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May 8, 2002
For Immediate Release
Constantine Dillon (631) 289-4810 

National Park Service Offers Summer Ranger Programs
at Fire Island National Seashore

The National Park Service will offer free, fun, outdoor ranger programs at Fire Island National Seashore this season. Programs will be at the William Floyd Estate in Mastic Beach, and Sailors Haven, Watch Hill, and Wilderness Visitor Center on Fire Island. 

The William Floyd Estate, home of a signer of the Declaration of Independence, contains the house, grounds and cemetery used by eight generations of the Floyd family. The Estate will be open for guided house tours every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holiday starting May 25th, through October 27th. Each day the first tour begins at 11am and the last tour begins at 4:30.  Reservations are required for groups of 12 or more people.

There is also a Summer Bird Breeding Census every year; for information, call the Estate in June at: (631) 399-2030.  

The Otis Pike High Dune Wilderness is a seven-mile stretch of barrier island west of Smith Point. The wilderness visitor center will open Wednesday through Sunday beginning May 8. Nature walks will be given on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 10:00 a.m.

In addition, National Park Service rangers will also offer the following programs:

May 24            Living with Deer, 7:30 pm
May 26          Horseshoe Crab Mating Walk ? Full Moon, 7:30 pm
June 10           Starwatch, 7:30- Midnight
June 10           Horseshoe Crab Walk,  8pm
June 14           History of Fire Island, 8pm
July 6            Butterflies of Fire Island, 10 am
July12            Long Island Shells / Book Signing, with author Linda Springer-Roshia, 7 P.M.
July 13           Starwatch 7:30- Midnight
July 26           Long Island Shells, 7 P.M.
August 3          Twilight Walk, 8pm
August 9         A Closer Look at Mosquitoes , 7:30
August 17        History of Fire Island, 8pm
August 30        Twilight Walk, 8pm
September 7     Twilight Walk, 8pm
September 21    Fire Island Deer, 8pm
October 19       Legends and Stories of Fire Island, 8pm 

Watch Hill is an area of Fire Island National Seashore accessible by ferry from Patchogue, NY or by private boat (for ferry information, call (631) 475-1665.) Watch Hill borders the Otis Pike Wilderness, and its nature trail is an excellent place to view a salt marsh. Watch Hill contains a visitor center, campground, nature trail and seasonally lifeguarded beach.

The visitor center will be open Wednesday through Sunday, June 29 through Labor Day. Canoe programs will be offered on Saturdays and Sundays, along with additional programs for children and adults. For more information, see the park website at www.nps.gov/fiis or call the visitor center at (631) 597-6455 in July and August.

Sailors Haven is an area of Fire Island National Seashore accessible by ferry from Sayville, NY or by private boat (for ferry information, call (631) 589-8980).  Sailors Haven features a maritime holly forest know as the Sunken Forest. Visitor amenities include marina, seasonally lifeguarded beach, and concessions. The visitor center will be open Wednesday through Sunday June 29 through Labor Day 2002. Every day that the visitor center is open, guided Sunken Forest walks will be offered at 11 A.M. and other ranger programs for children and adults will be offered at 2 P.M. For more information, see the park website at www.nps.gov/fiis or call visitor center starting in June at (631) 597-6183.

The Fire Island Light Station is located just east of Robert Moses State Park. The Keepers' Quarters and Tower will be open to the public weekends only April through June, but daily starting in July through Labor Day. The Lighthouse Keepers' Quarters serves as the visitor center, and hours are 9:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Programs are offered by the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society under a partnership agreement with the National Park Service. Most programs do have fees. Tower tours will be offered daily, and reservations are recommended.

Early morning nature walks and tower tours will be given on July 6, August 3, and August 31 at 8 A.M. at the fee of $5 per person ? reservations required.

On Sunday, May 26, at 7 P.M. a guided horseshoe crab walk will be given from the lighthouse ? reservations required. For more information on program offerings and special events to take place at the Fire Island Lighthouse this season, call (631) 661-4876 or see the lighthouse website at www.fireislandlighthouse.com. 

For more information on any programs and operating hours in Fire Island National Seashore, visit the park website at www.nps.gov/fiis or call park headquarters at (631) 289-4810.

 Fire Island National Seashore was established as a National Seashore in 1964 for the purpose of conserving and preserving for the use of future generations relatively unspoiled and undeveloped beaches, dunes, and other natural features as examples of unspoiled areas of great natural beauty.

The National Park Service is charged to "administer and protect the Fire Island National Seashore with the primary aim of conserving the natural resources located there," (Public Law 88-587). Information about the National Seashore may be obtained from the park web site at www.nps.gov/fiis or by calling (631) 289-4810.

Revised: 01/14/2004