stop him from learning.

"I fished often and kayaked rarely, but now I want to do both all the time," he said, adding that one of his favorite parts of the day was learning better ways to fish, tie new knots and cast. "It was the best camp ever!"

Twelve young people ages 8-13 caught more than 100 fish and learned a wide variety of kayaking skills on Thursday, June 19, 2025, kicking off the first of the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association's summer slate of its flagship HERYN (Helping Engage our River's Youth with Nature) day camps near New Columbia in Union County.

Entering its fifth summer since a PA Fish and Boat Commission R3 grant helped make the program a reality, students continue to rotate through hands-on fundamental learning sessions, working toward fun competitions that bring the lessons together.

"I learned how to take a fish off the hook and learned how to get back on the kayak," said 12-year-old Katie Treat, of Bloomsburg. She admitted starting the program day knowing "nothing about kayaking. I love it now."