Pennsylvania River Sojourns are guided paddling trips, sponsored by POWR with funding support through the PA Department of Conservation of Natural Resources (DCNR), the PA Fish & Boat Commission, and the American Canoe Association (ACA). Sojourn season typically runs from May through September, and you can choose whether to paddle just one day or the whole trip. They take place across the Commonwealth, typically 12 to 15 each year. A typical weeklong sojourn costs $30,000 – $40,000 for the lead organizations to put on. They range from 2 to 9 days and cost participants from $20 to $75 per day, often with meals, transfers, and camping included. Trained safety personnel accompany the Sojourns and many have boats for rent through local liveries.
Local Organizers
Local organizations take a leadership role, often with the help of an organizing committee to schedule the Sojourn and plan for logistics. These include nonprofit organizations, land trusts, municipalities, and regional partnerships. POWR manages the DCNR grant program for local organizations, each year handling grant requests and administering funding, ACA’s insurance program, and some permits for the statewide Sojourn program. If you or your organization is interested in a Sojourn, or you are new to a leadership role in an existing Sojourn program, please contact us at jkarns@pecpa.org.
This Sojourn Planning Overview (pdf) can help local organizers in planning their event.
Grants
Grants are made based on available funding for up to $900 per water day. Organizers are eligible to apply for an initial 60% of the grant amount to offset the upfront costs. Upon completion of the scheduled events, organizers submit a request for the final 40% of the grant along with a complete expense summary, event report, insurance forms, and media coverage report.
We are now accepting applications for grants to partly fund river sojourns during the 2012 paddling season. The grant application will close on March 2, 2012 at 5:00 pm.
Download the 2012 application (pdf) here.
Local Sponsorship
Individual sojourn organizers typically locate and develop relationships with local sponsors like boat rental companies, restaurants, and other stores. These local sponsorships result in cash and in-kind matching support of the program amounting to approximately 80% of the program cost.
Education
One of the requirements for acceptance as a sojourn event is that the sojourn must have an educational aspect. The definition of education has been interpreted by organizers to include environmental issues, geology, history, etc. The specific topics of the educational programs are generally determined by the event organizers. POWR advocates for programs that are linked to statewide programs. Water Trail designations, migratory fish reintroduction, “Leave No Trace” environmental ethics, and wetlands conservation are just a sample of the programs that have been suggested by POWR.
Insurance
Each sojourn affiliated with POWR must have a general liability insurance policy to cover the event. If a organization does not already have coverage, POWR offers an insurance package in coordination with the American Canoe Association. Contact us for details.
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