Hudson River Sloop Clearwater facts for kids

The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. is a special group based in Beacon, New York. Their main goal is to protect the Hudson River and the areas around it. They do this by speaking up for the river and teaching people about it. Famous folk singer Pete Seeger and his wife Toshi Seeger started this group in 1966. The organization is well-known for its sailing ship, the sloop Clearwater. They also host a yearly music and environmental event called the Great Hudson River Revival.

Protecting the Hudson River: A History

In 1966, Pete Seeger and his wife Toshi Seeger created the Clearwater organization. Just three years later, they had the sloop Clearwater built. Their aim was to help clean up the Hudson River. They were inspired by people who opposed a plan for a power plant at Storm King Mountain.

In 1969, the Clearwater sailed for the first time. It traveled from Maine down the Atlantic Coast to New York City. A folk musician named Tom Winslow even wrote a song about the Clearwater. His song, "Hey Looka Yonder (It's the Clearwater)," talks about how people from all backgrounds worked together to raise money for the ship.

For many years, the Clearwater office was in Poughkeepsie, New York. In 2009, it moved to Beacon, New York.

Fighting for a Cleaner River

Pollution in the Hudson River

The Clearwater group and the Clearwater Festival have worked hard to show how polluted the Hudson River is. The river has faced problems like mercury and sewage. But the biggest issue has been Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from General Electric. This chemical pollution happened between 1947 and 1977.

These PCBs caused harm to animals and people who ate fish from the river. They also affected those who drank the water. Thanks to the efforts of Pete Seeger and Clearwater, the polluted areas became "superfund sites." This means they were marked for special cleanup.

Recognizing Their Hard Work

Clearwater became famous in the 1970s for its strong efforts. They pushed for a cleanup of the PCB pollution caused by companies like General Electric. Clearwater also cares about other issues in the Hudson Valley. These include new buildings, pesticide runoff, and waste disposal.

Clearwater played a big part in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision. The EPA made one of the biggest polluters start removing toxic PCBs. This helped restore one of the most polluted parts of the river.

In 2002, Pete Seeger was called a "Clean Water Hero." This was for his important role in passing the Clean Water Act. His dedication through Clearwater helped make this law a success. It is now one of the best environmental laws in the country.

After Seeger passed away in 2014, the EPA said his work was "incredible." They noted that Seeger and Clearwater helped make the Hudson River much cleaner.

Learning About the Environment

The Clearwater docked near the Poughkeepsie Bridge for a local festival.

Clearwater's learning programs teach people about the Hudson River. They highlight its special ecosystem. This unique system mixes fresh water from the Adirondack Mountains with salty ocean tides. These tides come from the Atlantic Ocean near New York City.

The sloop Clearwater mostly sails on the Hudson River. It travels between New York City and Albany, New York. The ship is mainly used to teach school groups about the environment. They learn about river biology and how to protect waterways.

The Clearwater also offers sails for members and the public. You can even join as a volunteer crew member for a week. Or you can be an intern for up to two months. This lets you learn about sailing and environmental education.

Music and Fun Festivals

One of the group's biggest ways to raise money is its yearly music and environmental festival. It's officially called the "Great Hudson River Revival." This was America's oldest and largest festival of its kind. The festival happened every June for over 30 years. Up to 15,000 people would attend.

The festival raised money and awareness for the river and the Earth. All the money went to Clearwater's work. This included research, education, and speaking up for the Hudson River. The music at the festival included everything from Blues to Rock, and Folk to Jazz. The festival was cancelled in 2022.

In 1984, Seeger started the Walkabout Clearwater Chorus. This community choir sings to support environmental and social causes. The chorus brings a 7-foot-tall (2.1 m) model of the Sloop Clearwater to their shows. They perform at festivals and parades in the Hudson Valley and beyond. The chorus is featured on Seeger's 2008 album, Pete Seeger at 89. They have also performed in Dortmund, Germany, every two years since 2001. The chorus also runs a coffee house with folk music. It takes place in White Plains, New York, from October to May each year.

The Sloop Clearwater

Sloop Clearwater sailing up the Hudson River
History
United States
Name	Clearwater
Builder	Harvey Gamage Shipyard, South Bristol, Maine
Laid down	October, 1968
Launched	May 17, 1969
General characteristics
Type	Gaff rigged sloop
Length	106 ft (32 m) overall
Beam	25 ft (7.6 m)
Draft	8 ft (2.4 m)
Propulsion	sails; auxiliary engine
Sail plan	mainsail, main topsail, jib
Notes	4305 sq ft. (387.5 m²) total sail area
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	Beacon, New York
Built	1968
Architect	Hamlin, Cyrus; Gamage, Harvey Shipyard
NRHP reference No.	04000376
Added to NRHP	May 4, 2004

The Clearwater sailing south on the Hudson River past Manhattan's Grant's Tomb and Riverside Church.

The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. owns and runs the sloop Clearwater. This ship is the main part of Clearwater's public education programs. The Clearwater acts as a moving classroom, a science lab, a stage, and a place for discussions.

The Clearwater is a 106-foot (32 m) wooden sailing ship. It was designed like Dutch sailing sloops from the 1700s and 1800s. These ships were built to handle the strong tides, shallow waters, and changing winds of the Hudson River. The Clearwater was designed by Cy Hamlin and built in Maine. It was launched in 1969.

The sloop has a single tall mast that rises 108 feet (33 m). It carries a large 3,000-square-foot (280 m²) mainsail. A long bowsprit at the front holds a 900-square-foot (84 m²) jib. On calm days, a 450-square-foot (42 m²) topsail can also be raised.

In 2004, the sloop Clearwater was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This was because of its importance to the environmental movement. The Clearwater has a smaller sister ship, the Sloop Woody Guthrie. This ship is also used to teach people about the river.

In 2012, Pete Seeger and Lorre Wyatt released a music video. It was for their song "God's Counting on Me, God's Counting on You." They filmed it on the Clearwater while sailing on the Hudson. The song mentions the Deepwater Horizon oil spill from 2010.

See also

• Sustainability
• Biodiversity
• Global warming
• Ecology
• Natural environment
• Recycling
• Outdoor Education