Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society Hosts Annual Horseshoe Crab Education at Fire Island Lighthouse

Earlier this month, families gathered at Fire Island Lighthouse for the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society’s annual Horseshoe Crab Program.

Everyone from adults, parents and children, park rangers and volunteers attended this yearly event on May 18, which included an art contest for all ages, horseshoe crabs for attendees to interact with as well as presentations on them, touch tanks with crabs, muscles, clams, a jellyfish and lots more.

“We’ve been doing the horseshoe crab program and other events like it for years, and it gives people an excuse to get over to the lighthouse. This gem is right in everybody’s backyard,” Fire Island Lighthouse Program Coordinator Amanda Vaskas said.

“I’ve been involved with the preservation society for 10 years and every week I hear, ‘I’ve lived on Long Island my entire life and have never been out here.’ We hold events like this really to bring people to the lighthouse. Education and preservation is the mission statement of the Preservation Society.”

Vaskas also said community participation at Fire Island Lighthouse is encouraged, considering it’s mutually beneficial for both parties. Although the lighthouse is located on land owned by the National Park Service, all events are self-funded through school programs and tours of the tower.

National Park Ranger Dave Raymond led attendees down to the bay at sundown after his presentation, where they were able to seek out horseshoe crabs on their own.

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