Voyager sets learning sights on Kittanning

KITTANNING -- Many people enjoy the Allegheny River during the year, but few know much about it beyond the fact that it ends in Pittsburgh. A group from Pittsburgh is hoping to change that, for at least one month each year.

Pittsburgh Voyager, a nonprofit organization focusing on environmental education, made a presentation yesterday to a group of area leaders in the hopes of establishing a satellite location in Kittanning where area students can come to learn and adults can go for recreation.

"There are so many creative things we can do together," said Patrick Bradley, director of program development for Pittsburgh Voyager. The company is looking to station a boat at Kittanning Riverfront Park one month each year.

The nonprofit organization is perhaps best known for providing excursions on to Pittsburgh's three rivers for school-age children, providing hands-on environmental learning experiences -- such as testing pH or looking at river organisms through microscopes. It also offers adult education trips and teacher workshops on environmental learning.

"Of all the places in the region we could expand, we want to come to Armstrong County," said Karl Thomas, executive director of Pittsburgh Voyager.

Thomas said the town is "a shining star" on the Allegheny River, the only river system on which the organization does not have a satellite location.

In terms of infrastructure, Thomas said Kittanning's Riverfront Park and access to the river from it makes it an ideal place to run a satellite office, and the proximity of Kittanning to the Environmental Learning Center at Crooked Creek makes the area even more attractive.

Bringing Pittsburgh Voyager to the area is not without its obstacles, including a need for $50,000 in start up funds.

"It's not insurmountable, but it's significant money," said Armstrong County Commissioner James Scahill, one of the attendees at the presentation yesterday.

Thomas said the project could be funded partially by participating school districts who would send students out on field trips on the river, but the community would have to find a way to fund the rest, about $35,000.

That funding could come by using Pittsburgh Voyager for recreational pursuits, such as private fishing charters or parties, a service the organization already provides in Pittsburgh to help defray costs.

"We're asking you as a community to support this," Bradley said. "I think the bottom line for everybody is 'How does that happen?'"

Jim Budzelig, superintendent at Leechburg Area School District, said his district is interested in the environmental learning component of having a Pittsburgh Voyager location in Kittanning, but said his district could not afford to fully fund it.

"I think the opportunity is fantastic," he said.

Bradley said school districts such as Leechburg could chip in funds by having a fundraising charter for local businessmen or some other group.

But before Pittsburgh Voyager can commit to locating in Kittanning, a committee needs to be formed to generate ideas and plan logistics, Thomas said.

"We hope to chart some next steps," he said. The committee would meet as early as next month, with the hopes of having one of Pittsburgh Voyager's boats in Kittanning for this year's Fort Armstrong Folk Festival as a kick-off event.

Anyone interested in serving on the committee can contact Thomas at 412-231-2712 or via e-mail at kthomas@pittsburghvoyager.org.

Kittanning Council President Gerald Shuster said he was excited about the opportunity to have the organization locate in Kittanning.

"I think Kittanning Borough would love to play host," he said. "I think the county is going to welcome this with open arms."

For more information about Pittsburgh Voyager, visit the organization's Web site at www.pittsburghvoyager.org.