The late 1960s were a time of political and social upheaval in the United States. Taking action to protect the river was a natural extension of the sentiments of that time, that are once again mainstream today. Clearwater inspired families and friends to work alongside each other to protect the resource flowing through their community. Today, Clearwater holds generations together through collective work to bring about a cleaner, greener, safer world. The memories in the Generations Story Archive share why grassroots generosity and community action are powerful forces for good.
From Clearwater Kid to On-Board Volunteer and Board Member
As the final weeks of the school year approached, I couldn’t wait until the freedom of summer would officially arrive. But my summer always arrived a little earlier than the other kids, because as [...]
Clearwater Derailed My Life
Clearwater derailed my life. Ask anyone who knows me. When I stepped aboard for the first time in June of 2023, I had just finished my first year at Mount Holyoke College. I had [...]
My First Month on Clearwater: October 1978
When I was a teenager in the 1970s, my peers who were a few years older seemed to be having the time of their lives protesting, dropping out, joining communes, and saving the world. [...]
Full Circle on the River
I first sailed on Clearwater in 2019 on a field trip with my AP Environmental Science class. I was familiar with Clearwater from my upbringing in the Hudson Valley, but while aboard, I became [...]
Clearwater is Home
What is it that’s so impactful about the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater? For the last three years, I’ve been telling people about how my time as the Onboard Program Coordinator has changed my life, [...]
Finding Yourself Aboard Clearwater
Dear Clearwater, I first stepped on board the Sloop in 2013. I was 18 and my older brother Rory was a crew member at the time. I had been out of high school for a [...]
Clearwater Shows That Change Is Possible
Dear Clearwater, My parents listened to classical music most of the time, but I was brought up on the music of Pete Seeger. We went to his concerts and I understood immediately that he [...]
Clearwater Shows That Change Is Possible
Dear Clearwater, In 2010 I participated in the Young Women at the Helm program. I often credit that experience as one of the starting points of my environmental education journey that has propelled so [...]
Sejle sammen/Sailing Together
Dear Clearwater, Clearwater never sailed as far as Denmark, nevertheless she steered me on a course that linked me forever to a Viking ship from a small town on a small island in that [...]
As Long As I Can Haul A Line
Dear Clearwater, For many people, the words “middle school” bring up memories of awkwardness and questionable fashion choices, but for me, I think of two life changing decisions: joining marching band, which led me [...]
Still Together On the Hudson
Dear Clearwater, In the fall of 1973, I borrowed my parents' car to bring my belongings to college for the start of my senior year. When I returned home the next day, I [...]
An Autumnal Thriller
Dear Clearwater, Long, long ago, before personal computers were invented, the Clearwater used to honor the fall harvest by having a pumpkin sail the last two weeks in October. We would start in Albany, [...]
“Year of Living Deeply – A Memoir of 1969.”
Dear Clearwater, I first met Pete Seeger in 1968, when he told me that he was raising money to build a replica of a cargo sloop that had plied the river a century ago. The [...]
“Real Sailing Happens on the Hudson.”
Dear Clearwater, I first met Clearwater in 2009 when I started as a month-long winter maintenance apprentice. The stories I have about Clearwater and her people are many. The impact that the boat and the [...]
“Two Unforgettable Weeks Aboard.”
Dear Clearwater, This year in late September, I visited New York City together with my oldest daughter Rebecca. It was my first visit to the city after exactly 25 years. We stood at the Hudson [...]
“Growing Up Clearwater.”
Dear Clearwater, My first introduction to Clearwater was a winter maintenance potluck. I was 6 years old and my mom read about it in the paper. By the time I did my first week of [...]
The stories shared include tales from generations of winter’s past, potlucks, protests, volunteering to feed thousands at revival, and most importantly, bringing The Sailing Classroom to hundreds of thousands of Hudson Valley dwellers.
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