In 2006 more than 6,500 children and 1,700 adults participated in marine education programs at the WaterFront Center, on the Christeen and in area schools.

Over 400 children and teens participated in 1-week, 2-week and 4-week summer programs of sailing and marine exploration.

Over 500 adults too learn-to-sail, cruising and racing classes, and rented sailboats.

Over 3,250 people boarded the Christeen to experience sailing as it was done in the 19th century.

Our participants come from all over NY including Nassau County, Suffolk County, New York City, and Westchester.

The Center for Marine Education and Recreation at Oyster Bay, known as The WaterFront Center, is a not-for-profit 501©(3) organization.  Its mission is to serve the public by encouraging students of all ages to become actively involved in the preservation of the environment and to promote the safe, enjoyable use of marine resources.  The WaterFront Center accomplishes its mission through marine education programs for in-school and after-school groups, sailing lessons through its sailing school and public sails and charters on the restored historic oyster sloop Christeen.

March 2000 - The WFC was incorporated in March of 2000 under the legal name The Center for Marine
Education and Recreation at Oyster Bay.  The “WaterFront Center” quickly became the more common
reference amongst patrons and thus is now the “doing business as” name for the Center. 

Fall 2001 - The WFC purchased the Oyster Bay Sailing School.  Sailing was seen as an environmentally
friendly way to increase the public’s access to the Bay and complement education programs.

Spring 2002 - The Christeen Oyster Sloop Preservation Corporation merged with the WaterFront Center.
This provided the Center with a platform for taking larger groups on the Bay, whether for school field trips,
public sails or private charters.

Summer 2002 - Junior participants enroll in two-week long programs--dividing their time between learning to
sail in small dinghies and sailing on the Christeen, and participating in aquaculture and marine science
activities.  The WFC now provides extensive environmental education programming throughout the year—
serving school groups and youth organizations, scouts, and individual children and adults of all ages.

Given these factors, Oyster Bay has received numerous designations recognizing and offering protection to
these irreplaceable natural resources. Designations include:
•        3,200 acre National Wildlife Refuge
•        One of only three "Outstanding Natural Coastal Areas" in New York State
•        One of seventeen "Historic Maritime Areas" in New York State
•        Most of Oyster Bay is considered "Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat"

In its first 5 years of operation the WaterFront Center has become a tremendous asset to the community.  When fully developed, the Center will provide

• Better educational facilities for schools to foster stewardship of the Bay and Long Island Sound.
• Safety courses and other resources for water-related recreational activities such as sailing, rowing, fishing, and other kinds of passive water sports.
• A community gathering place for not-for-profit environmental, civic, and cultural organizations of the Oyster Bay area.
• Activities on the public fishing pier, upland, and surface waters to involve the community.
• Exhibits of Oyster Bay's historic maritime activities.
• Scientific research facilities for various programs such as marine biology, aquatic ecosystems and water quality monitoring.
• Aquaculture facilities to serve as an educational tool.
• Boat-building and model boat-building workshops.

The WaterFront Center
1 West End Ave.
Oyster Bay NY, 11771

MAP