Robin Van Auken: Writer, Editor, Historical Archaeologist

Posted by Robin Van Auken on Apr 23, 2012

Stewards of the Past

I thwarted my husband’s vacation plans. Days before he purchased tickets for a Caribbean cruise, I suggested Scotland. In the blink of an eye, I wasted months he spent researching itineraries. Gone were his plans to lounge poolside on the lido deck, dine on all-he-could-eat buffets and enjoy nightly live entertainment aboard a floating mega-mall. He tossed them aside in an instant when I pointed out...

Posted by Robin Van Auken on Apr 23, 2012

Hands On Heritage

Hands On Heritage is a unique project that collaborates with a variety of individuals to highlight and introduce historical events, traditional arts and crafts and the people who celebrate them. Our audience are educators and their students, and our goal is to enable them to make exciting discoveries about their culture and art. Created by writer and historian Robin Van Auken of The Omnibus, Hands On...

Posted by Robin Van Auken on Apr 23, 2012

Sense of Wonder

The spirit of Rachel Carson lives on, instilling in the Earth’s human population awareness of its fragile environment and an urgency to protect it from toxins. Although it’s been 40 years since the publication of her runaway bestseller, “Silent Spring” (1962), Carson remains one of the greatest nature writers of America and one of America’s Top 100 Scientists according to a...

Posted by Robin Van Auken on Jun 28, 2011

Mighty Susquehanna

The Susquehanna is a shallow river that flows about 440 miles, from Cooperstown to the Chesapeake Bay. Nearly 200 years ago, canals were used to transport goods and people instead of the river. Canal boats would use the river where it was deeper, or where dams had raised the water level. The Susquehanna, stretching approximately 440 miles from New York to Maryland, is the longest river on the East Coast....

Posted by Robin Van Auken on Jun 27, 2011

Downsizing for the Summer

She’s gone. Dan picked “To Blave” up one bitter, cold day in April and headed for Wisconsin. He sent us a note; he and his son finally went sailing after picking up a new battery and repairing the gas tank. Meanwhile, we bought a 14-foot, red Old Town canoe and have been going out to Bald Eagle Lake in Northcentral Pennsylvania. We wanted something simple and easy and quick for the summer. We...

Posted by Robin Van Auken on Apr 24, 2011

Public Archaeology

As a registered, professional archaeologist, I specialize in promoting history, archaeology and preservation. I work with colleges and volunteer agencies, museums and non-profit organizations, public and private schools, and avocational archaeology groups. Public Archaeology services I offer include: Voluntourism projects School field trips College field schools Historical research, oral...

Posted by Robin Van Auken on May 31, 2010

What Is Daysailing?

Daysailing, also called dinghy cruising, has been described as “a magical way of exploring new coastlines and experiencing nature at close quarters.” You don’t have to wait until the bank account is full and until you have plenty of time for sailing to enjoy a daysail in your small boat. Trailerable boats are easy to acquire and inexpensive to maintain. Some have cabins, some are simply...

Posted by Robin Van Auken on Jan 7, 2009

Sunday Grit Newspaper

Make room on the shelf for another book about local history. Written by author Robin Van Auken and published by Ogden Newspapers, parent company of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, “Sunday Grit: A Newspaper Legacy” is the fourth volume in a limited edition, commemorative series about area newspapers. Richly illustrated, the new 136-page book features nearly 200 images, many never seen before. Van Auken...