The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association's HERYN (Helping Engage our River's Youth with Nature) program days at our New Columbia campground connect young people (ages 8-13) with kayaking/fishing skills instruction in kayaking and fishing, teaching the fundamentals while building confidence and sparking a vested interest in our outdoor resources with the next generation of stewards.
Kayaking instruction begins in a swimming pool where students learn how to properly fit a life jacket, experience what it is like to maneuver in water with a life jacket, how to properly use a paddle, how to safely board a kayak and how to handle a potential kayak flip. Instruction then continues at the lake with paddling and maneuvering skills instruction and eventually competitions in which students have to use the skills they've learned earlier in the day.
Fishing instruction starts with an equipment overview, introduction and practice with the Palomar knot, rigging tips, casting instruction, practice and competition (distance and accuracy), learning how to bait a hook, land a fish, handle a fish and safely release it back to a waterway. There is also a session on how to clean and cook panfish. This year, over the six program days, our 86 participants caught more than 800 fish (bass, bluegills, other panfish).
Each program day ends with an Enviroscape presentation and group discussion about watersheds, pollution and ways to better protect our aquatic resources. Afterward, we give out awards, some cool items and graduating certificates.
With five years of programming, we have introduced hundreds of young people to fishing, kayaking and conservation.
Kayaking instruction begins in a swimming pool where students learn how to properly fit a life jacket, experience what it is like to maneuver in water with a life jacket, how to properly use a paddle, how to safely board a kayak and how to handle a potential kayak flip. Instruction then continues at the lake with paddling and maneuvering skills instruction and eventually competitions in which students have to use the skills they've learned earlier in the day.
Fishing instruction starts with an equipment overview, introduction and practice with the Palomar knot, rigging tips, casting instruction, practice and competition (distance and accuracy), learning how to bait a hook, land a fish, handle a fish and safely release it back to a waterway. There is also a session on how to clean and cook panfish. This year, over the six program days, our 86 participants caught more than 800 fish (bass, bluegills, other panfish).
Each program day ends with an Enviroscape presentation and group discussion about watersheds, pollution and ways to better protect our aquatic resources. Afterward, we give out awards, some cool items and graduating certificates.
With five years of programming, we have introduced hundreds of young people to fishing, kayaking and conservation.
PLEASE NOTE ...
We work hard to keep these programs free to students so that everyone, regardless of circumstances, can participate. To do this, we can use your help. Please donate directly to our HERYN program using the button below if you are able to. If not, that is fine.
2025 program days revisited ...
A collage of photos from our 2023 HERYN program days. Thanks to Michael Kinney for his photo and video assistance!
A collage of photos from our 2022 HERYN program days. Thanks to Michael Kinney for his photo and video assistance!
2024 program days revisited
- Wellsboro Gazette newspaper coverage: Teaching youth nature's little things
- Check out photos and info from Northern Tier HERYN July 24-25 at Hills Creek State Park
- Check out photos and info from West Branch HERYN July 1o at Bald Eagle State Park
- The Daily Item newspaper coverage: Valley camp teaches kids how to fish, kayak
- Milton Standard newspaper coverage: Connecting kids with nature
- Blog post with photo gallery and info from Thursday, June 20's program day
- Blog post with photo gallery and info from Friday, June 21's program day
- Blog post with photo gallery and info from Saturday, June 22's program day
- Blog post with photo gallery and info from Monday, June 24's program day
- Blog post with photo gallery and info from Tuesday, June 25's program day
- Blog post with photo gallery and info from Wednesday, June 26's program day
2023 program days revisited
A total of 86 young people ages 9-14 participated in one of six Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association HERYN (Helping Engage Our River's Youth with Nature) program days held between June 22 and June 28, 2023, at the Central PA Wesleyan Campground near New Columbia.
We are still processing photos and video from these sessions, but for updates about how the 2023 program went, check out the following links:
Confidence, appreciation, awareness among key lessons for 86 young people in 2023 program days
A look back at our 2023 program days in photos, video and coverage
Milton Standard-Journal newspaper story and photos
The Daily Item newspaper story and photos
The Daily Item newspaper editorial
WNEP-TV coverage
We are still processing photos and video from these sessions, but for updates about how the 2023 program went, check out the following links:
Confidence, appreciation, awareness among key lessons for 86 young people in 2023 program days
A look back at our 2023 program days in photos, video and coverage
Milton Standard-Journal newspaper story and photos
The Daily Item newspaper story and photos
The Daily Item newspaper editorial
WNEP-TV coverage
We'd like to thank the following people who volunteered their time to help instruct young people and connect them with our aquatic resources in 2023: Walt and Sherry Bingaman, Mike Arnold, Paige Zaktansky, Michael Kinney, Peyton Johnson, Eric Belfanti, Ty Magargle, Allie Zaktansky, Fallon Emert, Piper Emert, Fenix Emert, Katie Caputo, Brad Wendt, Dan Robatin and Scott and Carla Kephart.
This program would have been impossible, as well, without the following sponsors:
This program would have been impossible, as well, without the following sponsors:
- Susquehanna River Basin Commission
- Wild Turkey Federation
- Clark's Wiggly Worms
- One Eleven Printing, LLC
- GoodWil's Restaurant (Montandon)
- Arrowhead Restaurant (Milton)
- Gunzey's Hot Sausage (Milton)
- Graceful Catering (Middleburg)
- Skeeters BBQ (Hummels Wharf)
- ... and numerous individual/family donations
Looking back to our 2021 and 2022 program days:
Photos in this collage were all from our 2022 HERYN program days.
Want to check out info from our previous HERYN days? You'll find tons of resources at these links:
- Check out our review post from the 2022 HERYN Program Days, with more than 1,200 photos and videos as well as links to news coverage from the event.
- Read Riverkeeper John Zaktansky's assessment column of the 2022 HERYN Program Days.
- Check out the full review post with photos, videos and news coverage of our 2021 HERYN Program Days.
- Read Riverkeeper John Zaktansky's column review of the 2021 HERYN Program Days, our first ones offered!
In 2021, the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association was chosen as one of 14 programs within 10 Pennsylvania counties to receive a combined $160,000 in grant money from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's 2020 R3 Grant Program, designed to recruit, retain or reactivate anglers.
The association used these funds to help jumpstart the HERYN (Helping Engage our River's Youth with Nature) Program (pronounced "heron"), designed to connect young people with outdoor experiences through hands-on fishing and kayaking instruction in a fun yet safe environment.
"Our goal is to develop a vested interest in our river-based resources for the next generation of environmental stewards," said Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association Executive Director John Zaktansky. "I remember the sense of independence I felt when I first started catching fish on my own, and the therapeutic aspect of conquering the fears of first learning to kayak. We want to provide those experiences for other young people who may not have the opportunity to otherwise."
The association used these funds to help jumpstart the HERYN (Helping Engage our River's Youth with Nature) Program (pronounced "heron"), designed to connect young people with outdoor experiences through hands-on fishing and kayaking instruction in a fun yet safe environment.
"Our goal is to develop a vested interest in our river-based resources for the next generation of environmental stewards," said Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association Executive Director John Zaktansky. "I remember the sense of independence I felt when I first started catching fish on my own, and the therapeutic aspect of conquering the fears of first learning to kayak. We want to provide those experiences for other young people who may not have the opportunity to otherwise."
DONATE NOW TO THE HERYN PROGRAM ...
Do you want to donate toward some of the equipment or other resources necessary to make sure the HERYN Program is successful and sustainable? Use the following form:
