Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary Featured at Waterfront Festival

OSWEGO – The Lake Ontario Waterfront Festival plans to highlight Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary through various exhibits, underwater videos and other activities this year.

Organized by the H. Lee White Maritime Museum and New York Sea Grant, the festival runs from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 6 along West First Street Pier in Oswego’s Historic Maritime District.

Learn more about Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary with these groups:

• Upstate Freshwater Institute hosts a “Seeing Below the Surface” booth to show underwater imagery of Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary and share how data about weather and water conditions is collected from buoys deployed along Lake Ontario’s southern shore. This project is part of the Great Lakes Observing System which supports the work of researchers, boaters, anglers, beachgoers, water resource managers and water rescue operations.
• New York State Divers Association will show underwater videos of dives in Lake Ontario and other New York lakes and rivers; highlighting the sanctuary’s natural features and shipwrecks. Details about membership and other activities will also be available.
• SUNY Oswego’s Great Lakes Institute will be at hand to share information about Lake Ontario’s maritime history and fishery. Kids will enjoy marine-themed activities while everyone learns a little trivia about the Great Lake!
• Center for Instruction, Technology & Innovation (CiTi) BOCES joins the festival to share information about its summer camp for Oswego County students in 4th or 5th grades. Camp activities focus on Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary and related projects to inspire the next generation’s stewardship of the local waterfront.
• Friends of Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary will be at hand to share educational and cultural tourism opportunities, including above- and below-water recreation activities, across all four counties of the sanctuary – Oswego, Cayuga, Jefferson and Wayne.
• New York Sea Grant, festival co-host, will have a booth with information about clean, safe and environmentally friendly recreational boating and other water-related activities in support of Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary. Learn how to equip a boat and how to size flotation devices for all passengers.
• Lee White Maritime Museum, festival co-host, will be open during to showcase a treasure trove of maritime history with art, artifacts and exhibits.
• Local tourism organizations will be on site to distribute the Oswego County Visitor Guide, which highlights Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary.

The Lake Ontario Waterfront Festival is sponsored in part by Eagle Beverage and Adventure at Burritt’s Marine and Powersports in Oswego.

For event and museum information, go to www.hlwmm.org.

About Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council:

H. Lee White Maritime Museum Director Mercedes Niess; museum curator Michael Pittavino; museum board Vice President Robert Morgan; New York Sea Grant Associate Director Katherine Bunting-Howarth; and Great Lakes Literacy Specialist Nate Drag serve as members or alternates with the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council.

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Additional visual resources for media:
B-roll, videos, and images of the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary: available for free download at www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/press/lake-ontario.