On the Calendar At Sandy Hook

 

via Flickr

There are lots of programs for the summer at the National Park Service Gateway at Sandy Hook. There are a number of events that re[eat throughout the month. Here are a few examples. 

Sandy Hook Lighthouse Tours

 REPEATING EVENT Every week on Monday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday until June 30, 2025

1-3:30 PM

Sandy Hook History House
   
REPEATING EVENT Every week on Monday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday until June 30, 2025

1 pm — 4:30 pm

Yoga on the Beach at Sandy Hook

REPEATING EVENT  Every week on Saturday until June 28, 2025

8 am — 9 am

Fort Hancock Museum

REPEATING EVENT   Every week on Saturday, Sunday until June 29, 2025:

1 pm — 4:30 pm

Sandy Hook Light

Gateway National Recreation Area

 

Osprey, painted by Gregory Lewis

The Gateway National Recreation Area is described as "Many Places, One Park." It spans 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City. It is "gateway" from the ocean into New York Harbor. The National Park Service welcomes millions of visitors every year and the park offers green spaces and beaches alongside historic structures and cultural landscapes. 

Fort Wadsworth, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, and Sandy Hook Visitor Centers are open Friday-Monday 10 am - 4 pm. 

• Sandy Hook Lighthouse tours are available Friday-Monday from 1 pm - 3:30 pm. Tours are first-come, first-serve.
• Fort Hancock History House (Building #1) is open Friday-Monday from 1 pm - 5 pm. 
• The Ryan Visitor Center at Floyd Bennett Field is open Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.
• Fort Hancock Post Museum is open Saturday and Sunday from 12 pm - 5 pm.
• Hangar B at Floyd Bennett Field is open Sundays from 10 am - 1:30 pm.

by Jessica Dalrymple

For example, programs upcoming at the NJ Sandy Hook Unit:
Crustacean of the Day Program, Junior-Junior Ranger Programs: Ages 3 to 6
July 27 at Guardian Park 10 am - 11 am

This free program teaches young children about the habitats and history of Sandy Hook through fun, hands-on activities. Children will learn through hikes, walks, and demonstrations. Parents are required to accompany their children for the entire program. Space is limited please call (732) 872-5970 to make free reservations. 

Yoga on the Beach, Saturdays through Labor Day
Parking Lot D – North Chute 8 am – 9 am

Begin your Saturday with a peaceful, yet vigorous, traditional Vinyasa yoga practice on the beach. The practice is open to everyone and all levels, from beginners to advanced, and will focus on flowing through basic poses and maintaining poses with proper alignment. Please bring a large, sturdy beach blanket and wear light, comfortable workout attire. Hydration is also important, so please bring your own water (refillable bottles). 

For information on all the locations and things to do www.nps.gov/gate/

ABOUT THE ARTWORK SHOWN

"By the Sea," an exhibit of paintings by Gregory Lewis, is on display at the Fort Hancock Post Museum (Building 28) through Labor Day. Inspired by the magical light reflected from the ocean, painter Gregory Lewis finds Sandy Hook, a special place a place surrounded by water, “as if I’m sitting on a small island. As I paint in this special light, it transports me to a better place.” The Post Museum is open on weekends from 1 pm to 5 pm. There is no fee to visit the Fort Hancock area of Sandy Hook.

"New York City Natural, "an exhibit of paintings by Jessica Dalrymple, is on display at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center through Labor Day. Dalrymple’s artistic process begins by visiting parks in all five boroughs, especially those with areas of “wilderness”. She spends time hiking, sketching, photographing, collecting specimens, and consulting with naturalists, cartographers, and horticulturalists about the park’s natural history and wildlife. In her studio she combines all these things into Park Portraits. She uses a vertical format, inspired by Asian hanging scrolls, to present multiple perspectives. This technique balances photo realism and express strokes in a way that represents her experience.  The Visitor Center is open Friday-Monday from 10 am to 4 pm.

Sandy Hook This Month

You might not be thinking Jersey shore, beaches, and Sandy Hook with a winter storm hitting NJ this weekend, but there are shore activities all year round.

Here are a few possibilities, including one that you can do from home.

Searching for Seals in the Surf, Sandy Hook Lighthouse, Sunday, March 13, 11 am - 1 pm

Hike to the Sandy Hook bayside with a park ranger to search for seal activity during their annual migration, and learn about marine mammals that dwell in the waters of Sandy Hook at different times of the year. Space is limited, please call (732) 872-5970 to make a reservation.  

Seal pup  ||     Image Credit: Andreas Trepte via Wikimedia

Worm Moon – Full Moon Walk, Beach Plaza C, Friday, March 18, 7 pm - 9 pm

The Worm Moon is the last full moon of winter. It is often named the worm moon because of the abundance of earthworms emerging from the ground, leaving trails in the thawed frost. Join a park ranger on this trek along the bay and enjoy the opportunity to view the beautiful landscape by the light of the moon. Space is limited, please call (732) 872-5970 to make a reservation. 

Coffee with a Ranger on Facebook Live, Monday, March 28, 10 am - 11 am

Meet the park’s Community Volunteer Ambassador (CVA) and learn about the Piping Plover and Nesting Shorebird Stewardship Volunteer Program at Sandy Hook. The CVA program is a 50-week internship experience managed in partnership with the National Park Service and Conservation Legacy. The intern will focus their efforts on building community involvement, engaging new and diverse audiences, and recruiting volunteers. Please join as the live video starts or pre-register in the events tab on the park’s Facebook page - @GatewayNPS

ALSO

savecoastalwildlife.org/save-the-seals-of-sandy-hook-bay

September Programs at Sandy Hook

 

Sandy Hook Lighthouse

Here are some featured programs this month at Sandy Hook.

Junior Ranger Color Guard: Stars and Stripes Forever
Monday, September 6 - Labor Day  1 PM – 2:30 PM
Guardian Park, Fort Hancock Post

The Junior Rangers will learn about the history of the American flag, how it has changed several times throughout the nation’s 244+ years, and the meaning behind its symbolism. Call (732) 872-5970 to make a reservation.

Ktàpihëna, “We Are Here”: Finding Connections in Lënape Land
Friday, September 10   5:30PM – 7 PM
North Beach - Beach Plaza, Upper Level

What makes you feel connected to a place? Join us for an exploration of Sandy Hook's first peoples, the Lënape, and their historic and current connections to this landscape. Along the way, we will discuss Lënape lifeways, hear their voices, and how we acknowledge who is connected to a landscape. Call (732) 872-5970 to make a reservation.

Killdeer chick at Sandy Hook - Flickr

Who are the “Black Brain Scientists” and How Did They Change the Future of America?Sunday, September 12   4 PM – 5 PM

Fort Hancock Museum Grounds, Building 28

Learn how Fort Hancock helped to usher in the Dawn of the Space Age. Explore the little-known history of Fort Hancock's role in providing a place that allowed a diverse group of scientists and engineers to create the technology that would lead to the development of radars, satellites, GPS, drones and much more. Examine the connection between Fort Hancock and Fort Monmouth's black scientists dubbed the “Black Brain Center” of America.  Call (732) 872-5970 to make a reservation.

The Sandy Hook Foundation will host an All-Star Benefit Concert
Sunday afternoon, September 26.
Proceeds from the concert will support The Sandy Hook Foundation, which directly supports the park. The concert is a fair-weather event. If a storm or COVID restrictions cause a cancellation, your tax-deductible ticket donation will directly support programs and projects within Sandy Hook. To learn more go to  www.sandyhooknj.org

For the full calendar of activities at Sandy Hook and the rest of the Gateway National Recreation Area in NY and NJ see nps.gov/gate/

Sandy Hook NJ - Wikimedia

Get Back to Sandy Hook

Summer officially arrives on Sunday, June 20, but there are plenty of signs of summer. People are headed to the Jersey Shore and Piping Plover and Osprey chicks are hatching. 

The seasonal Park Rangers are ready at Sandy Hook National Seashore and most of us are eager to party like it 2019. June will be filled with Birding on the Deck, Canoe Cruises, Yoga on the Beach, Fort Hancock History Tours, and other special programs. Put on some sunscreen, pack a bottle of water, and come join us for some fun under the summer sun. 

Mondays - Birding on the Deck
Parking Lot M – Observation Deck
June 7 through August 30
9 AM – 11 AM
Visit a ranger on top of the observation deck. A scope will be set up to view and learn how to identify osprey, egrets, and songbirds.

Tuesdays and Thursdays
Canoe Cruise
Nike Missile Site - Parking Lot Hartshorne Drive
June 15 through August 31, 9:15 AM – 12 PM Take a two-mile morning paddle to explore Sandy Hook bay from an ideal vantage point—the water itself. Rangers guide you on a two-and-a-half-hour tour of the bayside waters and Skeleton Hill Island. Must register two people in a canoe. Go to www.recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777 to make your reservation. Fee-based program.

Wednesdays
Fort Hancock History Tours
Fort Hancock Post Museum Grounds, Building 28
June 16 through August 25, 5 PM – 7 PM
Take a stroll around Fort Hancock with a ranger and learn about its history. The tour will include stops at the Fort Hancock Museum, Sandy Hook Lighthouse, Mortar Battery, Battery Potter, Rodman Gun and Officers’ Row. Call (732) 872-5970 to make a reservation.

Saturdays
Yoga on the Beach
Parking Lot E, Center Beach Chute
June – August, 8 AM – 9 AM
Begin your Saturday with a peaceful, yet vigorous, traditional Vinyasa yoga practice on the beach. The practice is open to everyone and all levels, from beginners to advanced, and will focus on flowing through basic poses and maintaining poses with proper alignment. Please bring a large, sturdy beach blanket and wear light, comfortable workout attire. Hydration is also important, so please bring your own water (refillable bottles).

Fort Hancock Bike Tour
Theater Parking Lot across from the Chapel, Fort Hancock Historic Post
Sunday, June 20 10 AM – 12 PM
Join a ranger on a guided bicycle tour of Fort Hancock, highlighting everything from batteries to beaches. Bring your bicycle and bike helmet. Call (732) 872-5970 to make a reservation. ♥ 3 miles

Butterflies, Bees and Pollinators – Celebrate Pollinator Week North Beach
Parking Lot I - Beach Center
Thursday, June 24 10 AM – 12PM
Bees and other pollinators are declining in number. Pollinators (butterflies, bees, birds) are necessary for the health of our food crops. Join a park ranger for a hike to learn about the local pollinator life that can be found here during the summer season. A family program, please don’t forget to wear good sand walking shoes and bug repellent. Free, call (732) 872-5970 to make reservations.  1 mile

NOTE: Visitor Centers are closed indefinitely, however, Sandy Hook will be offering pop-up Visitor Center services Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10am to 4pm. Stop by for information about the park!

Reminder: Before you visit, please check Gateway's website for updates and alerts at nps.gov/gate/how-will-covid-19-affect-my-visit.htm

Gateway Program Guide for Spring

It has been a mild winter so far in New Jersey - though March and April often give us some snowy surprises. Still, I'm thinking about spring, ordering seeds and planting some already, so it's also time to think about getting outside for some nature.

Here is the Gateway Program Guide for Spring so that you can Plan Your Visits.  

At Sandy Hook

Searching for Seals

Spermaceti Cove Parking Lot (between Lot D and Lot E)

Sunday, February 23

1 PM - 3 PM

Hike to the Sandy Hook bayside with a park ranger to search for seals during their annual migration and learn about marine mammals that dwell in the waters of Sandy Hook at different times of the year. Reservations required, please call 732-872-5970. ♥ 1 mile. 

Piping Plovers are a protected, endangered species, and you will see barriers in their beach nesting areas. They are among the first migrating shorebirds to return in the spring. (Photo by Shervin Hess)

At Jamaica Bay

Upcoming programs and events at Jamaica Bay

Junior Ranger Owl Prowl-FOR KIDS

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

Wednesday, February 19, 1 PM - 2:30 PM

Join a Park Ranger on an owl adventure. Learn about owls and their habitat through a hike and an owl pellet investigation. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. Reservation required. Please call 718-318-4340 to reserve a spot.  ♥ 1.7 miles.

Junior Ranger Winter Woodpecker Walk-FOR KIDS

Thursday, February 20,

11 AM -12 PM

Join a ranger on a walk on the trails of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge as we seek out some of winter's noisier but beloved inhabitants... woodpeckers! Learn about the different species that can be spotted at Jamaica Bay while searching for feathered friends and their habitats. Warm up with complimentary cocoa in the Refuge Visitor Center afterwards.  ♥ 1.7 miles.

Leave No Trace Awareness Workshop

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

Friday, February 21, 2 PM - 3 PM

Missing the outdoors? Come stop by

the Wildlife Refuge to brush up on how you can reduce your impact while enjoying the outdoors. Based on the outdoor ethics of Leave No Trace Inc.(LNT), participants will learn the seven LNT principles to help cultivate your own Outdoor Ethic. Learning activities may be indoor or outdoor, so please dress accordingly.

Late Winter Bird Walk

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

Saturday, February 22, 10 AM - 1 PM

Join naturalist Don Riepe for an indoor presentation followed by a hike around the refuge to look for owls, waterfowl, finches, and other wintering birds. Learn how birds and other wildlife survive the winter. For information, call 718-474-0896; e-mail: don@littoralsociety.org. No reservation necessary. Free. Kids welcome.  ♥ 1.7 miles.

Winter Beach Experience at Fort Tilden

Building 1 at Fort Tilden

Sunday, February 23, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM 

The sun, moon and earth should be in position that day to create a notable low tide.  Explore the intertidal zone and "walk the sea floor" with American Littoral Society naturalist Gordon Lam and NYC Botanist Zihao Wang to observe the usually-hidden biological treasures from beyond the tides.   ♥ 2 miles.

At Staten Island

Midwinter Recess - Birds

Great Kills Park

Education

Field Station

Tuesday, February 18 , 12 PM - 2:30 PM

Join us for a walk, art project and indoor workshop identifying local winter birds. Bring snacks and dress appropriately. Reservations required: 718-354-4655 ♥ 2 miles.

Midwinter Recess - Winter Waterfowl Art Contest--FOR KIDS

Great Kills Park

Education Field Station

Wednesday, February 19 

12 PM - 2:30 PM

Join us for a walk and participate in an art competition. Bring snacks and dress appropriately. Reservations required; 718-354-4655. ♥ 2 miles.

Midwinter Recess -Story Hour Programs-FOR KIDS

112 A Mont Sec Avenue  Mont Sec House, Fort Wadsworth                                                                        

11:00 AM

Wednesday, February 19:

Celebrate Black History Month with "Follow the Drinking Gourd"

Thursday, February 20:

Winter Stories

Friday, February 21:

Rhymes and Verses

Celebrate winter with Story Hour programs at historic Mont Sec House during your child's winter break. Each story will be accompanied by a fun craft or activity. For information email

Diane_Wulff@nps.gov

Fort Walking Tour

Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center

Sunday, February 23

2 PM - 3:30 PM

Join us for a 1.5-hour hike at Fort Wadsworth as we explore both the natural areas and the remnants of the former harbor defense system. Inclement weather will cancel the program. Reservations required. Call 718-354-4655. ♥ 2 miles.

Winter at Sandy Hook

Some things to do at Sandy Hook in this colder season.

Lighthouse Tours   Daily, 1 PM to 3:30 PM   November 1 - April 30

Tours are first-come, first-served. Visitors must be 48 inches tall to climb the tower. Sign up in the 1883 Keeper's Quarters for free lighthouse tours, and see exhibits on New Jersey lighthouses, a rotating art exhibit, and visit the gift shop. Grounds and video in the adjacent barn are always open. Groups must make advance reservations. Call 732-872-5970 for more information.

History House   Fort Hancock's Officers Row Building 1   Weekends, 1 PM - 5 PM

An 1898 lieutenant's quarters on "Officers Row" overlooking Sandy Hook Bay is furnished to resemble the WWII era, the busiest time in the fort's history.

View of Fort Hancock at sunset from the lighthouse

The Gateway Program Guide for Winter is at nps.gov/gate/planyourvisit

September at Sandy Hook

A few items from the Sandy Hook NPS Fall Event Guide (pdf).

Canoeing on Sandy Hook Bay
U.S. Life-Saving Station Parking Lot (between Lot D and Lot E)
Saturday, September 14, 9:15 AM - 12 PM
Take a two-mile morning paddle to explore Sandy Hook bay from an ideal vantage point-the water itself. Rangers guide a two and a half hour tour of the bayside waters and Skeleton Hill Island. Go to www.recreation.gov to make your reservation.

Battery Gunnison/New Peck Restoration
Saturday, September 14, 12 PM - 5 PM
The Army Ground Forces Association is a volunteer group in 1943 coast artillery uniform restoring and interpreting Battery Gunnison/New Peck and it's 6-inch guns. Visitors are invited to stop by on this work and training day to chat and learn about the historic time period of September 1943 and the restoration and preservation projects currently underway.

Cold War Day
Nike Missile Radar Site -
Parking Lot L
Nike Launch Site - Park in Lot across from Hercules Missile on Hartshorne Drive (Main Park Road)
Sunday, September 15, 12 PM - 4 PM
Guided tour of the Nike Integrated Fire Control (IFC) Area will allow you to see the inner workings where nuclear-armed Nike Hercules missiles were controlled and guided during the Cold War defense of the New York metropolitan area. While taking a guided tour of this one-time top-secret missile site, you will have the opportunity to meet and talk with some of the veterans who worked on Cold War-era Nike Air Defense System

Information at www.nps.gov/gate/planyourvisit/

National Lighthouse Day and more at Sandy Hook

Today is National Lighthouse Day and at the Sandy Hook Lighthouse from 12 PM - 5 PM they will be joining in honoring the beacons of light that for hundreds of years symbolized safety and security for ships and boats at sea. Visit the Sandy Hook Lighthouse and learn about the oldest operating lighthouse in the nation with the long-serving Lighthouse Keeper Samuel P. Jewell (1869-1909). Learn what it was like to be a lighthouse keeper during the 18th Century. Must be 48" or taller to climb the lighthouse. Wear appropriate footwear.

OTHER UPCOMING PROGRAMS - also check the SANDY HOOK PROGRAM GUIDE

Stars of Sandy Hook
Beach Plaza @ Lot E
Thursday, August 8, 8:30 PM - 10:30 PM
Join STAR and a park ranger to view the night skies. It is the best time of month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is little light in the sky. Bring binoculars and/or telescopes. Free.

Annual Fluke Tagging Trip
American Littoral Society
MIJo II Charters, Atlantic Highlands Municipal Marina, NJ
Saturday, August 10, 7 AM
Join Jeff Dement, the Society's fish tagging director, for a day of fishing and tagging in New Jersey waters. If you've never tagged fish before, this is a great opportunity to learn from experienced taggers. Cost: $75 for Members/$100 for Non-Members. Cost includes boat ticket, all tackle, bait, and tags. If you have your own tackle, feel free to use it. Space is limited. Contact or call 732-291-0055 X106 for info. Places on the boat are secured when payment is received.

Going Bunkers: Nine Gun Battery
Lot M
Sunday, August 11, 6 PM - 7:30 PM
Explore and tour the north end of Fort Hancock's Nine Gun Battery, the longest gun battery the U.S. Army ever built for harbor defense. When construction began in 1897, the battery was originally intended to mount three 10-inch caliber disappearing guns, but when construction was completed in 1904 an additional six 12-inch caliber disappearing guns were emplaced, creating a nine gun battery that operated until 1944. Free. Call 732-872-5970 to make a reservation.

Ocean Beach Walk
Beach Plaza @ Lot D
June 17 through August 26, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM, Monday, Tuesday.
Come and take a guided walk with a park ranger along the beach, collecting and identifying some of the ocean's natural treasures. Wear comfortable shoes & sunscreen, and bring binoculars and water.

Canoe Cruise
U.S. Life-Saving Station Parking Lot (between Lot D and Lot E)
June 27 through August 29, 9:15 AM - 12 PM, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
Take a two-mile morning paddle to explore Sandy Hook bay from an ideal vantage point-the water itself. Rangers guide you on a two and a half hour tour of the bayside waters and Skeleton Hill Island. Go to www.recreation.govor call 877-444-6777 to make your reservation. Fee-based program. Days vary; check listings in Sandy Hook Program Guide.

Junior Ranger
June 27 through August 29, Children ages 7 to 12 years old. Tuesday, Thursday.
See Junior Ranger section located after the calendar listings, for rotating schedule of programs and each location. . Offerings vary; check listings in Sandy Hook Program Guide.

Junior Jr. Ranger
June 19 through August 28, 10 AM - 11 AM, Wednesday.
Children ages 3 to 6 years old
See Junior Jr. Ranger section below located after the calendar entries, for rotating schedule of programs and each location. Offerings vary; check listings in Sandy Hook Program Guide.

Upcoming at Sandy Hook

Unfortunately, the Beach Concerts at Sandy Hook have been canceled. BUT there are lots of other things to do if the beaches, trails, and scenery aren't enough of a draw.

Starting today:

Bird Walk Monmouth County Audubon Society
Lot M
Thursday, July 11, 6 PM - 8 PM
Hike to the end of Fisherman's Trail to the ocean and look for osprey, piping plovers, terns, and other shorebirds. Bring binoculars, insect repellant, and wear comfortable shoes. Free. ♥ 2 miles.

Summer Coast Camp, Grades 3 - 5
American Littoral Society
Jul 8 - July 12, 9AM - 2 PM
Join the American Littoral Society for a week of educational fun that includes seining, kayaking, swimming in the guarded ocean, marine life identification, fishing, crabbing, birding, shelling, field journaling, plankton discovery, coastal botany, outdoor games, and understanding nature through art. Cost: $275 Society Members/$300 Non-Members. Contact: 732-291-0055 for more information and to make a reservation.

Fort Hancock Bike Tour
Theater Parking Lot across from the Chapel, Fort Hancock Historic Post
Saturday, July 13, 5 PM - 7 PM
Join a ranger on a guided bicycle tour highlighting everything from gun batteries to beaches. Bring your bicycle and bike helmet. Call 732-872-5970 to make a reservation. ♥ 3 miles.

Ocean Beach Walk
Beach Plaza @ Lot D
June 17 through August 26, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM. Monday and Tuesday
Come and take a guided walk with a park ranger along the beach, collecting and identifying some of the ocean's natural treasures. Wear comfortable shoes & sunscreen, and bring binoculars and water.

Canoe Cruise
U.S. Life-Saving Station Parking Lot (between Lot D and Lot E)
June 27 through August 29, 9:15 AM - 12 PM. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
Take a two-mile morning paddle to explore Sandy Hook Bay from an ideal vantage point-the water itself. Rangers guide you on a two and a half hour tour of the bayside waters and Skeleton Hill Island. Go to www.recreation.gov or call 877-444-6777 to make your reservation. Fee-based program.

Junior Ranger
June 27 through August 29, Children ages 7 to 12 years old. Tuesday, Thursday
See Junior Ranger section located after the calendar listings, for rotating schedule of programs and each location. . Events vary; check listings in Sandy Hook Program Guide.

Junior Jr. Ranger
June 19 through August 28, 10 AM - 11 AM. Wednesday.
Children ages 3 to 6 years old
See Junior Jr. Ranger section below located after the calendar entries, for the rotating schedule of programs and each location. Events vary; check listings in Sandy Hook Program Guide.

Upcoming at Sandy Hook

Programs upcoming at Sandy Hook this weekend. 

https://www.nps.gov/gate/planyourvisit/

Holly Forest; Arbor Day Tree Walk
American Littoral Society
Parking Lot E
Friday, April 26, 10 AM - 12 PM
Some of the oldest American holly trees in the country can be found among Sandy Hook's nearly 300 acres of holly forest. We will hike through the restricted 64-acre maritime forest area and get to see an undisturbed holly forest with some of its oldest, rarest, and largest trees. Waterproof footwear is recommended.Cost: $10 member/ $20 non-member. Contact: 732-291-0055 for more information and to reserve. ♥ 2 miles.

Dune Grass Planting-- NOTE CORRECTED LOCATION: Parking Lot B
American Littoral Society
Parking Lot B
Saturday, April 27, 10 AM
The American Littoral Society will be hosting a beach grass planting. The public is invited to help plant American beach grass on dunes in need of restoration. Go to Parking Lot B and look for the organizers It is a volunteer event that is open to the public and will also involve students who have been growing American beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) plants in area schools through the Beach Grasses in Classes program. If possible, please bring a stick or shovel to help with planting. Event will be held rain or shine. Dress for the weather. For more information call the American Littoral Society at 732-291-0055 or email info@littoralsociety.org.

Sandy Hook's Nature Rx Day
Healthy Parks-Healthy People
U.S. Life-Saving Station at Spermaceti Cove (Between Lot D and Lot E)
Sunday, April 28, 1 PM-2:30 PM
Join a park ranger on a prescribed walk through the holly forest with your family and friends. Enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of nature, while getting fit and healthy.

Seals Wintering in New Jersey

Seals are commonly seen on Sandy Hook’s Skeleton Hill Island in winter  - NPS photo

Many New Jersey residents probably would not say that seals live on the shores of our state. they are not usually obvious, but they do visit us regularly. Unlike humans, seals occur along the New Jersey coastline primarily between the months of November through April. 

The harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) is the most common seal found in New Jersey. Other species of seals found in the state include the larger gray seal (Halichoerus grypus), the harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandica), and the least common, the hooded seal (Cystophora cristata).

None of these seal species are classified as endangered or threatened, but they are all protected under the Federal Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and you should avoid contact with them.

Harbor seals can be found across the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans. In Europe, they occur within the Baltic, Barents, and North Seas. On our side of the Atlantic, they can be found in Canada and along the northeastern U.S. New Jersey is typically as far south as they travel in large numbers during the winter, though there have been occasional sightings as far south as Florida.

Sandy Hook is one of the most likely places to see seals in the state. Seals can most often be observed on the bayside beaches but may also be occasionally observed on the ocean beaches, the rocky shoreline near Officer’s Row, or on floating patches of ice in Sandy Hook Bay. There is a boardwalk with a viewing platform that leads out to the best viewing spot on the bay side of the main road.

Seals, along with sea lions and walruses, are classified in a warm blooded group called
“pinnipeds.” Sandy Hook’s seal visitors are “true seals” lacking external ear flaps, unlike
its relative the sea lion. They are also smaller and more skittish. Their long, hairless, front
flippers are used for propulsion in water while the hind flippers are used for steering.
The hind flippers can also be brought forward and under the body, allowing them to flop along on their bellies.

Seals have a thick blubber layer which, combined with a fur coat, protects them in frigid climates. Pinnipeds spend most of their lives in the water but come on land to give birth, raise their young and to molt. They can sleep in water but must wake up frequently to surface and breathe.

They are gifted swimmers, able to dive up to 1,500 feet for as long as 40 minutes.

There are two events at Sandy Hook in March that should give you an opportunity to see them and learn more about them.

Seal and Waterfowl Walk
Building #18, Littoral Society Headquarters
Saturday, March 2, 12 PM - 2 PM
Bring your binoculars and take a trek throughout Sandy Hook to observe the seals and waterfowl that overwinter in New Jersey. The program will include car caravanning to multiple locations on Sandy Hook. Afterwards, warm up at Littoral Society Headquarters with snacks and toasty beverages. Cost: $10 member/ $20 non-member. Registration and payment is required ahead of time, please call (732) 291-0055.  1 mile.

Searching for Seals in the Surf
U.S. Life-Saving Station at Spermaceti Cove (between Lot D and Lot E)
Sunday, March 3, 10 AM - 12 PM
Hike to the Sandy Hook bayside with a park ranger to search for seal activity during their annual migration; and learn about marine mammals that dwell in the waters of Sandy Hook at different times of the year. Reservations required, please call (732) 872-5970.  1 mile.

INFORMATION
Seals in NJ  nps.gov/gate/learn/nature/upload/Seals-in-Sandy-Hook-Waters.pdf
Visiting Sandy Hook nps.gov/gate/planyourvisit/

Harbor seal - via Wikimedia

The Moon and Canoes at Sandy Hook

Here are three outings for this weekend at Sandy Hook.

Fall Equinox Walk
Building #18, Fort Hancock
Saturday, September 22, 6 PM - 8 PM
It is called the equinox because it's one of only two days in the year when daylight and darkness agree to equally share the 24 hours in a day. Truth or myth - can you balance a raw egg on its end? Not sure, but it's a great day for an early evening walk on the Hook. Free, call the American Littoral Society at (732) 291-0055 to make reservations. ♥1 mile

Canoeing on Sandy Hook Bay
U.S. Life-Saving Station Parking Lot (between Lot D and Lot E)
Saturday, September 22, 9:15 AM - 12 PM
Take a two-mile morning paddle to explore Sandy Hook bay from an ideal vantage point-the water itself. Rangers guide a two and a half hour tour of the bayside waters and Skeleton Hill Island. Go to recreation.gov to make your reservation.

Harvest Moon Walk
U.S. Life-Saving Station Parking Lot (between Lot D and Lot E)
Sunday, September 23, 7:30 PM - 9 PM
"Harvest moon" is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox. Bring a flashlight for this night walk that utilizes the five senses. Call (732) 872-5970 to make reservations. ♥1 mile

National Lighthouse Day August 7

National Lighthouse Day honors the beacon of light that for hundreds of years symbolized safety and security for ships and boats at sea.

The list of lighthouses in New Jersey is probably longer than you would guess, and many of them are lighthouses that you canvisit.

Sandy Hook Lighthouse

Visit the Sandy Hook Lighthouse and learn about the oldest operating lighthouse in the nation with the long-serving Lighthouse Keeper Samuel P. Jewell (1869-1907). Learn what it was like to be a lighthouse keeper during the 18th Century.  (You must be 48" or taller to climb the lighthouse. Wear appropriate footwear.) Tuesday, August 7, 12 PM - 5 PM.

Another possible stop is the Barnegat Lighthouse on the northern tip of Long Beach Island in Ocean County. This lighthouse was considered to be one of the most crucial "change of course" points for coastal vessels. Vessels bound to and from New York along the New Jersey coastline depended on Barnegat Lighthouse to avoid the shoals extending from the shoreline. The swift currents, shifting sandbars, and the offshore shoals challenged the skills of even the most experienced sailor.

Upcoming at Sandy Hook

Three upcoming activities at Sandy Hook, NJ

Centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
U.S. Life-Saving Station at Spermaceti Cove
(Between Lot D and Lot E)
Saturday, May 12, 10 AM - 12PM
Celebrate the "Year of the Bird" with a park ranger and commit to protecting birds today and in the future. Visitors will look for osprey, herons, egrets, songbirds and other migrants. Bring binoculars and wear comfortable shoes.

Horseshoe Crab Walk
Parking Lot B
Tuesday, May 15
6 PM - 8 PM
Get up close and personal with a living fossil. Take an evening walk along Plum Island to look for spawning horseshoe crabs. Wear foot gear that can get wet. Free, call the American Littoral Society to make a reservation (732) 291-0055. ♥ 1 mile.

Clean Ocean Action's 30th Annual Spring Student Summit
Wednesday, May 16th & Thursday, May 17th
9 AM - 12:30 PM
Applications are available at www.cleanoceanaction.org
For more information call 732-872-0111

See the listings for these and other events in the program guides posted
on the Plan Your Visit Page nps.gov/gate/planyourvisit/

Upcoming at Sandy Hook

Gateway National Recreation Area, which covers parks in in NY and in NJ, offer programs to the public throughout the year - but as the weather improves they certainly get more visitors.

There are three geographic units: Sandy Hook, New Jersey; Jamaica Bay and Staten Island, New York City. The NYC units include Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Fort Tilden, Riis Park in Queens, Floyd Bennett Field and Canarsie Pier in Brooklyn. Staten Island has Great Kills Park, Miller Field and Fort Wadsworth. These sites and others make up the 27,000 acres of Gateway, one national park.

Two events upcoming this weekend at Sandy Hook:

Surf Fishing Clinic
Building #18, Littoral Society Headquarters
Saturday, April 21, 8 AM - 3 PM
Join Jeff Dement, Tagging Director, for a day of surf fishing and instruction on the beach. He will cover the basics of casting, knot tying, lure/bait selection, and "reading" a beach. All skill levels are welcome. Rods, reels and tackle will be provided. Children under 18 are welcome with a supervising adult. Bring lunch. This is a fee-based program. Call (732) 291-0055 to make a reservation.

Clean Ocean Action's 33rd Spring Beach Sweep
Parking Lot D
Saturday, April 21, 9 AM - 12:30 PM
Clean Ocean Action's Beach Sweeps is a biannual, statewide beach cleanup that occurs at over 70 locations throughout the state of New Jersey. Each beach sweeper becomes a citizen scientist for the day as they record each piece of debris that they collect. This turns a one-day, cleanup event, into a legacy of data that impacts research and legislation. For more information, please visit Clean Ocean Action's website:www.cleanoceanaction.org or call (732) 872-0111.

Marine Academy of Science and Technology Recognized by New Jersey Audubon and National Wildlife Federation with Eco-Schools Award

Dune restoration by students at Sandy Hook  - Photo via ahherald.com

Marine Academy of Science and Technology (M.A.S.T.) is a co-ed four-year high school, grades 9-12. It is one of five career academies administered by the Monmouth County Vocational School District. The Marine Academy is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges. The school's curriculum focuses on marine sciences and marine technology/engineering.

The school was recognized by New Jersey Audubon and National Wildlife Federation with an Eco-Schools Award.  MAST students developed and implemented a plan to increase dune vegetation lost in Hurricane Sandy. The dunes are natural line of defense in protecting coastal communities during hurricanes and other storms.

On Sandy Hook, waves and storm surges from Hurricane Sandy badly damaged the dunes and the students identified one damaged area of particular ecological importance in an area within the park called the “critical zone.” This zone is the thinnest area and susceptible to overwash and flooding from storm events.

Working under the supervision of the National Park Service, the students planted over 1,000 dune grass plants over a span of 3,000 feet along the beaches of Sandy Hook.

The National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools USA program is run by New Jersey Audubon in our state with a goal to engage schools in efforts to improve student environmental literacy and skills. The MAST dune restoration project earned them the Bronze Award.

MAST students participate in the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) in lieu of Physical Education. The school is is located in the Fort Hancock Historic Area at the tip of Sandy Hook, sothe project was very "local." Their campus is adjacent to the Sandy Hook Lighthouse, the oldest working lighthouse in the country.

Fort Hancock Days at Sandy Hook

The recent Fort Hancock Days at Sandy Hook mark the anniversary of the 1895 establishment of Fort Hancock and allow visitors to discover the fort's role in the defense of our nation.

It includes a Lantern Tour about the World War II Harbor Defense by volunteer living historians from the Army Ground Forces Association (AGFA) in uniform as World War II coast artillery soldiers. There are several seacoast gun batteries at Fort Hancock, including the restored Battery Gunnison/New Peck.

Gunnison Drill during Fort Hancock Days

This event commemorates the renaming of the "Fortifications at Sandy Hook" to "Fort Hancock" in October 1895.  The event also brings the 6-inch guns to life as they were back in October 1943.

The fort also has a fully restored 1920s to 1940s vintage interior electric system, and medical support. The Army planned to counter chemical weapons with the fully restored Chemical Decontamination and Overpressure system.

nps.gov/gate/planyourvisit/thingstodosandyhook.htm

Solar Eclipse Viewing in NJ

From space, the Moon's shadow during a solar eclipse appears as a dark spot moving across the Earth
Image: NASA Earth Observatory

On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will be treated to a total eclipse of the sun. In New Jersey, which is north of the path of totality, the sun will appear partially eclipsed at magnitude 0.77 or about 73% of the sun being covered by the Moon - which will still be an incredible sight. It will peak at about 2:43 pm ET.

Two places you might go for viewing in New Jersey that also offer other things to see and do while you are there are two of our own national parks.

Solar Eclipse Party at Sandy Hook
History House, Building 1
1PM - 5PM
Join a park ranger and S.T.A.R Astronomy to view the solar eclipse. Rangers and astronomers will share with visitors how to safely enjoy the solar eclipse. Ranger-led activities will be led on the lawn as the party takes place.


At the Great Falls on the Passaic River, you can experience this solar phenomena in Overlook Park at 72 Mcbride Avenue, Paterson, NJ. Free solar eclipse viewing glasses and t-shirts will be provided while supplies last, as well as special solar eclipse junior ranger books and badges.

June at Sandy Hook

View of Fort Hancock from the Sandy Hook Lighthouse at sunset (NPS photo)

Here are some June and summer events at Sandy Hook National Recreation Area.

World Oceans Day: Our Oceans, Our Future--Beach Lot C, Beach Plaza Thursday, June 8, 10 AM - 12 PM Celebrate your love for the oceans. Prevent marine litter for a healthier ocean and a better future. Help the park rangers clean the beach and learn about solutions to plastic pollution with our park partner Clean Ocean Action.

In Search of the Lighthouse, Fort, and Refugee Town on Sandy Hook: A Story of Archaeological Research--Sandy Hook Chapel, Tuesday, June 13, 7 PM to 9 PM.Presenter/Lecturer: Richard Veit, Ph.D.: Professor of Anthropology and Chair of the Department of History & Anthropology, Monmouth University.
From 1692 to 1817, Sandy Hook was the private property of the Hartshorne family of Middletown. Since 1764, the historic lighthouse on the Hook has guarded the treacherous approaches to New York Harbor. During the American Revolution, Continental forces tried unsuccessfully to deny the British control of the lighthouse. British troops and partisans captured Sandy Hook early in the war and, despite repeated raids by Continental forces, retained control of the sandy peninsula until the end of the conflict. Indeed, the British fortified the lighthouse and Loyalists, many of African descent, constructed a Refugee Town near the light which served as a base of operations for raiding parties along the Jersey shore. Monmouth University's 2016 archaeological field school investigated the lighthouse property in an attempt to identify the location of the Lighthouse Fort and Refugee Town. Learn what was discovered from the study

Fridays--Canoe Cruise-
U.S. Life-Saving Station Parking Lot (between Lot D and Lot E) June 16 through August 25 9:15 AM - 12 PM. See program guide for other canoe programs.

Check out the Summer Program Guide  nps.gov/gate/planyourvisit/