Pride of the Susquehanna: River School

Information: 717-234-6500

Learn about the Susquehanna River on the
only floating classroom to be found....the
Pride of the Susquehanna!

The Susquehanna River School is a novel floating classroom educational program designed to teach area youth (and adults) about the vast History and significant Natural Wonders associated with our beautiful Susquehanna River. The program was created and is directed by William A. Cornell, Esquire, for the Harrisburg Area Riverboat Society as a natural fit for the non-profit Society's educational mission.

River School classes strive to make learning interesting and fun and where possible, the students are encouraged to participate in hands-on activities. Our experienced teachers challenge students to actively participate and make their own observations in, on and around the river. River School History lessons focus on early days on the river including the river's namesake; the Susquehannocks and the settlement of Pennsylvania by Europeans. Lessons related to Natural Wonders involve the variety of wildlife in or about the river, the impact of humans and pollution and the need for good stewardship of our great river by all persons.

In addition to the use of The Pride as a floating classroom and observation platform, efforts have begun to restore the John Harris Cabin on City Island as an old, rustic One Room School House to be outfitted with various educational displays and eventually, high-tech inter-active teaching devices. Hearing of our plans, a local sportsman has offered his large collection of taxidermy-mounted fish, waterfowl and even a ten-point buck taken from an island near Clark's Ferry to be displayed within our rustic Cabin Classroom.

See the River School Summer Event

Another exciting project of The River School involves construction of a small Educational Park on City Island in the immediate vicinity of the Cabin. We hope to build a decorative brick walkway meandering through the area between the cabin and the river featuring a series of professionally produced historical markers providing factual information (and images) associated with the river. These will include individual markers devoted to: The Susquehannock Indians… John Harris and early Harrisburg… The Susquehanna as the single largest migratory bird "flyway" on the East Coast… An explanation of the 27,000 square mile Susquehanna Watershed… The River's impact on the Chesapeake Bay… The Bridges of Harrisburg… and more. We've even talked to local groups about decorating the walkway with featured plants that are "native" to Pennsylvania and we are working with the Susquehanna River Basin Commission to obtain a very large outdoor map showing the entire (444 mile) length of the Susquehanna.

The River School's proposed Cabin Classroom and Educational Park have the potential to become a significant "destination" for visitors from near and far. In spite of being the longest river on the East Coast of the United States, there is NO site or facility along our river that is dedicated to teaching people about our great, historic and beautiful Susquehanna.

Pride Facts

The Pride offers a unique floating classroom as part of the Susquehanna River School.
The Pride is handicapped accessible for dinner cruises, public cruises and charters. Wheelchairs can move about our lower deck, Main Salon and restrooms.
The Pride is inspected annually by the Coast Guard and our Captains are Coast Guard Licensed as well.
The idea for a paddlewheel riverboat on the Susquehanna at Harrisburg was the brain child of local businessman Michael Trephan. Mike was the driving force behind the community effort to build and operate The Pride.
Due to winter ice, The Pride must be pulled from the river and then relaunched each year. The Pennsylvania Army National Guard does this each season as atraining mission in aide of our non-profit organization.

For More Information Contact:

Bill Cornell - 717-761-4755 ( email: wacornell@verizon.net )

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Harrisburg Area Riverboat Society · P.O. Box 910 · Harrisburg PA 17108