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The 2005 Potomac River Sojourn's theme was "Learning through Experience" and the title fit the trip well. Traveling from the National Conservation Training Center north of Shepherdstown, WV to Great Falls near Washington, DC, we covered 75 miles of the Potomac River and its tributaries. Some Sjourners gained experience in paddling white water this year as we voyaged through "the Needles" and "Whitehorse Rapids" near Harpers Ferry, WV. The Sojourners also learned first hand about the history of the Potomac Basin through living history presentations at Antietam National Battlefield, Harpers Ferry, and the Monocacy Aquaduct. Most importantly everyone learned new ways that they can help protect and restore the Potomac River by participating in restoration events and water quality monitoring. Sojourners helped cleanup up the river by collecting trash and recyclables that they found during their journey. They hacked out a trail for a section of the Potomac Heritage Trail in Loudoun County, VA. They monitored water quality throughout out the week by testing the water at each stop along the way and they learned about monitoring using the macroinvertebrates (insects) in the water as a gage of the water quality.
Each Sojourn is week-long paddling expedition is designed to elevate local awareness about the need to restore and protect the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay. Throughout the week, sojourners built comradery through daily paddles and programs. Each day paddlers covered about 12 miles of river, stopping to meet with residents and officials of local communities along the way. Throughout the trip, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, ICPRB, and partner organizations coordinate programs to educate paddlers about the river's importance to local communities and the bay region as a whole. The 2005 Potomac River Sojourn was sponsored by Pepco, the National Park Service, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and a host of other donors. Take a look at some of our photos from the 2005 Sojourn!
We invite you to come out and join us for the 2006 Potomac River Rambles! Look at the photos of our journey and send us an email at info@icprb.org letting us know you are interested and we'll put you on our mailing list..
2005 Sojourners campd at Tarara Winery, Virgnia
Antietam Bridge
Fish seining
Curt on a war path
Striding on the C&O Canal
Jim Cummins shows fish caught in the seine
Fishing on the canal
Paddling on the river
Learning about the USGS Flowmeter
Paul and Petri ready for a water battle
Evening on the river
Harpers Ferry presentation
Bridge at Antietam
On the water briefing
Joe weathering the storm
Building a trail
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Recreating the Antietam Battle
Curtis enjoys the water
BMat
Mark Dubin at Harpers Ferry
Safety briefing from Leader Eric
Morning exercises
Come and get it!
Swim Break
Nancy takes a rest
Monitoring water for turbidity and other things
Water quality monitoring
A Hair Wash
Steve loads up a tire in his boat.
Music at Harpers Ferry
Rick takes a rest
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