The river sojourn, a popular way to honor and enjoy waterways and their advocates around the state, hits the big time next month when one sails onto the Three Rivers.

The Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers were named Pennsylvania's 2006 Rivers of the Year by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and to mark the occasion, a three-day water adventure is planned for Aug. 10-12. Helping to organizing this one is Venture Outdoors, which is offering people a chance to participate in all three days and nights for $200, or just do parts of it.

On Aug. 9, participants can dine and spend the night in the dorms at the Boy Scouts' Camp Guyasuta in Sharpsburg (at an a la carte price of $20 per person).

The next morning, the group will paddle canoes and kayaks 12 miles on the Allegheny from Harmar to Heinz Field with a special guest, DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis ($60 cost includes boat and safety equipment, meals, programs and evening entertainment, or $75 with another stay at Camp Guyasuta).

On the third day, the sojourn will shuttle to McKeesport and paddle 7¹/₂ miles of the Monongahela to Duck Hollow ($60 or $75 with camp lodging).

Then that Saturday, it's the Ohio, which participants will cruise on the Pittsburgh Voyager education boat from its berth at Carnegie Science Center ($50 per person with lunch).

Participants of all ages are welcome, but those under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult and know how to swim. Each will receive a T-shirt and a poster.

Reached earlier this week as he scouted the McKeesport put-in, Venture Outdoors program director Jon Lucadamo said this "urban sojourn" is limited to 100 people and 70 boats, which he hopes will make for a spectacle Downtown. "I have this glorious vision of 50-plus paddlers pulling in."

He notes that this is the first time the River of the Year honor has been bestowed on multiple rivers. In announcing it this spring, the DCNR lauded the three rivers' role in spurring economic growth, shaping the city's urban renewal and providing more water-based recreation.

Mr. DiBerardinis cited the success of last year's Bassmaster Classic fishing tournament, which is to return here with another major tourney in 2008.

Coordinating the sojourn with DCNR and Venture Outdoors are the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Pittsburgh Voyager, the state Fish and Boat Commission and the Pennsylvania Organizations for Watersheds & Rivers. POWR keeps a schedule of all the sojourns around the state, most of which become annual events. (At its Web site, www.pawatersheds.org, you also can order a free copy of the 2006 Rivers of the Year poster.)

Register for this sojourn by Aug. 4 at www.ventureoutdoors.org or by calling 412-255-0564.