Developing the Next Generations of Stewards for America's Founding River

The session will focus on the James River Expedition. In 2014 the Expedition will include thirty students from all parts of the watershed. The journey begins June 21st, 2014 at the headwaters of the James with 10 students and one teacher, along with JRA staff. The Expeditions will continue with two more 8-day trips, all concluding on August 2nd in the Chesapeake Bay. When complete Expedition teams made up of 10 students and one teacher will have collectively paddled the 340 miles of America's Founding River.

With the goal of gaining a holistic understanding of the importance and challenge of protecting clean water, youth participate in a variety of activities including water quality monitoring, backcountry skills training, river resource mapping, as well as specially arranged tours of farms, wastewater treatment plants, power generating facilities, industrial plants, and cities and towns. The Expeditions will also journey into the rich historical and traditions along the James River traveling by historic vessels and visiting historic sites. After the conclusion of the summer river expeditions, team members have an opportunity to carry their knowledge back to their home schools, taking on projects that help the environment and sharing information with their community and peers. 

Students have the opportunity to gain important skills, be exposed to new experiences and gain an appreciation for the importance of the entire river corridor that more than 1/3 of all Virginians rely on for water, recreation and commerce.