One of Clearwater’s greatest assets are our enthusiastic volunteers. If you would like to help protect the Hudson River, meet other like-minded people, contribute to an organization you believe in, and improve your resume and life experiences, then Clearwater has great volunteer opportunities for you aboard our historic sloop and renowned “floating classroom.”
Clearwater looks for volunteers with a passion for teaching, who love young people and are comfortable leading small group activities. You don’t need previous sailing experience to volunteer with us, but a background in teaching, environmental issues, music or earth sciences are a plus.
Each week from mid April to the end of October, Clearwater and the Mystic Whaler, our sistership, accept six volunteers to live aboard the boat, help sail our ship and teach our education program. A hundred dollar volunteer fee offsets the cost of food, a volunteer t-shirt, instruction, and helps support our Youth Internships. We provide volunteers with a full day of training from our professional crew to prepare everyone for a week packed with sailing, fishing, teaching, learning and fun.
In addition to teaching, we depend on our volunteers help with chores, sailing, and public relations. You must be at least sixteen years of age to volunteer, be in reasonably good physical health, and be able to commit to a full week onboard the boat. Volunteering aboard the boat may not be for everyone: living conditions are rustic, privacy is limited and our work days are long.
Memories of sleeping ondeck under the stars, sailing through the Highlands, catching a sturgeon and singing chanties with kids are what keep our volunteers returning year after year.
Volunteer Application (pdf)
Volunteer Application (online form)
If you are interested in spending an unfogettable week sailing and teaching aboard Clearwater or the Mystic Whaler, fill out an application and one of our eduators will call you back for a short interview.
Check out our volunteer resource page for information about our schedule, dock directions, what to pack and lots of education materials. An onboard volunteer week is an education program itself and you will have a lot to learn! Volunteers teach to young people and adults on topics ranging from history and ecology to water chemistry and navigation. We will review our teaching materials during the training day, but a well prepared volunteer raises the quality of our educational sails. Get ready for an amazing week on the Hudson River!
