National Park Service Interns to Set Sail in New York City
The United States’ maritime history will become a hands-on
experience for a group of students from the urban areas of Massachusetts,
New York and Maryland Aug. 7 when the National Park Service’s (NPS) tall
ship the Friendship of Salem sails from Salem Maritime National Historic
Site in Massachusetts for New York City and three days of youth leadership,
fellowship and stewardship before returning to port in Salem on Aug. 16.
This is the first time the Friendship has sailed on an overnight voyage
with a crew that includes students and its first trip to New York from
Salem making this unique experience a once-in-a-lifetime event.
The 12 New York City students come from Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens and
Staten Island and are participating in the National Parks of New York
Harbor’s Youth Intern Program (YIP). They work at the National Park Service
Sites in the greater New York City area, including Gateway National
Recreation Area, Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island,
Governors Island, Castle Clinton National Monument, Federal Hall National
Memorial, African Burial Ground National Monument, General Grant National
Memorial and St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, which is located in
Mt. Vernon, NY. They will participate in a special day sail on Thursday,
Aug. 11 and then participate in a youth conference where they will explore
leadership and team building on the Friendship and later camp under the
stars at Gateway National Recreation Area, home to the country’s largest
urban campground. There, they will experience America’s great outdoors in
the last place most people would expect to find it -- deep in the heart of
New York City.
Welcome Ceremony and Flag Raising
When: 10:30AM on Aug. 11, 2011
Where: North Cove Marina
Public Visitation of the Friendship of Salem
When: 10AM-3PM on Aug. 13, 2011
Where: North Cove Marina
*All programs subject to weather.
About the Friendship of Salem
The Friendship is a partnership project between the National Park Service
and the Essex National Heritage Area. The Friendship of Salem is a
full-size replica of the original ship constructed by the renowned
shipbuilder Enos Briggs in Salem in 1797. She is a 171-foot three-masted
“East Indiaman” - the type of merchant ship that made Salem a leader in the
opening of international trade with the Far East, Europe and Russia in the
years immediately following the American Revolution. The Friendship is the
largest wooden, Coast Guard certified, sailing vessel to be built in New
England in more than a century. She is part of the National Park Service's
Salem Maritime National Historic Site and is a fully operational sailing
vessel. Learn more about the Friendship at
http://www.nps.gov/sama/
http://www.friendshipofsalem.
About The National Parks of New York Harbor
The National Parks of New York Harbor helps coordinate 10 National Parks
with 23 unique destinations in New York City and northern New Jersey. The
National Parks of New York Harbor includes nearly 27,000 acres and welcomes
more than 12 million visitors each year.
The parks offer year-round public programs, curriculum-based education,
recreational opportunities, natural habitats, historic buildings and museum
collections. There are also many opportunities to become involved in
volunteer and stewardship activities.
