October 15, 2024–The RiverTrek campaign begins months prior to the 5-day kayaking expedition down the Apalachicola River. The volunteer team members spend many weeks leading up to the adventure raising funds and awareness for the significance of the Apalachicola River and Bay system along with the vital work of Apalachicola Riverkeeper. Since 1998, Apalachicola Riverkeeper been an independent, steadfast voice—speaking up for the preservation of the Apalachicola River. Each year, we’re out out in the community with the RiverTrek volunteers, who craft a variety of outreach activities from house parties and ice cream socials and everything in between.
In the past few weeks, we’ve enjoyed some wonderful FUNdraising with the creative help of community members and the RiverTrek team. We hung out at Deep Brewing Co. in Tallahassee playing river trivia with Doug Alderson and board members of Apalachicola Riverkeeper. Also in Tallahassee, an evening of ecology readings delighted attendees of Hummingbird Wine Bar’s RiverTrek fundraiser, organized by Chris Watkins (RiverTrekker and development committee member). Chris shared several of their poems
and Susan Anderson, executive director also shared a reading. Diane Alix and Katie McCormick, board of director members, joined the gathering for the second year.
We also raised a toast to the RiverTrek 2024 team at Live Oak Gallery, hosted by owner Andrea Comstock. Mike Price (board of 
directors) and Tom Herzog (Rivertrekker and development committee member) tended bar, while John and Dodie Alber, (board of directors) hosted the check in table and raffle. Executive Director Susan Anderson welcomed the group, thanking all for their support of Apalachicola Riverkeeper, especially in our efforts to stop oil drilling near the Apalachicola River in Calhoun County. Riverkeeper Cameron Baxley shared highlights of the plane flyover she did earlier in the day. This included checking on floodplain inundation after Hurricane Milton in areas near the proposed oil drilling.
The following day, Caitlin McCauley, Greg Krivonak and Cameron Baxley were out scrubbing car and golf carts while visiting with neighbors and Apalach community members. (Greg and Caitlin will be at Bingo on Oct 17). A few days later, Susan Anderson and new Outreach Director Trey Fletcher enjoyed catching up with Porchfest attendees.
Our grand finale of RiverTrek community events will be on RiverTrek Arrival Day, Sunday October 27.
Thank you supporters of RiverTrek 2024! We couldn’t do it without you. The campaign is Apalachicola Riverkeeper’s largest annual fundraiser. Together, we can protect the Apalachicola River for generations to come.
Written by Georgia Ackerman, volunteer RiverTrek Coordinator. Georgia can be reached at [email protected]
