New outdoor expo to continue the Greenway Partnership's mission to connect people to river's resources

Susquehanna Greenway Partnership Communications and Outreach Director Alana Jajko was inspired to pursue a new outdoor expo in 2022 thanks to a conversation with her aunt.

As communications and outreach director for the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership, Alana Jajko looks for new ways to connect people with the river and the network of trails, parks and other open spaces that connect communities along the river.

A conversation with her aunt in Vermont provided the spark that will take shape on June 4, 2022, as the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership hosts the inaugural Susquehanna Outdoor Expo at the Shikellamy State Park marina near Sunbury.

“My aunt is a very passionate kayaker who lives in Vermont. We were talking about how she attends paddling festivals in the Adirondacks, and she mentioned that it would be great if we had something similar in our area that provided resources to those who love the outdoors,” said Jajko. “Throughout the state, there are several outdoor expos that are geared toward hunting and fishing, but really no over-arching event that brings together the greater outdoor community. We saw a gap there that we could fill.”

Setting the expo at the Shikellamy State Park marina was a no-brainer venue, Jajko added.
“We’re excited to hold it at the confluence of the Susquehanna River’s North and West branches, which is central to the overall region and easy for partners to come and share their wealth of knowledge,” she said.

The skyrocketing interest in paddling and other outdoor ventures during the pandemic fueled plans for the event.

“There was such a sharp upward turn in interest, and we saw some people outdoors recreating for the first time, while others with more experience have been looking for additional quality gear and equipment,” Jajko said. “The expo is the perfect opportunity for outdoor lovers to converge, check out gear, learn from educational pieces – we are really pushing an event that engaging and active.”

That includes a focus on clinics, such as on-water paddling instruction, fly fishing and casting programs and even an educational tent for people to “connect with those who have paddled the Susquehanna River to share stories and answer questions. We envision a wildlife component there, and are pursuing an ‘under the Susquehanna’ theme.”

The expo has received quite a bit of support, including from the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as the Shikellamy State Park hosts the event.
Vendors will be split into four distinct sections, Jajko said.

“Our ‘On Water’ portion will focus on things like standup paddleboards, PFDs, groups that promote on-water trips. ‘On Wheels’ will include general cycling, mountain biking and gear,” she said. “’On Land’ encompasses things like climbing, hiking and even disc golf, which is taking off. And then we will have an ‘Adventure and Advocacy’ section focused on nonprofits, visitor bureaus and other groups where you would go for information in joining forces to get outdoors and make a difference.”

For more information about the event, including to sign up as a vendor, visit www.SusquehannaExpo.com
 
Savoring the outdoors
Jajko grew up as a self-proclaimed “nature girl.”

“I loved to be outside. My family took me hiking and kayaking, with a common theme always being the outdoors. When we’d go somewhere as a vacation, I’d be looking for the mountain to climb,” she said.

Listen to the full interview with Alana Jajko in our most recent episode of the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Podcast:

More about the expo

The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership will be accepting photos for its 11th annual photo contest from April 1 through June 30, 2022.

The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership will host the World Tour Paddling Film Festival on April 9 at the Campus Theatre in Lewisburg.

The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership will host the second annual Susquehanna Sips, Scenes and Scales at Clyde Peeling's Reptiland on May 13, 2022.

​Attending Bucknell and then learning about the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership through a school project, Jajko fell in love with the overall region and its relationship with the river.

“It is so amazing to have such a huge landscape along the river that is experienced in so many different ways, but yet there is this common ground for local communities who depend on the river,” she said.

That concept is really what defines the greenway concept, she added.

“A greenway is a corridor of space along a manmade or natural components that help connect parks, trails, open spaces and even the communities along the river,” she said. “When the vision is finished, it will include a 500-mile corridor where people can walk, bike and paddle throughout communities along the river.”

Jajko savors her job and the opportunity to create such a space.

“Hiking, biking, kayaking, getting outdoors in general – I get to do that with the partnership, and I get to encourage others to join us,” she said.

Beyond the June 4 expo, the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership offers a variety of ways for people to do just that, starting with the Paddling Film Festival World Tour on April 9 at Lewisburg’s Campus Theatre.

“If you love paddling and can’t wait to get out on the water, this offers a neat way to bridge the gap,” said Jajko.

The partnership is also bringing back its popular Scenes, Sips and Scales program at Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland on May 13.

“It was such a hit last year where we get to celebrate photography taken along the Susquehanna. Photo winners will be on display at Reptiland, and it is a great time to view the photos, meander through the zoo and sample some wines from three local wineries.”

The Susquehanna Greeway Partnership is working on final details for Paddler’s Toolkit programs in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Master Naturalist program to help people improve confidence in the paddle sports. There are plans for sojourns and other events over the course of 2022. For more details, visit www.SusquehannaGreenway.org

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