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"