Summer is in full swing at Sandy Hook, and we’re thrilled to welcome the season’s energy, sunshine, and visitors, with more than 2 million expected this year! As the peninsula comes alive with beachgoers, nature lovers, and history buffs, the Sandy Hook Foundation, as the philanthropic partner to the park, is proud to be part of it all. From greeting guests at the historic Lifesaving Station to expanding our programs to complement the NPS offering, we invite you to read on and discover what we’ve been up to and what’s in store for summer 2025 and beyond. |
Summer Programming: There is always something happening at the Lifesaving Station |
The season is off to an exciting start at the historic Lifesaving Station, where summer programs are already engaging curious minds and creative spirits. Highlights so far include Rise to Rise, sunrise yoga classes with Tootsie Olan, and Summer Solstice Sound Healing with Alysia DeSantis and Dana Potts. Both bringing a calming connection to the park. Guests have also enjoyed our Horseshoe Crab class, explored their artistic side in the first of our Watercolor Workshop series with Tracey Witter, and joined the launch of our free Family Friday Pop In Series, held every Friday from 2 to 4 pm for children, teens, and families. Looking ahead, we are excited to continue with a Landscape Photography Workshop series led by Lara Robby, additional watercolor classes, and educational talks with conservationist Dave Grant, including a July lecture on the famous New Jersey shark attacks of 1916. Sunrise Yoga with Tootsie will be offered four more times this summer, twice in July and twice in August so grab your spot now. Weekly Saturday Morning Beach Yoga with Tony Costa continues throughout the summer on the beach in front of the Lifesaving Station and is always free. Our Family Friday series will also feature Marine Mentors, who introduce children to the creatures of Sandy Hook, and a new interactive program with former park ranger Dan Meharg. Dan will guide families through rescues of the 1800s, featuring historic lifesaving tools like the Lyle gun and flare signals. Kids will even calculate how to launch an air cannon to rescue the crew of a "sinking ship." There is something for everyone this summer. Join us!
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Did you know? The Lifesaving Station can be found oceanside between Lots D & E and is open 5 days a week. Hours are Monday, Thursday, Friday between 12-4 and Saturday and Sunday between 9-2.
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The Osprey Fledglings Have Hatched! |
Exciting news from the nest! Three osprey fledglings have hatched this spring right in front of the Lifesaving Station. Thanks to our new live-streaming osprey camera, visitors and wildlife lovers alike have been able to watch the nesting pair care for their young in real time. Each spring, ospreys return to Sandy Hook after migrating from their wintering grounds in the southern U.S., Central, or South America. These raptors typically mate for life and return to the same nesting sites year after year to raise their offspring. Their presence is a strong sign of a healthy coastal ecosystem, and their towering stick nests have become a familiar and welcome sight around the park. Check out the Osprey Cam on You Tube to see our newest residents of Sandy Hook and witness nature in action.
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Leave No Trace Spotlight Team visits Sandy Hook |
Last month, the Sandy Hook NPS and its partners, including SHF, welcomed the traveling Leave No Trace (LNT) Spotlight Team for a special week focused on conservation, education, and community stewardship. Led by LNT team members Jeanelle and Rob, the Spotlight visit included outreach, hands-on activities, and plenty of opportunities to learn how we can all help protect Sandy Hook’s natural resources. The team shared the mission of Leave No Trace, which promotes science-based practices to minimize human impact on the environment. Fun fact: Jeanelle and Rob spend 10 months each year living out of a car as they travel the country, educating communities about the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace, Now that’s dedication! Their visit was an inspiring reminder of how small actions in the direction of "less" on the spectrum of environmental impact can make a lasting difference. Look for continuing opportunities to learn about Leave No Trace this summer at the Lifesaving Station.
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Restored Barracks Open for Group Camping and Nike Site Tour Inspires |
Last month, Sandy Hook Foundation staff and trustees were excited to join National Park Service rangers and Gateway Acting Superintendent Minka Sendich for the opening of the new group campsite at Camp Gateway. Thanks to a $100,000 contribution from the Sandy Hook Foundation, two of the four original Cold War-era barracks behind the historic Nike Missile Radar Site were restored and repurposed as part of this new group camping experience. The site can now host up to 30 campers, with amenities including covered sleeping quarters, charcoal grills, tents, parking, water access, and secure storage. Following the visit, SHF staff, trustees, and Minka were invited by Fort Hancock Nike Site NY-56 Volunteer Association President Bill Jackson and head project manager Dick Griffith for a private tour of the Nike Missile Radar Site. Volunteers, many of whom are Nike veterans, have spent thousands of hours restoring this historic location and sharing its Cold War legacy with the public. Bill and Dick offered insight into the incredible progress made over the years and their hopes for the site's continued preservation and education efforts. We’re proud to support projects that preserve our park’s unique history.
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Wear Your Support: Shop Sandy Hook Gear |
New merch and old favorites available online and in our store at the LSS |
New Youth T-shirt: On The Hook
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New Color of a Fav: Pigment Plum
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SHF Gears Up for the 5th Annual Beach Bash |
The Sandy Hook Foundation is hosting its 5th Annual Beach Bash Benefit Concert on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Beach E on Sandy Hook. |
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