Join
Us!
For
The 2009 Source to Sea Expedition
Connecting the Drops through
The
Last Green Valley
We will be paddling the tributary streams, lakes, and mainstem segments
of the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers from mid-April through mid-June
2009, starting in the headwaters and winding slowly down to the Thames
River and Long Island Sound. Our goal is to increase public awareness,
understanding, and appreciation for the water-related resources of
the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor.
Weekend events will be geared
towards public participation – paddling,
walking, festivals, fairs, and general educational programs - and will
incorporate existing river-related events to the extent feasible. Weekdays
will be used to navigate difficult stretches of the river and for school-related
events.
We hope YOU will join us by paddling along for at least one segment!
We hope YOUR ORGANIZATION
will join us by planning a paddle, event, walk, talk, or contest
that celebrates the natural, recreational, historical,
or cultural resources of our watershed. How about a beginner paddle?
A riverside hike, bike or evening walk? There are so many possibilities:
art shows and photography contests showcasing our watershed, fishing
derbies and “lucky duck” races, boating safety classes,
Earth Day cleanup and awareness events, boat shows, educational programs
related to the rivers, water rescue and dive team demonstrations, tours
and demonstrations at hydropower, fish ladder and other facilities
along the river, pilot water quality monitoring programs, children’s
events, plays and concerts, river festivals, and so on.
We will package all of the
offerings in a comprehensive booklet similar to the Walktober brochure,
and publicize them through print, radio,
television, and web-based outlets. Proposal forms must be submitted
to us by November 7, 2008 in order to be included. You can download
a Proposal Form by clicking here.
Events do not need to coincide
with the paddling schedule, but we think they will be more engaging
if they correspond roughly to the
Expedition’s location. Click
on this link for the Tentative Schedule. More detailed information and schedule adjustments will be posted
soon as
they become available.
We hope that most events
will be free and open to the public, but understand that some events
will require restrictions (i.e. paddling
experience) and fees to cover expenses such as refreshments, kayak
or bike rentals, canoe shuttles, and so forth. You will need to obtain
written permission from the landowner if your organization does not
own the property upon which the event will take place. Event leaders
will be asked to attend a brief meeting in late winter to receive
informational
packets, event updates, educational materials (see below), and final
instructions.
With generous support from the Long Island Sound License Plate Program,
we will be producing educational exhibits with large maps, posters,
kid-friendly-hands-on watershed models, and sampling gear, plus outreach
materials including fact sheets and fun give-a-ways. These materials
will focus on water quality and the simple steps people can take to
prevent pollution from reaching our rivers and Long Island Sound. These
materials will be available for distribution at your event, and if
the logistics can be arranged, the educational exhibits (two sets)
will also be available for use at your event.
Thank you in advance for helping us make the
2009 Source to Sea Expedition
a success!
If you have any questions, please call Lois Bruinooge at 860-963-7226
or
email her at ljbruinooge@tlgv.org.
