Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. was established in 1966. From the very beginning, this organization has made a commitment to reach urban youth and instill a sense of environmental appreciation and stewardship. In the mid 1990's, Clearwater began to outline a new program known as the Urban Outreach Internship Program. This program specifically targeted inner city youth for onboard internships. Over the last five years, the program has reached nearly 3,000 young people and more than 200 educators and youth professionals through introductory environmental science presentations.

To date, 48 students have participated in the internship. For many of the students, the program has proven to be a life changing experience. The interns develop useful skills and knowledge about the natural and cultural history of the Hudson River watershed. They receive training in zoology, ecology, marine and environmental science, and the maritime trades through experiential hand-on learning. Students leave the Clearwater with a new perspective on the Hudson River and New York Harbor and a sense of connection with their natural environment. During the program, they also receive information about academic and professional opportunities that encourage them to become leaders in their communities. The students learn about self-empowerment and graduate knowing that they can take an active role in making their world a better place.

In the future, Clearwater's Urban Outreach Internship Program will work to develop a "Ladder of Leadership" that will encourage urban youth to increase their involvement in the program. Through a series of consecutive internships and increasing levels of responsibility, they hope to expand the opportunities for peer education and mentoring that can lead to apprenticeships, employment aboard the Clearwater or with partner organizations, and academic scholarships in the field of environmental science.

According to The National Wildlife Federation, "The National Wildlife Federation feels strongly that in order to create environmental stewardship in the next generation it is important to cultivate a love for wildlife and the natural world in young people from urban environments, who have had little direct contact with nature.

The Urban Outreach Internship Program takes motivated young people from the New York City area and gives them the experience of a lifetime aboard the Clearwater, planting the seeds of environmental leadership. We endorse their approach to connecting people with nature at the community level."