Red Hook & Gowanus Youth Ambassador Leadership in Brooklyn

We have launched our Intern Development Program; wherw we will train teens interested in maritime and environmental carreeers to assist with our summer walk up paddling programs.  We have a clear set of goals and achievements to be completed by our graduates.  Our organization has employed teenage youth as dock stewards for years but now is the time to make this a permanent program.

Funds raised will allow us to employ many teenagers to provide support for our public recreational programs that are offered for free (donations encouraged) every summer. 

In addition, this funding will allow us to expand our fleet with the purchase of two additional kayaks that are needed to support and expand our waterfront recreational programs that continue to grow at both the Gowanus Canal and at Louis Valentino Jr. Pier Park in Red Hook, Brooklyn. 

As dock stewards, intern stewards will be responsible for managing safe equipment use and they will develop communication skills working with program participants. We require our interns to maintain a Deckhands Log and we will teach interns maritime skills such as boating navigation, knot tying, weather reporting, forecasting and overall awareness of their environment.

Interns will also develop a knowledge of and will be tested on their ability to present the history of our harbor waterfront including important issues that continue to affect environmental restoration. They will also be taught how development of waterfront neighborhoods should embrace and not displace the charm, character, spirit or the people of a community as improvement and restoration proceeds.

We expect our graduates to become emerging leaders of their communities who will work towards environmental justice issues and other causes. Our goal is to attract a diverse set of teenage participants with unique backgrounds where our interns may learn from one another as well as from the instruction by our Gowanus Dredgers and Red Hook Boaters mentor volunteers.

While opening of our 2020 season is delayed by COVID-19, we are taking steps to attract and interview particpants who express interest in this opportunity.  We are contacting New York Harbor School, Catholic Charities, Red Hook Community Justice Center, the Gowanus Wildcats Drill Team, leadership of the Red Hook and Gowanus NYCHA housing as well as local schools and PTAs.  Our intent is to have the youth leadership program commence on opening day!

Red Hook and Gowanus shorelines need additional shoreline stewards.  Historically, our neighborhood communities have been disconnected from our shorelines for a number of reasons. and  our waterfront programs foster reconnection.  By engaging individuals to embrace our shoreline as their waterfront, we are strengthening stewardship that is transforming our waterways.