U. S. Department of the Interior

Gateway / New York

The concept of National Parks originated in the US, and the first national park was Yellowstone, created by Ulysses S. Grant in 1872. The National Park Service as a federal agency was created by an act of congress in 1916, so the launch leading up to the century mark begins. The centennial provides an opportunity to reintroduce the National Park Service to all Americans and expand their understanding of who we are and how we affect their lives.

The NPS will connect with future Find your park and tell us. The Fishermen, ., by Jason generations by telling the stories of Philibotte, placed second in the Gateway 2014 Photo Contest. what we do and how it connects with Please find your park, and tell us about visitors. Focusing on the future of it by entering the Gateway Photo The ♥ symbol denotes a hike or walk the NPS and the public we serve Contest that will be held this summer. of moderate activity. Come enjoy honors the success of our past as we Last year the theme was tell a story nature and the park as you get some continue to protect and preserve for with a picture, and the photos had to be exercise. future generations. The contributions of Gateway, but this year we are of NPS employees, parks and opening the contest to photos of all Do you receive email notifications of programs will be celebrated to ignite NYC area parks, whether city, state or Gateway‟s programs and events? If the passion of the NPS in order to national. So the theme for this year you are not on our mailing list and carry our stewardship into the next will be “Tell us about your park.” would like to be, please send a generation. But you should know message to [email protected], that the most important part of this We want pictures that show your park with „program guide‟ in the subject celebration is you – our visitor-- and in context of its setting and line and we will add you. the reason that the NPS exists. demonstrate, people, nature,

communities against the backdrop of Continuing Programs The major Centennial Goal is to NYC metropolitan area. connect with and create the next generation of park visitors, We will be issuing a special Sandy Hook Lighthouse, supporters and advocates. One of the Keepers Quarters, centennial initiatives is “Find your centennial edition of this guide so Park,” so you can connect with, visit stay tuned, so you can find out what Visitor Center and support your local park. is happening, and how you can be a Daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. part of this celebration. Contest The 1883 Keepers Quarters has Note that this is “Find your Park” not details will be forthcoming. exhibits on New Jersey lighthouses find your national park, and your We want every one of you to be a and videos. Tours are first-come-first- park may be an historic site. We part of the NPS Centennial served starting at 1pm with the last want people to connect with their Celebration. tour at 4:30pm. You must be at least local park, whether city, state, 48 inches tall to climb the tower. national and get involved. Continuing Programs are invited to stop by on this work and training day to chat and learn more Littoral Society Headquarters, about the historic time period of Building #18 March 1943, when work was Parking Lot L at Friday, April 24 Horseshoe Cove underway for the conversion of Battery Gunnison/New Peck. 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Saturdays, April 11, 18 & Join the naturalists of the American May 30 Littoral Society and explore Sandy Sundays, April 26 & May 3, 17 Hook’s unique ecosystem. Bring 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. your binoculars and cameras, to Tour the site where radar once Start at Sandy Hook Light; capture the different flora and fauna guided nuclear armed Nike missiles conclude at Twin Lights of Sandy Hook. Great for families. during the Cold War era. Veterans Historic Site Free, call (732) 291-0055 to make a of the Nike System serve as tour Sunday, March 29 reservation. ♥ 1 mile. guides, pointing out and explaining 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. all the radars and controls used to Park Historians Margaret Carlsen and steer the Nike Guided Missiles. Thomas Hoffman take a group Littoral Society Headquarters,

through the Sandy Hook and Twin Building #18 Lights lighthouses (respectively) for Saturday, April 25, 8 a.m. this special tour. First tour the Sandy Join the American Littoral Society Hook Lighthouse then car caravan to learn the basics of casting, knot over to Twin Lights. Reservations tying, lure/bait selection, and Saturday, March 14 required, please call (732) 872-5970. “reading” a beach. All skill levels 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. will be accommodated. Rods, reels Spermaceti Cove Parking Lot and tackle will be provided.

(Between LOT D and LOT E) Children under 18 are welcome

Join the Monmouth County with a supervising adult. Bring Audubon Society to listen and Spermaceti Cove Parking Lot lunch. Call (732) 291-0055 for program fees and to make a look for the aerial courtship (between LOT D and LOT E) Sunday, April 12 reservation. displays of the American Woodcock. Bring binoculars and 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Join the Monmouth County Audubon wear comfortable clothes. ♥ 1 Society to look for returning osprey, mile. herons, egrets, and other migrants. Saturday, April 25 Bring binoculars and wear comfortable shoes. ♥ 1 mile. 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. The Army Ground Forces Guardian Park Association is a volunteer group in 1943 era coast artillery uniform Friday, March 20 Littoral Society Headquarters, restoring and interpreting Battery 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Building 18 Gunnison/New Peck and its 6-inch Celebrate the equinox with an early Friday, April 17 guns. Visitors are invited to stop evening walk on the Hook. Free, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. by on this work and training day call the American Littoral Society at (732) 291-0055 to make a Join us for a walk through the dune to chat and learn more about reservation. ♥ 2 miles. trail and maritime, for a chance to the historic time period of April view wildlife. Binoculars and 1943, the preparation for the May cameras are recommended, to view 1943 initial activation of Battery a variety of Sandy Hook’s flora Gunnison/New Peck, and the Saturday, March 21 and fauna. Free, call (732) 291- restoration and preservation 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. 0055 to register. ♥ 1 mile. projects currently underway. The Army Ground Forces Association, dressed in 1943 era coast artillery uniform, is a volunteer group restoring and interpreting Battery Gunnison/New Peck and its 6-inch guns. Visitors

For updates, visit us on the web at www.nps.gov/gate, on Facebook at Gateway National Recreation Area, or on Twitter, @GatewayNPS. Page 2

Friday, May 15 Plum Island, LOT B 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Volunteer living historians from the Tuesday, May 19 Army ground Forces Association NJ Sea Grant 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. (AGFA) will take you for a walk that Consortium, Building #22 Get up close and personal with a includes several gun batteries of Fort Saturday, April 25 living fossil. Take an evening walk Hancock, highlighting Battery 10:00 am – 2:00pm along Plum Island to look for Gunnison/New Peck. Bring a Discover the secrets of the ocean and spawning horseshoe crabs. Wear flashlight and camera, and wear sturdy shoes. ♥1.5 miles. earn this BSA badge by seining in foot gear that can get wet. Free, the bay, collecting plankton, call the American Littoral Society studying waves and currents, and to make a reservation (732) 291- participating in interactive laboratory 0055. experiments with NJSGC. Open to Battery Gunnison individual boy scouts. Advance registration required. Call 732-872- Sunday, May 17 1300, ext. 20. Fee. 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Volunteers from AGFA in WWII LOT E (Beach Plaza) uniform bring the battery to life. as if Saturday, May 23 in May 1943. See fully restored 1920’s 8:30 p.m. – 11 p.m. to 1940’s vintage interior electric Meet at LOT D (Seagulls' Nest) Join a park ranger and the Amateur system. Learn about Fort Hancock, Saturday, April 25 Astronomers Association to view participate in loading the guns, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. the ringed planet, which will be at tracking ships, learn artillery math and Join Clean Ocean Action as we its closest approach to Earth and its experience soldier life. celebrate the Beach Sweeps’ 30th face will be fully illuminated by Anniversary! The Beach Sweeps is a the Sun. This is the best time to volunteer clean-up event happening view and photograph Saturn and its at 70+ locations throughout the state, moons. Dress for the weather and Sunday, May 17 including Sandy Hook. Come with bring telescopes. family members, friends, co- 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. workers, or as an individual and help Batteries will be open with tours us keep our beaches clean. provided by park rangers and Registration will become active in History House Porch, Bldg 1 volunteers. March. Please pre-register at Saturday, May 30 www.cleanoceanaction.org. ♥ 1 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. mile. Experience Fort Hancock at New Jersey Sea Grant, Barracks twilight with a park ranger. Learn 22 Fort Hancock about Fort Hancock’s significance Sunday, May 17 over the past 250 years. Parking is 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. available behind History House. ♥ Spend the day enjoying hands-on fun 1.5 miles. while learning about our environment. Join NJSGC and their Ocean Fun LOT M Parking Area Days. Learn how to use a seine net or Sunday, May 3 join the youth fishing clinic. Test your 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. boating safety knowledge or become a This program will be both a walking beach comber and search for natural and driving tour. Walk with a park treasures on a guided tour. Hear from ranger to explore historic rapid fire NJ scientists and researchers all about batteries in Fort Hancock. the inner workings of the ocean and Remember to bring insect repellant. how to protect it for generations to Call (732) 872-5970 for details and come. Dozens of exhibits and reservations. ♥ 1 mile. children’s activities. Free admission. Post Guardhouse (former Museum)

For updates, visit us on the web at www.nps.gov/gate, on Facebook at Gateway National Recreation Area, or on Twitter, @GatewayNPS. Page 3