What Does the Delaware River Mean to You?: Contest Gives Voice to Different Delaware River Experiences

What Does the Delaware River Mean to You?:
Contest Gives Voice to Different Delaware River Experiences

The Delaware River Watershed crosses through mountains, valleys, cities, and rural landscapes from the headwaters in New York, and down through Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. The Delaware River means so many different things to different people, from boaters and anglers, to photographers and bird-watchers. Whether it’s spending summers in the Delaware Bay with friends, or hunting in the thickly wooded forests of Mount Pocono – the Delaware River holds a special significance in the hearts of many. The Delaware River Means campaign seeks to capture these different experiences and highlight the varied importance of the River with a four-phased contest that runs from 2017 to 2018.  

The Delaware River Means campaign is split in to four contests: Fun, Beauty, Togetherness, and History. Entering any one of these contests sets you up to possibly win some excellent prizes in three ways: Everyone who enters their photo and story will win a Delaware River Means t-shirt. Each of the four contests also has a special prize that is given to the entry with the most votes. Everyone who enters one of the contests will be entered to win the grand prize of a stand-up paddleboard package!

The first contest, which focused on “Fun” in the Delaware River Watershed, ended in October 2017 after dozens of pictures and stories were submitted. Home to so many activities, the Delaware keeps us moving, so this contest called on entrants to submit photos showing how they have fun in the watershed. The lucky winner of some prime hiking gear (binoculars, water bottle, REI backpack, and walking sticks) was Jason (pictured below), a hiker and photographer from New Jersey, who shared stunning Fall colors of the Delaware River. In his entry, he explains his love of hiking Mount Minsi and Mount Tammany in Northern New Jersey and his appreciation for living nearby.

The next Delaware River Means contest is “Beauty” and starts on November 20th. Delaware River Means wants to hear about how the beauty of the River has inspired your art, songs, photos, and other creative outlets. Entering is easy: just upload a photo of something you’ve created that connects to the significance of the Delaware River via the website. Then, share your entry on social media using #DelawareRiverMeans and ask your friends to click the “Vote” button on your entry to gather votes. The Beauty contest will close on January 20, 2018, and everyone can vote once a day, so time is of the essence to rack up those votes. Start getting your entry ready today and review the complete contest rules at www.DelawareRiverMeans.com. The entry with the most votes will win an original painting of the Delaware River by local artist Jessie Krause and will be entered to win the grand prize of a stand-up paddleboard package.

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Local artist Jessie Krause captures the magnificence of the Delaware in her breath-taking work. “For the past 10 years, the Delaware River has been a constant source of inspiration for me. As an artist, capturing the light on the river and the surrounding hills, trees, villages and bridges, is a challenge… The Delaware River - full of history, mystery, adventure and beauty - is a gift to all who experience her. I am honored to be a part of the Delaware River Means Campaign,” said Jessie.

The Delaware River is a source of fun, beauty, togetherness, and history for so many of us in the watershed and beyond. Enter the Delaware River Means Beauty Contest starting November 20th and share your experience with the beautiful, serene, and picturesque Delaware River with the world. What’s more, you can win a one-of-a-kind original artwork by local painter Jessie Krause.

The final two Delaware River Means contests are: Togetherness, launching in Spring 2018 with the prize of a 6-person tent and other camping gear, and History, launching in Summer 2018 with the prize of a weekend stay at a historic bed and breakfast. The Delaware River Means campaign is about starting one big conversation about what the Delaware River means to you. Maybe hiking along the river, a place where you gather with loved ones for swimming, kayaking, or picnics, taking pictures or creating art, the history of this great river, or how it seems to create communities all along its shores. Join the conversation about the Delaware River today. May you keep on enjoying the Delaware River for many years to come!

The longest un-dammed river east of the Mississippi, the Delaware River has miles of beautiful views that have been the inspiration for art, songs, photos, and other creative endeavors.