All Over Albany

The Sloop Clearwater's in town

Just in time for Earth Day, the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater is docked at Riverfront Park in Rensselaer.

The 106-foot wooden replica of a 19th Century Dutch Sloop travels the Hudson between NYC and Albany to spread the word about fighting pollution and remind people of the beauty of the river.

Every once in a while the sloop drops anchor near Albany and gives Capital Region residents a chance to see what it's all about.

The Clearwater's permanent staff and volunteers put on environmental education programs, perform river-themed music, and give visitors a chance to reflect on the beauty, history and importance of the Hudson River.

Many of the programs are reserved for schools but the Clearwater offers occasional public sails. And if you like what you see, and want to get more involved they're always looking for volunteers. You don't need sailing experience, but you have to be willing to live on the boat in pretty tight quarters. A one-week tour of duty includes running two programs per day and performing regular upkeep on the sloop.

The sloop sets sail tomorrow morning, but you can check it out this afternoon at Riverfront Park in Rensselaer. There are no public sails set for today, but you can ask for a tour -- they're usually happy to show you around and explain more about the sloop and the river.

If you can't make it out today, you can catch the Clearwater in Rensselaer again from June 12 through the 15th.