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About Clearwater
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About the Clearwater Environmental Organization
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. is a 501(c)3 tax exempt nonprofit
member supported corporation whose mission is to preserve and protect
the Hudson River. In 1966, environmental activist and folk
singer/musician Pete Seeger—in despair over the pollution of his beloved
Hudson River—announced plans to “build a boat to save the river”. At
the time, the Hudson was rank with raw sewage, toxic chemicals, oil
pollution and water too anoxic to support fish over many miles of its
length. Seeger believed a majestic replica of the sloops that sailed
the Hudson in the 18th and 19th centuries would bring people to the
river, where they could experience its beauty and be moved to preserve
it. Inspired by that vision, the 106-feet-long tall ship Clearwater was
built and launched in 1969. The sloop was among the first vessels in
the U.S. to conduct science-based environmental education aboard a
sailing ship, virtually creating the template by which such programs are
conducted around the world today.
Since its launch, more than 430,000 young people and hundreds of
thousands of adults have experienced their first real look at an
estuary’s ecosystem—fish, invertebrates, water chemistry and
ecological principals—aboard the sloop. Clearwater’s environmental
education programs now serve more than 15,000 students annually, and the
organization also educates over 200 teachers each year through SUNY New
Paltz, Pace University and other institutions. Clearwater’s members
have helped advocate for the Clean Water Act, the Hudson River Park Act,
and removal of PCB’s from the Hudson.
The Clearwater has become America’s Environmental Flagship, and was
named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 for its role
in the environmental movement. Each summer, Clearwater re-connects
Hudson Valley residents with their cultural heritage and traditions by
bringing them down to the river for the Great Hudson River Revival
Festival. The organization and its local clubs also sponsor smaller
local riverfront festivals throughout the year. Clearwater’s unique
approach to public outreach has made the Clearwater a symbol of moving
citizens to action through hands-on learning, music and celebration.
Please visit the
Clearwater Homepage
for more information on Clearwater and its programs.
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