Hinchey Delivers Over $400,000 for Hudson River Stewardship and Education
October 5, 2026
Funding Secured by Senator Michelle Hinchey Supports Historic Hudson River Sloop Clearwater’s Environmental Education Programming, Ship Restoration, and Riverkeeper's Student-Led Water Quality Research in Kingston to Raise Next Generation of River Stewards
KINGSTON, NY – Senator Michelle Hinchey announced on Tuesday that she has provided $415,000 in state funding to strengthen Hudson River education, conservation, and youth leadership through investments in Hudson River Sloop Clearwater’s environmental education programming and Riverkeeper’s Water Justice Lab.
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater’s renowned environmental education programs and historic sloop create meaningful opportunities for people of all ages to connect with the Hudson River by building environmental awareness and inspiring the next generation of river stewards. $200,000 secured by Senator Hinchey through the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) will support Clearwater's vessel operations and robust environmental education programs, including its onboard and shoreline Field Trips, Junior Bosun, and Youth Empowerment Programs. An additional $200,000 pledged by the Senator will support restoration of Clearwater’s hull, helping ensure the vessel can continue to meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements.
Listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, the 106-foot sloop Clearwater is a living piece of Hudson Valley history, and the region’s last remaining native historic tall ship still sailing the river. Designed after the Dutch cargo-carrying sloops that traveled the Hudson in the 18th and 19th centuries, Clearwater launched in 1969 and now welcomes thousands of guests aboard each year, serving as a unique floating classroom where visitors can learn riverine ecology and history firsthand.
Building on these investments in environmental education and watershed protection, Senator Hinchey also secured $15,000 to strengthen Riverkeeper’s Water Justice Lab summer program delivered in partnership with the Kingston YMCA Farm Project. Hinchey’s investment will provide stipends for local high school students and STEM programming that engages youth from Kingston’s Environmental Justice communities in field-based environmental science at the Hudson River Maritime Museum and local waterways. The program equips students to become scientists, advocates, and stewards through hands-on research, water quality monitoring, and community engagement. At the same time, the program is expanding Riverkeeper’s broader watershed monitoring efforts and building greater capacity to understand and respond to water quality challenges across the Hudson River watershed.
Together, these investments will expand opportunities for students and visitors of all ages across the Hudson Valley and beyond to engage with the river and build a lasting connection to its future.
Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “The Hudson River is one of the most important natural resources in America, and for generations, people of all ages and from every walk of life have stayed vigilant in the fight to restore it. Protecting the Hudson River for the next hundred years means investing in the people who will carry this responsibility forward and in the organizations building those connections today. I’m proud to provide funding to support the incredible work of Hudson River Sloop Clearwater and Riverkeeper – two organizations that play an instrumental role in advocating for the Hudson and bringing a new generation of river stewards into that work. Our students are the future. By raising them up to channel their ideas and energy into this space, and helping them build a personal sense of responsibility for protecting the Hudson River, we can make sure the work started by generations before us keeps growing long after us.”
“For more than five decades, Clearwater has connected people to the Hudson River in a way that no classroom ever could. Whether a student is hauling a line aboard the sloop, discovering life along the shoreline, or hearing the stories of the river from our crew, those firsthand experiences build a lasting connection to this remarkable place. Our historic vessel is more than a ship, it is a living classroom, a cultural landmark, and a gathering place that inspires people of all ages to understand, appreciate, and protect the Hudson River,” said David Toman, Executive Director of Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. “This Environmental Protection Funding secured by Senator Hinchey ensures that thousands of students, families, and community members will continue to experience the river not just as something to admire, but as something they are empowered to care for.”
“Riverkeeper is grateful to Senator Hinchey for her support of our Water Justice Lab program in Kingston. This investment will help us engage more young people from environmental justice communities in hands-on learning, water quality monitoring, and environmental advocacy,” said Riverkeeper Community Science Manager Sebastian Pillitteri. “By connecting students directly with their drinking water source through science and learning about where their water comes from, where it goes, and what happens to it along the way, we're helping build future clean water stewards while bolstering the community-driven monitoring and education that are essential to restoring and protecting the Hudson River and its tributaries for the future.”
Listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, the 106-foot sloop Clearwater is a living piece of Hudson Valley history, and the region’s last remaining native historic tall ship still sailing the river. Designed after the Dutch cargo-carrying sloops that traveled the Hudson in the 18th and 19th centuries, Clearwater launched in 1969 and now welcomes thousands of guests aboard each year, serving as a unique floating classroom where visitors can learn riverine ecology and history firsthand.
Building on these investments in environmental education and watershed protection, Senator Hinchey also secured $15,000 to strengthen Riverkeeper’s Water Justice Lab summer program delivered in partnership with the Kingston YMCA Farm Project. Hinchey’s investment will provide stipends for local high school students and STEM programming that engages youth from Kingston’s Environmental Justice communities in field-based environmental science at the Hudson River Maritime Museum and local waterways. The program equips students to become scientists, advocates, and stewards through hands-on research, water quality monitoring, and community engagement. At the same time, the program is expanding Riverkeeper’s broader watershed monitoring efforts and building greater capacity to understand and respond to water quality challenges across the Hudson River watershed.
Together, these investments will expand opportunities for students and visitors of all ages across the Hudson Valley and beyond to engage with the river and build a lasting connection to its future.
Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “The Hudson River is one of the most important natural resources in America, and for generations, people of all ages and from every walk of life have stayed vigilant in the fight to restore it. Protecting the Hudson River for the next hundred years means investing in the people who will carry this responsibility forward and in the organizations building those connections today. I’m proud to provide funding to support the incredible work of Hudson River Sloop Clearwater and Riverkeeper – two organizations that play an instrumental role in advocating for the Hudson and bringing a new generation of river stewards into that work. Our students are the future. By raising them up to channel their ideas and energy into this space, and helping them build a personal sense of responsibility for protecting the Hudson River, we can make sure the work started by generations before us keeps growing long after us.”
“For more than five decades, Clearwater has connected people to the Hudson River in a way that no classroom ever could. Whether a student is hauling a line aboard the sloop, discovering life along the shoreline, or hearing the stories of the river from our crew, those firsthand experiences build a lasting connection to this remarkable place. Our historic vessel is more than a ship, it is a living classroom, a cultural landmark, and a gathering place that inspires people of all ages to understand, appreciate, and protect the Hudson River,” said David Toman, Executive Director of Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. “This Environmental Protection Funding secured by Senator Hinchey ensures that thousands of students, families, and community members will continue to experience the river not just as something to admire, but as something they are empowered to care for.”
“Riverkeeper is grateful to Senator Hinchey for her support of our Water Justice Lab program in Kingston. This investment will help us engage more young people from environmental justice communities in hands-on learning, water quality monitoring, and environmental advocacy,” said Riverkeeper Community Science Manager Sebastian Pillitteri. “By connecting students directly with their drinking water source through science and learning about where their water comes from, where it goes, and what happens to it along the way, we're helping build future clean water stewards while bolstering the community-driven monitoring and education that are essential to restoring and protecting the Hudson River and its tributaries for the future.”
Susan Hereth, Education Director at the Kingston YMCA Farm Project, said, “Our work with Riverkeeper's Water Justice Lab has provided our Youth Crew with direct and immersive learning about their drinking water and water quality in Kingston. We believe deeply in engaging youth as active community members through science based education, hands-on learning, and direct advocacy to create active citizens. The Water Justice Lab provides that framework. After participating in Riverkeeper's Water Justice Lab program, every one of our Youth Crew gained important knowledge about their watershed and how to understand water quality parameters, and developed a deeper connection to their natural world. We value our partnership with Riverkeeper and appreciate Senator Hinchey's support of this important work."
Roselyn Vargas, Kingston YMCA Farm Project and Water Justice Lab student, said, “The Youth Crew’s involvement in the Water Justice Lab program over the summer was a wonderful opportunity to learn about local water sources. We explored water treatment facilities and different ways stakeholders are protecting stream health. At the end, the team and I began to see we are part of nature rather than separate from it.”
Lisa Cline, Executive Director of Hudson River Maritime Museum, said, “The Hudson River Maritime Museum is thrilled to celebrate this important investment in Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. Clearwater’s work offers people the opportunity to experience the Hudson River firsthand and inspires the next generation of environmental stewards and leaders. As a proud partner of Clearwater, we know how powerful these experiences can be. We are grateful to Senator Hinchey for recognizing the importance of this work and investing in the future of the Hudson River.”
###
Newsroom
Go to Newsroom
