| The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. is a story of people who have given of themselves as members, as supporters and as volunteers - people who have dreams for a better world and an unwavering belief that, as individuals, we can make a difference in bringing about a cleaner, safer world for ourselves and future generations. Clearwater conducts environmental education, advocacy programs and celebrations. The nucleus of the activities is to protect the Hudson River, its tributaries and related water bodies, and to create public awareness of the estuary’s complex relationship with the coastal zone. A magnificent natural design blending the freshwater streams of the Adirondacks with the salt tides of the Atlantic, the Hudson is a prime example of an estuary’s ecosystem that, as a type, ranks second only to rain forests in biological productivity. |
Education - The sloop Clearwater is the centerpiece of Clearwater’s public education programs. Clearwater is a 106-foot wooden sailing sloop designed after 18th and 19th century Dutch sailing sloops. In 1966, folk singer and activist Pete Seeger had the vision that the public would come to care for all of our threatened waterways by learning to care for one boat and one river. He inspired a group of dedicated people who made the dream a reality. Launched in 1969, Clearwater serves as a moveable classroom, laboratory, stage, and forum. More than a dozen national and international programs have successfully modeled programs after those pioneered by Clearwater.
Each year, Clearwater accommodates nearly 13,000 children and adults for education sails that teach history, biology, and environmental science and navigation along the Hudson River, New York Harbor and Long Island Sound. Thousands more are reached through on-land classroom visits, field programs and public exhibits.
Advocacy - Clearwater’s environmental action programs have gained a wide reputation in the Hudson Valley for effective science-based strategies in the public interest. From original research on large-scale issues, to support of small grassroots community groups, we employ a range of innovative and traditional citizen advocacy techniques designed to restore and protect the quality of the Hudson River watershed. Our environmental action staff is composed of highly motivated, accomplished men and women with degrees in the environmental sciences, assisted by interns from area colleges, contract specialists, and volunteer advisers from many professions.
A number of state and federal laws create the statutory framework in which we operate, but all too often the laws prove ineffectual or the agencies implementing the laws become vulnerable to political pressure. Guided by a set of core environmental values, staff members work cooperatively with concerned citizens, elected officials, and state and federal regulatory agencies to find alternative solutions. Public awareness is one of our primary strategies, since an educated, concerned citizenry is a powerful force for change. As a last resort, we will litigate to protect the environment.
Our objective is a Hudson River ecosystem free of harmful pollutants, with ample habitat to sustain the reproductive integrity, health and well-being of life at all trophic levels - including human. Some of our specific watershed-scale issues include the twenty-year battle to remove PCB contamination from the Hudson River, forming a sustainable development alliance to mitigate the negative effects of development pressure, and fighting the excessive use of pesticides. We are also active in many large scale local problems, such as the Manhattan west side waterfront, Indian Point nuclear reactors, and New York/New Jersey Harbor dredge spoil disposal.
Celebration - Clearwater annually conducts waterfront festivals attracting thousands of people for music, dance, folk arts, crafts and environmental education. The Great Hudson River Revival festival alone attracts up to 20,000 people each year. The smaller shad, strawberry, corn, and pumpkin festivals arranged by our Sloop Clubs bring people to the river to celebrate the fruits of the Hudson Valley, and remind them that the vitality of the region is tied to the health of the environment. Seasonal harvest festivals provide enjoyment for local residents, opportunity for artists to perform and display their talent, and the chance for Clearwater to spread its message of environmental care to audiences that might not otherwise attend a slide show, field trip, or lecture.
112 Little Market St.
Poughkeepsie, New York 12601
845-454-7673
www.clearwater.org
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