Co-Sponsors: Sea Bright Solar

Classroom Location:
Gateway National Recreation Area
Sandy Hook Education Center—Building 102
Fort Hancock, New Jersey 07732

Fort Hancock is centrally located between the three major airports of New York and New Jersy.

For a map of the area, click here.

Sandy Hook  is a 2,044 acre barrier beach peninsula at the northern tip of the New Jersey shore. The park includes seven miles of ocean beaches, salt marshes, hiking trails and a maritime holly forest. Historic sites include the Sandy Hook Lighthouse, the oldest surviving lighthouse in the United States. There have been forts on Sandy Hook since the 1800s to guard the entrance to New York Harbor. Historic Fort Hancock defended the harbor from 1895 until 1974. The Hook was also the site of the first U.S. Army Proving Ground.

Opportunities exists year round for birding, hiking, wind surfing, fishing and exploring the park's natural and cultural resources. Sandy Hook is open every day from sunrise to sunset and programs are offered year-round.

We highly encourage you to explore The National Park Services website about Gateway and Sandy Hook. In addition, please download the Sandy Hook Information Packet for additional information, including directions, a map to the classroom, and regulations.

 

Class Details: Class will run from approximately 9:00 am to 5:00 pm each day of class. Please plan to arrive at the classroom no later than 8:45 on the first day so that the instructors can check you into the class. Lunch will be from approximately 12:00-1:00 pm each day, in addition to a short morning and afternoon break.

The Grid-Tied PV workshop will have four days of classroom lecture and one day of tours and hands-on, mock-installation labs.
The Advanced PV: Design Criteria and NEC Compliance will have four days of classroom lecture and a day of tours and speakers.
The Solar Hot Water and the Solar and Radiant Floor Heating workshops both consist of three days of classroom lecture.

 

Transportation and Travel:

Closest Airports: Fort Hancock is centrally located between three major airports.
· John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)—69 miles from the classroom.
· Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) airport—47 miles away.
· LaGuardia Airport (LGA)—66 miles away.
 
Rental Cars:  For a list of rental car agencies and directions from each airport, please click on the respective links:
JFK Airport Rental Car Agencies and Directions
Newark Airport Rental Car Agencies and Directions
LaGuardia Airport Rental Car Agencies and Directions

Bus Stations: There is a Greyhound Station at 288 Livingston Street, Brooklyn, NY, which is approximately 16 miles from the classroom.
 
Train Stations:There is also an Amtrak Station at 100 Middlesex Essex Tpke., Iselin, NJ, which is approximately 19 miles from the classroom.

Nearby Lodging: Although there are dorm rooms at classroom, they will NOT be available during the workshops. The closest lodging options to the classroom are approximately 7 miles from Sandy Hook. For a complete list of hotels, please download the Sandy Hook Logding Packet (pdf). In the past, our instructors have enjoyed staying at the Fairbanks Motel in Sea Bright as the staff are so friendly and because the location is good.

Although there is no camping available on Sandy Hook, there are several options nearby:
Cheesequake State Park
Turkey Swamp Park

Food: Sea Bright and Highlands are the closest towns - both about 6 miles from the classroom. We recommend that you consider bringing a lunch each day, as the closest restaurants are about 15 minutes away from the classroom. Possible restaurants in Sea Bright are: Steve's Luncheonette, The Waterfront Cafe, The Mad Hatter, Ichabod's Bar and Grill, and The Shack (Mexican food). There are also numerous pizzerias and sandwich shops on Ocean Avenue. In Highlands, there are several diners and restaurants on Bay Avenue, including Bahr's Seafood Restaurant and The Claddaugh (Irish pub). Click Here for a complete list of local eateries.

Weather: The weather in Sandy Hook, NJ, in September averages in the 70s during the day and then drop into the 60s at night. For a more detailed look at the weather, go to weather.com.

What to Bring:

The New Jersey weather this time of year is normally quite warm; however, be prepared for rain and cooler weather as the classroom is close to the ocean. We recommend that you bring a hat, sunscreen and a water bottle.

Please bring the following to the PV Workshop:
• Pen and pencil
• Paper for notetaking
• A calculator
• Black, red and green colored pencils for schematics.
 
Please bring the following to Solar Hot Water and Solar and Radiant Heating Workshops:
• Pen and pencil
• Paper for notetaking