VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR MOST OF THE SITES ON THE CHALLENGE. IF YOU CAN VOLUNTEER SOME TIME ON MAY 20 AND/OR 21 TO GREET PARTICIPANTS AND HAND OUT SOUVENIRS, PLEASE CONTACT CHATT CHAPMAN VIA E-MAIL.
 

INFORMATION ABOUT CHALLENGE MERCHANDISE AND CRUISES IS AVAILABLE AT WWW.LIGHTHOUSETSHIRTS.COM, OR CONTACT NANCY BAHNSEN AT nbahnsen@lighthousetshirts.com..

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHALLENGE KICKOFF DINNER AT THE ISLANDIA MARRIOTT ON FRIDAY, MAY 19, CONTACT BARBARA TORRE AT: btorre@naepnet.org.

Challenge Sites -- Recommended Starting Points -- Notes on Traveling on Long Island

Accommodations -- Organizers -- Sponsors -- Sun and Moon Data for May 14  -  List of Local Zip Codes

What is a Lighthouse Challenge? And other FAQs

Driving Directions for the LI Lighthouse Challenge

Recommended Starting Points:

Keep in mind that your route will take you clockwise or counterclockwise around Suffolk County, and into northeastern Nassau County

• Arriving via Throgg's Neck or Whitestone Bridge, or LaGuardia Airport: Huntington Harbor (proceed clockwise or counterclockwise)
• Arriving via Verrazano Narrows Bridge, or JFK or Newark Airport: Fire Island Light (proceed counterclockwise)
• Arriving via Bridgeport/Port Jefferson Ferry: Old Field Point, then Eaton's Neck (west/counterclockwise - recommended) or Horton Point (east/clockwise)
• Arriving via New London/Orient Point Ferry: Plum Island/Orient Point, then Long Beach Bar, then East End Seaport Museum, then Horton Point (west/counterclockwise) or Cedar Island (south/clockwise)
• Arriving via Islip MacArthur Airport: Old Field Point (north/clockwise) or Fire Island (southwest/counterclockwise)
• Beginning at Islandia Marriott - Old Field Point (north/clockwise) or Fire Island (southwest/counterclockwise)

Notes on Traveling on Long Island

• For the Challenge, I HIGHLY recommend getting yourself a map. I prefer the large Hagstrom's Suffolk County map (ISBN: 0880977299). The map is available from Amazon.com for $16.95 at: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0880977299/qid=1106355341/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl14/104-6112706-7779943?v=glance&s=books&n=507846 or you can order one from your local book store by using the ISBN. The table of sites above lists the map and grid numbers for each site.
• Access to Long Island is by:
  • Ferry (to Port Jefferson or Orient Point)
  • Bridges (via NJ Turnpike, I-95 or Manhattan)
  • Air (JFK, LaGuardia, or Islip airports)
• Primary East-West Roads in Nassau and Suffolk Counties (north side to south side)
  • Route 25A (Northern Boulevard, North Country Road)
  • Route 25 (Middle Country Road)
  • Northern Parkway (ends in Hauppauge)
  • Long Island Expressway (I-495)
  • Southern Parkway (ends in East Islip)
  • Route 27 (Sunrise Highway)
  • Route 27A (Montauk Highway, Main Street)
• Primary North-South Roads (east to west, with corresponding exit from LI Expressway))
  • Meadowbrook Parkway
  • Wantagh Parkway
  • Route 135 (Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway)
  • Route 106
  • Route 107
  • Route 110
  • Route 231 (Deer Park Ave)
  • Robert Moses Causeway/Sagtikos Parkway/Sunken Meadow Parkway
  • State Route 111
  • Nicoll's Road (Route 97)
  • Route 112
  • William Floyd Parkway (Route 46)
  • County Route 111
  • Route 51
  • Route 24
  • 114 (requires ferries to and from Shelter Island)
• Fuel and food are most easily found along the major east-west routes. On the Challenge, this will primarily be Routes 27 and 25A. On 27, food and fuel are more available west of Patchogue (Route 112). On 25A, you'll have the best luck west of Shoreham (William Floyd Parkway). In general food and fuel become less available, and more expensive, when you reach the eastern end of the island.
• Please obey all traffic laws, including wearing seat belts, observing speed limits, and signaling when changing lanes. Also note that NY state law does not allow for the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. You must either pull over, have a passenger make calls, or use a hands-free setup.

Overnight Accommodations (Make your accommodations early)

Organizers

Long Island Chapter, US Lighthouse Society
Huntington Harbor Lighthouse Preservation Society
Montauk Point Lighthouse and Museum
Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society
East End Seaport Museum and Marine Foundation
Horton Point Lighthouse and Museum
LighthouseTShirts.com

Sponsors:

The Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation.

What is a Lighthouse Challenge? And other FAQs

Q. What is a Lighthouse Challenge?

    A. A Lighthouse Challenge is an event in which participants are "challenged" to visit a fixed number of lighthouses and lighthouse-related sites in a given amount of time. At each stop they receive a souvenir and, if they complete all stops on the Challenge, they receive a special commemorative souvenir. The event generally includes extra activities, special guests, etc.

Q. What group is running the Long Island Lighthouse Challenge?

    A. There is no single group organizing the event. It is a collaborative effort of all of Long Island's historic lighthouse preservation and education groups. All involved groups have input and must agree on the details. While this might sound like a "design by committee" nightmare, the event is based on a successful core concept, and the involved groups are working with mutual respect and communication.

Q. Who benefits from the Challenge?

    A. The idea is to benefit all the involved groups as equally as possible, as well as participants, local communities, sponsors, and lighthouse preservation and education in general.

Q. What lighthouse does the Challenge start at?

    A. You can start or end anywhere on the route, and go in either direction (clockwise or counter-clockwise). There are recommended starting points above, depending on where you are coming from.

Q. How much does it cost to participate?

    A. There is no fee for the Challenge, but some sites may have fees for parking, admission, etc. See the table of sites above for more specific information.

Q. Can we drive to Old Field Point or Eaton's Neck instead of taking the bus?

    A. No. Because Eaton's Neck is an active US Coast Guard station, and the Old Field Point Light is on Village property at the end of a long, narrow road, special conditions needed to be met to include these sites in the Challenge.

Q. Are there special instructions for people with accessibility concerns?

    A. Participants with accessibility concerns should call each site ahead of time (recommended) and/or speak with volunteers at the sites during the weekend. Such matters have been a part of the planning process from the start, as we want everyone to be able to enjoy the event.

Q. I like to buy lighthouse stuff. What merchandise will be available during the Challenge Weekend?

    A. Several of the sites will have site-specific merchandise for sale (Fire Island, Montauk Point, Cedar Island, East End Seaport Museum/Long Beach Bar, Horton Point, Eaton's Neck, and Huntington Harbor). More in formation on event merchandise will be available soon.

Q. Will there be food or refreshments available at any of the sites?

    A. While it's best to check with each site for specific information, food should be available at Montauk Point State Park (adjacent to the Montauk Point Lighthouse) and Cedar Point County Park (home of the Cedar Island Lighthouse). The Fire Island Lighthouse has soda and water available for sale. There is no shortage of restaurants on Long Island and there are plenty of fast food establishments in central and western Suffolk County.

Q. I have a question that isn't answered here. How can I get an answer?

    A. E-mail Chatt Chapman. He likes to answer questions.

Last quarter Moon on 20 May 2006 at 5:21 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

Take the Maryland Lighthouse Challenge September 16-17
and
New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge October 14-15

Please Note: The information on this site is intended to help you make your participation in the Challenge more convenient, enjoyable, and safe. You must do your own planning, though. No one associated with this site or the LI Lighthouse Challenge makes any guarantees about, or assumes any responsibility for, the use of this information.