(Dec. 29, 2016) Look forward to new additions including four stations highlighting the theme of climate change along with a scavenger hunt on a self-guided beach stroll during the 37th annual Ilia Fehrer/Judy Johnson New Year’s Day Beach Walk at Assateague State Park on Sunday, Jan. 1.
“This event has grown over the years. We felt the need to do more and make it a better experience,” said Assateague Coastal Trust communications coordinator Matt Heim.
The Assateague Coastal Trust has partnered with the National Park Service, the Assateague State Park, Former National State Park Service Ranger Chris Seymour, and the Friends of Assateague State Park to put on the event this year.
Attendees will visit four stations along the beach path that will have information about ways to monitor or mitigate the impact of climate change on Assateague Island.
“Each station will be taking a look at different angles of climate change that affects the island,” Heim said.
The stations and scavenger hunt will lead participants north, up the beach to scenic and pristine views, with Ocean City’s strip in the distance. Everyone will meet on the deck of the concession stand next to the beach, and cookies in addition to hot chocolate will be available throughout the event, Heim said.
The walk has uncovered skeletons of sea life, clam shells thousands of years old, boat wrecks, dolphin carcasses and even a giant navigation buoy was spotted from Egg Harbor, New Jersey throughout the last 36 years.
Organizers encourage attendees to dress accordingly for the two-hour event, which also takes participants along loose sand.
The ACT office started the tradition years ago, when the beach walk first began. Everyone who participated would sign a clam shell to record the memories. This started when only 20 people were participating. The shells are displayed in the office to remind everyone how special the New Year’s Beach Walk is to everyone involved.
Anywhere from 250 to 300 people come out every year on average and the numbers fluctuate depending on the weather, but seem to be growing.
“It is a great opportunity to come down and go on a nice walk during the holidays and celebrate a place people work really hard to preserve,” Heim said.
The history of the beach walk is as rich as Assateague Island itself and everyone will gather at 1 p.m. to hear about highlights before attendees divide themselves among stations and complete the scavenger hunt at their own pace.
“It is a free-range approach this year,” Heim said. “We needed something to break it up a little bit.”
In the early 1970s, Judy Johnson formed the Committee to Preserve Assateague Island to draw attention to its beauty.
Around the same time, Ilia Fehrer, of Snow Hill, came down to Assateague on New Year’s Day wanting to reconnect with the wilderness. She was an avid voice in preserving the wetlands and shorelines on Assateague Island. Her family continued to join every year, even coming down from Baltimore. The invite went out to Assateague Coastal Trust, formally the Committee to Preserve Assateague Island, to join and members started participating. It became bigger and bigger every year.
“It’s a family tradition that turned into an organization’s tradition. We just keep it going,” said Assateague Coastkeeper Kathy Phillips.
The first beach walk was organized by Fehrer and Johnson on Jan. 1, 1980, the same year former President Jimmy Carter declared “Year of the Coast.”
The free New Year’s Day tradition is now named in their honor.
“We use the walk to commemorate our founders,” Heim said. “It’s always a great way to start the year off walking along the beach with more than 30 miles of undeveloped seashore.”
Meet at the Assateague State Park concession stand at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 1 to join the walk and participate in the scavenger hunt.
From Route 50, follow Route 611 south across the Verrazano Bridge, then drive to the end of the road and turn right into the State Park’s parking lot.
Call ACT at 410-629-1538 or visit ACTforBays.org for more information.
“This event has grown over the years. We felt the need to do more and make it a better experience,” said Assateague Coastal Trust communications coordinator Matt Heim.
The Assateague Coastal Trust has partnered with the National Park Service, the Assateague State Park, Former National State Park Service Ranger Chris Seymour, and the Friends of Assateague State Park to put on the event this year.
Attendees will visit four stations along the beach path that will have information about ways to monitor or mitigate the impact of climate change on Assateague Island.
“Each station will be taking a look at different angles of climate change that affects the island,” Heim said.
The stations and scavenger hunt will lead participants north, up the beach to scenic and pristine views, with Ocean City’s strip in the distance. Everyone will meet on the deck of the concession stand next to the beach, and cookies in addition to hot chocolate will be available throughout the event, Heim said.
The walk has uncovered skeletons of sea life, clam shells thousands of years old, boat wrecks, dolphin carcasses and even a giant navigation buoy was spotted from Egg Harbor, New Jersey throughout the last 36 years.
Organizers encourage attendees to dress accordingly for the two-hour event, which also takes participants along loose sand.
The ACT office started the tradition years ago, when the beach walk first began. Everyone who participated would sign a clam shell to record the memories. This started when only 20 people were participating. The shells are displayed in the office to remind everyone how special the New Year’s Beach Walk is to everyone involved.
Anywhere from 250 to 300 people come out every year on average and the numbers fluctuate depending on the weather, but seem to be growing.
“It is a great opportunity to come down and go on a nice walk during the holidays and celebrate a place people work really hard to preserve,” Heim said.
The history of the beach walk is as rich as Assateague Island itself and everyone will gather at 1 p.m. to hear about highlights before attendees divide themselves among stations and complete the scavenger hunt at their own pace.
“It is a free-range approach this year,” Heim said. “We needed something to break it up a little bit.”
In the early 1970s, Judy Johnson formed the Committee to Preserve Assateague Island to draw attention to its beauty.
Around the same time, Ilia Fehrer, of Snow Hill, came down to Assateague on New Year’s Day wanting to reconnect with the wilderness. She was an avid voice in preserving the wetlands and shorelines on Assateague Island. Her family continued to join every year, even coming down from Baltimore. The invite went out to Assateague Coastal Trust, formally the Committee to Preserve Assateague Island, to join and members started participating. It became bigger and bigger every year.
“It’s a family tradition that turned into an organization’s tradition. We just keep it going,” said Assateague Coastkeeper Kathy Phillips.
The first beach walk was organized by Fehrer and Johnson on Jan. 1, 1980, the same year former President Jimmy Carter declared “Year of the Coast.”
The free New Year’s Day tradition is now named in their honor.
“We use the walk to commemorate our founders,” Heim said. “It’s always a great way to start the year off walking along the beach with more than 30 miles of undeveloped seashore.”
Meet at the Assateague State Park concession stand at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 1 to join the walk and participate in the scavenger hunt.
From Route 50, follow Route 611 south across the Verrazano Bridge, then drive to the end of the road and turn right into the State Park’s parking lot.
Call ACT at 410-629-1538 or visit ACTforBays.org for more information.