Joining Together in the Delaware River Watershed: The Winner of the Delaware River Means “Togetherness” Contest
By Rita Yelda, Outreach & Communications Manager, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed
Matt B. and Madi celebrating their win of the Delaware River Means "Togetherness" contest in front of the Delaware River in Easton, PA.
Imagine that you’re out enjoying the Delaware River on a canoe and the nighttime slowly sneaks up on you. The river winds left and right, and the surrounding trees loom above you as the sky darkens. Though not recommended, this scary scenario led to a prize-winning photo in the Delaware River Means “Togetherness” contest.
The Delaware River Watershed crosses through mountains, valleys, cities, and rural landscapes from the headwaters in New York, and down through Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. The Delaware River means different things to different people, from boaters and anglers, to photographers and bird-watchers. The Appalachian Mountain Club launched the Delaware River Means contest to capture these different experiences and highlight the varied importance of the river with a four-phased contest.
Matt B. won the “Togetherness” phase of the contest by submitting a photo of his daughter Madi canoeing on the Delaware. “My daughter and I took a canoe trip from the Delaware Water Gap back down to our hometown of Easton, PA. I miscalculated how long the trip was going to take and was getting a bit spooked we would be traveling in the dark down the river,” said Matt. “All things said and done, we made it home in the daylight and I got one of my favorite pictures of her. It was a great day we are sure to recreate again.”
Matt's winning photo for the "Togetherness" phase of the Delaware River Means contest.
Matt and his family have always enjoyed the beauty and recreation the Delaware River offers, and currently live in Easton, PA, with the river nearby. The day of the winning photo, his daughter Madi received a Junior River Ranger badge from the Delaware Water Gap. Matt’s father often enjoys the Delaware through kayaking, and when Matt was younger he lived in Williams Township, where the river was practically his backyard. “I lived close enough that I could walk to the Delaware River, so during the summers I would ride my bike or walk down to go fishing, skim rocks, swim, and just play in the streams,” added Matt. “I was always taught to have fun around the river, but also respect it at the same time because it can get nasty. But it’s been a constant source of recreation for me.”
For Matt’s family and for many who live and visit the watershed – the Delaware River brings people together. Matt’s winning photo is a heart-warming example of father and daughter venturing out to enjoy the river together, and the adventures for Matt and his family aren’t over yet! Matt’s prize for the winning photo was a Marmot Halo tent, big enough for six people to enjoy together for camping this summer. “I’d like to take the canoe out again, go up a little bit farther and tent out a night on the way back down,” says Matt.
The Delaware is not only a source of “Togetherness,” like the contest suggests, but the final phase of the Delaware River Means contest focuses on the “History” of the river. Whether it’s the history of a nation, a city, or a family, the Delaware has played a significant role in shaping the region’s history. Use your photo to illustrate how the Delaware River represents history for you, and you’ll be entered to win a weekend trip to a historic bed and breakfast. You will also be entered to win the Delaware River Means grand prize: a stand-up paddleboard package!
Matt and Madi receiving their contest prize, a Marmot Halo tent, from Margaret Wilson of the Appalachian Mountain Club.
Entering the next phase of the Delaware River Means contest is easy. For Matt, the winner of the “Togetherness” phase of the contest, it was as simple as sharing a snapshot. “I had a great picture and decided I wanted to share it with everybody because it’s one of my favorite pictures of my daughter Madi,” said Matt. You can share your photo and story about the Delaware River at www.DelawareRiverMeans.com.
Be sure to venture out into the Delaware River Watershed while the weather is still nice to enjoy the camping, boating, fishing, and other fun activities that bring us together. But if you find yourself about to hop in a canoe or kayak, be sure to follow Matt’s sage advice: “Leave enough time to see what you want to see on the Delaware before it gets dark.”