D&R Greenway Land Trust is planning to host kayaking tours of Blacks Creek, a tributary of the Delaware River, through September.
Guides lead kayakers along the waterway while they teach about local ecosystems and wildlife. Groups will launch the kayaks, provided for paddlers along with safety equipment, from Bordentown Beach.
Spots on the trip are limited and registration is required along with a $35 donation to the nonprofit land trust. Visit drgreenway.org for more information on trip dates and how to register.
Blacks Creek is a freshwater tidal stream that acts as the southern border of Bordentown City. Along the creek sits Lime Kiln Park, which D&R Greenway Land Trust helped preserve by acquiring six parcels of land between 2004 and 2008. Educators will share information on plants, wildlife, birds and history with paddlers.
The kayaking trips are meant for novice paddlers, and first-time paddlers are encouraged to sign up. Trips will be roughly three hours including instructions from an American Canoe Association guide, paddling with a guide and educators, and a tour of the Discovery Center at Point Breeze, a museum dedicated to the history of the area including the Lenape, Joseph Bonaparte, and the natural environment.
“The D&R Greenway kayak program highlights Bordentown’s rich history, while paddling Blacks Creek’s gentle waters leads to discovering and understanding natural ecosystems with your fellow paddlers,” says Lisa Bruno, program manager, who works alongside a safety guide with the aim of planning trips that provide fun and educational experiences.
D&R Greenway says that the Blacks Creek tours take inspiration from the annual Delaware River Sojourn, a weeklong trip organized by the Delaware River Basin Commission for almost 30 years.
“The goal of our kayak trips is to inspire people who live in the Delaware River watershed to become involved with protecting the Delaware River and our waterways,” said Linda Mead, president and CEO of D&R Greenway Land Trust.
A founder of the Delaware River Sojourn, she speaks about the experience of being on the river: “You gain a much better appreciation for a river while enjoying the gentle feel of the water and the green views of trees from the seat of a kayak, as compared to driving alongside it. A peaceful paddle on the river can reveal creatures, like the great blue heron, that take your breath away!”
Information on registration will be released on a rolling basis as dates become closer.
A group of kayakers navigating Blacks Creek.,
