Schuylkill Canal Association Blog

SCA's Earth Day Clean Up - a huge success!

Elizabeth B. Daley — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:10:26 GMT

Thank you to all the volunteers who came out to lend a hand with SCA's annual Earth Day Clean Up held the weekend of April 17 & 18, 2010. The event was sponsored by two of SCA's corporate partners; the Altria Group of Companies and Exelon Power. Also supporting SCA's volunteer efforts was Upper Providence Township and the sites new owner, Montgomery County Parks and Heritage Services.

All who came out should feel good about cleaning up some unsightly trash along the Schuylkill Canal and River. Despite the inclement weather 41 volunteers total from both days completed the following list of activities:

Collected:
45 bags of trash, including 3 bags of plastic, glass or cans recycled
5 tires
2 metal drums
3 long metal pipes

7 felled trees were removed from trails and the canal
1 large dead tree removed from Locktender's House south yard
Locktender's House gardens raked and prepared for spring planting
72 spring plants planted in gardens

Again - a huge success! Thanks to everyone who came out to help, it was greatly appreciated.

SCA's next scheduled clean up, the International Coastal CleanUp, will be held on Saturday, September 25th - put it on your calendar today so you don't miss it.

Thanks again!

Banff Mountain Film Festival

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:50:37 GMT

3/5 & 3/6/10: 2010 Banff Mountain Film Festival, sponsored by the Philadelphia Rock Gym (PRG) and the Schuylkill Canal Association (SCA). This year’s festival featuring those extreme outdoor sports enthusiasts will be held in a new larger venue – at Valley Forge Christian College, doors open at 6:30 PM, the show begins at 7:30 PM. For all the details and advance ticket sales visit PRG’s website at http://www.philarockgym.com/Banff2010.htm or SCA’s website at http://www.schuylkillcanal.org/calendar?eventId=125385&EventViewMode=2&CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=2/5/2010. You definitely want to be a part of this annual film festival. Thanks to the generosity of our friends at PRG, a portion of the proceeds will benefit SCA. See you there!

And you won’t want to miss the following event being sponsored by one of SCA’s partners……….

The 2010 Schuylkill Watershed Congress

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:49:21 GMT

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network is pleased to announce:
Saturday, March 13th,
Montgomery County Community College
Pottstown, Pennsylvania
__________________________________________

The Schuylkill Watershed Congress is an annual gathering of citizens interested in understanding, protecting and restoring local watersheds and streams. This event features a diverse program with concurrent and poster sessions covering a broad range of watershed topics.

Register by Friday, February 26th, 2010, to qualify for the $40 Early Registration Fee. After February 26th, the Registration Fee increases to $50 per person. Registration fees cover participation in Saturday’s program, Saturday morning’s hospitality and lunch.

The 2010 Keynote Presentation offers a panel discussion titled "How to Challenge a Stormwater Permit and Win: A Look at the Crum Creek Neighbors Decision."
Michele Adams (Meliora Environmental Design), James A. Schmid, Ph. D. (Schmid & Company, Inc., Consulting Ecologists), and John Wilmer (Environmental Attorney), will tell the story behind the recent successful legal challenge to a stormwater permit given to a developer in an Exceptional Value designated watershed in Delaware County.

This year’s program features 28 concurrent sessions and 7 poster sessions covering a broad range of watershed topics:
*   Drinking Water Protection   *
*   Special Protection Waters   *
*   Restoration Case Studies   *
*   Flood Plain Mapping   *
*   Water Monitoring   *
*   Invasive Species   *
*   Natural Gas Drilling   *
*   Urban Greening   *
*   Watershed Education   *
Please note: The speakers, topics and times shown in the conference overview are correct at the time of printing. The Program Committee reserves the right to alter, delete or replace items in the Schuylkill Watershed Congress program in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

For complete details on all sessions being offered and for registration and sponsorship information, go to: http://delawareriverkeeper.org/aboutus/2010_SWC_Overview.pdf
Registration forms can be downloaded from:
http://delawareriverkeeper.org/aboutus/2010_SWC_RegisrationForm.pdf

The 2010 Schuylkill Watershed Congress is made possible in part by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation’s Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, and Pennsylvania Sea Grant.

Please consider becoming a financial sponsor of the 2010 Schuylkill Watershed Congress. For more information, contact chari@delawareriverkeeper.org.

Holiday Luminaria

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:50:06 GMT

Saturday, December 12th, 6:00 to 9:00 PM
Locktender’s House, Lock 60 on the Schuylkill Canal, Mont Clare

Come see the most spectacular light show of the holiday season, hundreds of luminary candles lining the towpath up to the house.

Enjoy the joyful music played by Meadowlark and visit with Santa Claus between 6:30 & 7:30 PM with your little ones.

Partake in holiday treats and hot cider and join in with SCA and our program sponsors; the Fitzwater Station and PECO Energy, as we toast our friends with best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season.

The Luminaria is canceled only if there is a steady downpour of rain;a misting drizzle, fog or even a few inches of snow create an even more beautiful atmosphere to the magnificent light display.

Schuylkill Canal Association, 400 Towpath Road, P.O. Box 966, Oaks, PA 19456
610-917-0021, info@schuylkillcanal.com, www.schuylkillcanal.org

Found Online -

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:37:02 GMT

An interesting read for sure...

I missed the chance to see them at the SCA Locktender's House.

SCA Fall Benefit Concert October 3 Phil Roy, Tin Bird Choir, Todd Martin, Manatawny Creek Ramblers

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:39:53 GMT

The Schuylkill Canal Association has assembled a brilliant line up of musical talent for their fall fundraiser planned for Saturday, October 3, 2009, from 4 PM to 8 PM at St. Michael’s Park, Jacobs St., Mont Clare, PA. Tickets will be sold in advance online only for $20, day of the show - $25 at the gate.

Headlining the event is Phil Roy, the Philadelphia turned Hollywood song writer who wrote music for films such as “The Mask”, “As Good As It Gets”, “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “Leaving Las Vegas”. His songs have also been recorded by Ray Charles, Wide Spread Panic, Los Lonely Boys, The Neville Brothers, LA Guns and Barrington Levy.

Since returning to his Philadelphia roots he has focused on his own music putting out critically acclaimed CDs “Grouchy Friendly”, “Issues and Options”, “The Great Longing” and he will be releasing his new CD “In the Weird Small Hours” just days before our event.

Below are what the critics say about his music

"Melt" is simply one of the most gorgeous love songs ever. (Kim Curtis, Associated Press)

"Phil Roy's single 'Undeniably Human' is one of the year's bright spots. (Steve Morse, BOSTON GLOBE)

"Roy's definitely got a strong knack for slinging emotional arrows pretty deep and true". (Michael Bertin, AUSTIN CHRONICLE)

"This record is a satisfying oasis in a musical desert." (Helen Leight, WXPN Philadelphia)

Also on the bill is Tin Bird Choir whose distinctive “Pennsylvania folk barn rock” builds upon literate lyrics, organic harmonies, and melodies that range from lilting to urgent. Heather Hurlock’s sweet voice (think Nora Jones) with her husband Eric’s songwriting and the tight playing of Josh Scurman and Ellen Houle have been featured at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Canadian Music Week and WXPN’s World Café.

Another musician playing is native son Todd Martin; he grew up in Mont Clare and now plays out of New York City. The area around Mont Clare has had such an affect on Todd he named his last CD “Mont Clare”. He has won singer songwriter contests and appeared on “Good Morning America”.

Rounding out the event is the Manatawny Creek Ramblers, a four piece band that plays a mix of traditional and original bluegrass music. Over the past 5 years they have built a reputation as one of the best blue grass bands in Pennsylvania.

Along with the great musical acts of Phil Roy, Tin Bird Choir, Todd Martin, and Manatawny Creek Ramblers there will be plenty of food and beverages for sale including a variety of brews supplied by the Sly Fox Brewery. Non-beer drinkers are welcome to bring your own bottle of wine. Be sure to bring a lawn chair and/or blanket to sit on too. This is a rain or shine event.

So join us on October 3^rd and help the Schuylkill Canal Association raise funds to assist in its stewardship of the Schuylkill Canal. Come on out and enjoy the music!

Spring Time on the Canal

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:15:55 GMT

I am looking for a good place to "put in" with my 2 kayaks (love these things)! And I want to end up at the parking lot at The Canal.. Anybody have a good spot "upstream" that might take about an hour to ride? Thanks for the tips..