Informing and Involving the Next Generation of Leaders in the River

Elaine Langone Center, Room 241

RiverStewards is a new non-profit consortium of educational institutions, private sector companies, non-profit organizations, communities, government agencies, and individuals working to conserve one of our most significant ecological, economic and recreational resources in central Pennsylvania, the Susquehanna River. RiverStewards brings together those interested in the river to make a significant, collective social impact through inter-academic applied research, eco-tourism, reports from river guides and their clientele, and other deliberate cross-sector actions. We recognize the value of the Susquehanna River’s social return on investment, which considers the environmental and social values that the river gives to us all, in addition to the economic benefits. Through our continued collective efforts and communication, we raise awareness of the river’s importance and how we can sustain it. We consider RiverStewards as the “Economic Value Curator for the Susquehanna,” seeking to inform and involve the next generation of leaders in caring for the river. During this session we will discuss the upcoming projects of RiverStewards and its partners, focusing on the economics and people that stem from the Susquehanna River. These projects include academic studies done by college students and professors along the length of the river in Pennsylvania. We will explore the content of these upcoming studies, including the ways we are informing and involving Millennials and members of Generation Z in the effort. We will also discuss how your organization can get involved in one or more of the projects.