Gateway National Recreation Area

🌊 Now Hiring: Lifeguards & Lead Lifeguards at Gateway National Recreation Area! 🛟 If you or someone you know is looking for a rewarding, outdoor, and impactful seasonal job in New York, NY, this is your moment! Gateway National Recreation Area—serving Jamaica Bay (NY) and Sandy Hook (NJ)—is now accepting applications for our vital Lifeguard and Lead Lifeguard (Recreation Assistant) positions. ✨ Why Join Our Team? • Be part of a mission that protects millions of visitors each summer • Work outdoors in beautiful national park settings • Build leadership, teamwork, and emergency response skills • Seasonal housing may be available! • Competitive GS pay levels: GS‑0189‑3/4/5 and GS‑0189‑6/7 📅 Apply now! This announcement is open through June 23, 2026 — so don’t wait! Links to the announcements and more can be found here: https://www.nps.gov/gate/getinvolved/become-a-gateway-lifeguard.htm Help spread the word far and wide! Your share could help someone land an unforgettable summer serving the National Park Service. 🌟

In the 1970s, ospreys were on the brink of extinction, being placed on the Endangered Species List. Their decline was due to the pesticide DDT. Federal, state, and private agencies helped spur the raptor’s recovery by erecting artificial nest platforms and engaging in active reintroduction. In the early 1990s, here at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, a nesting platform was introduced. It is still the same platform you can view from the trail nowadays. Thanks to the ban of DDT as well as the improvement of the estuary ecosystem, ospreys have thrived to the point that they are no longer on the Endangered Species list. #FindYourPark #BirdsOfJamaicaBay #Ospreys #Conservation

Are you ready for a FUN-filled weekend on the Hook?! 😎 🐟 Annual Ocean Fun Day! 🕑 Sunday, May 17: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm 📍 NJ Sea Grant Consortium – Building #22 💡 Sandy Hook Lighthouse Tours 🕑 Every Fri, Sat, Sun, & Mon: 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm ❗ Children must be 48 inches tall 🪖 Coastal Defense Day 🕑 Sunday, May 17: 11:00 pm – 4:00 pm 📍 Beach Plaza G – Battery Gunnison 🏠 Fort Hancock Museum 🕑 Sunday, May 17: 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm 📍 Building #28 🏠 History House 🕑 Every Fri, Sat, Sun, & Mon: 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm 📍 Officer’s Row House #1 🚀 Nike Missile Radar Site Tour 🕑 Sunday, May 17: 12:00 pm – 3:30 pm 📍 Parking Lot L – Horseshoe Cove The Sandy Hook Visitor Center and Official Park Store will be open Fri, Sat, Sun, and Mon from 10 AM – 4 PM. Visit the calendar page on our website: www.nps.gov/gate for more information. See you in the park! #GatewayNPS #SandyHookNJ #NPS #NationalParks #FindYourPark #OceanFunDays #CoastalDefenseDay #AGFA #NJSeaGrant #NY56 #BatteryGunnison #NikeMissile

Wildlife Wednesday Challenge! Keep your eyes open… Spring means wildlife is on the move! From shorebirds to butterflies, Gateway is full of life this time of year. And speaking of wildlife… Alright bird experts, this one’s for you. We caught this feathered visitor in action… but can YOU guess what kind of bird it is? Drop your best guess below Bonus points if you’ve spotted one in the park! Have you seen something cool lately? Share it in the comments, we love to see what you see! #WildlifeWednesdayChallengeGatewayNationalRecreationArea #GatewayNationalRecreationAreaNature #UrbanWildGatewayNationalRecreationArea #BirdID #GatewayNRA #GatewayNationalRecreationAreaNatureChallenge

Join us this weekend as we celebrate the world's "living fossil" at our 10th Annual Horseshoe Crab Festival! Meet us and our partners down at Sunset Cove & American Ballfields Park in Broad Channel, Queens from 10AM-2PM for a chance to explore the shoreline and learn more about these amazing creatures up close! We'll be joined by a bunch of our friends, including @jbrpc , @nycparks , @littoralsociety , @nycbirdalliance , and @nycploverproject Hope to see you there!

While walking around West Pond Trail at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, you might have noticed these webby tents on some trees. What are they? They are Eastern tent caterpillars that become Lappet moths. They hatch from their eggs in early spring and live inside their silk tent for weeks. They use heat from the sun to warm up and digest their meals. If you see these communal tents on the trail, do not knock them down, they are harmless to humans. #InsectsOfJamaicaBay #TheMoreYouKnow #FindYourPark #gatewaynps

Please do not feed the animals at Gateway. While it may seem like a good idea, wild animals at Gateway are just that—wild. Leaving food out for the wildlife can significantly harm them. If you would like to help the wildlife at Gateway, you can do your part by respecting area closures for habitat restoration and staying at least 100 feet away from any wild animals you see. NPS Photo/Danny Calabrese

Sandy Hook Lighthouse tours are back on! Have you ever wondered what it’s like to climb up the Sandy Hook Lighthouse? Join a park ranger for a guided climb of the nation’s oldest operating lighthouse. As you ascend 95 steps and a 9-rung ladder to the lantern room, you’ll hear stories and insights about the lighthouse’s unique history and significance. 🕒 Hours: Fridays through Mondays, 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM 🎟️ Admission: Free! Make your reservation in person at the Visitor Center’s Park Store. Tours are 30 minutes long and first come, first served. Sign-ups start at 12:30 PM (space is limited to 8 climbers). ❗ Children must be 48 inches tall to climb. #GatewayNPS #NationalParkService #SandyHookNJ #FindYourPark #America250 Video Description: Visitors seen standing outside the lighthouse, then climbing the spiral steps before climbing the 9-rung ladder to enter the lantern room where the video pans to see the view of Fort Hancock. Video Sound Credits: "Sunshine" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License /licenses/by/4.0/

A long time ago, on an island in New York Harbor, a granite battle station was built to defend the fledgling new Republic against an Empire. #maythe4thbewithyou #maytheforcebewithyou

📢 May Programs at Gateway National Recreation Area! Swipe through to see the various programs offered across all three park units, featuring activities for everyone. Celebrating America250 with Recreate250: Recreate250 is a special initiative spanning across all three units of Gateway National Recreation Area to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Through July, visitors of all ages can earn points through attending public programs, volunteering in the park, or visiting a park visitor center. Ask for a participation card at any Gateway National Recreation Area visitor center for a chance to earn a challenge item. How to get involved at the park: - For general park information, such as visitor center hours of operations, visit www.nps.gov/gate - To volunteer, including park clean-ups, visit Volunteer.gov and search for “Gateway.” - Visit Eventbrite for Sandy Hook programs and registration. Registration opens two weeks in advance. /o/31781980371 #GatewayNPS #SandyHookNJ #StatenIsland #JamaicaBay #NPS #NationalParks #FindYourPark

Looking for weekend plans? Fort Wadsworth is calling your name: Fresh air, scenic trails, picture-perfect views Grab a friend, pack a snack, and come explore our park. Tag someone you’re bringing with you! #WeekendVibes #ExploreOutdoors #gatewaynationalrecreationarea Photo Description: Close up of cherry blossoms in front of Verrazzano Narrows Bridge.

Recreate250 has its first challenge finishers! Recreate250 is a special initiative across all three units of Gateway National Recreation Area celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Through July, visitors of all ages can earn points by: ✨ Attending public programs 🤝 Volunteering at the park 🏛 Visiting a ranger at a Visitor Center Want to join the challenge? Pick up your participation card at any Gateway Visitor Center to get started for a chance to earn a challenge item. #GatewayNPS #NationalParkService #SandyHookNJ #JamaicaBay #StatenIsland #FindYourPark #America250