Lighthouse Challenges

A Lighthouse Challenge is an event in which participants are "challenged" to visit a fixed number of lighthouses and lighthouse-related sites in a given region.  They are sponsered by local chapters of the Lighthouse Society.  There are three annual Lighthouse Challenges in my "area" along the East Coast.   Participants of each challenge are awarded complimentary prizes at each light, and a certificate of achievement if you prove you visited all the designated lights within the time period.  Participants who complete more than one challenge also receive certificates and prizes.  If you happen to be the first or last visitor to a light during the challenge you receive an additional gift.  LAst year I received a really nice Watercolor of the lights in Maryland.  Various artisians & crafters & food vendors are invited and are located at different lights. 

The first one every year is the Long Island NY Lighthouse Challenge.  This year it was held on May 19 & 20 2007.  Details can be found here:

http://www.lilighthousesociety.org/Challenge_page_2007/challenge2007.htm

Bill Younger Founder of Harbour Lights ( Lighthouse replicas) was stationed at Cedar Island  & Huntington Lights this year as was Terry Elkins ( Lighthouse Artist renowned for his cards)

 The next upcoming Lighthouse Challenge will be coming up on Sept 15 & 16 in Maryland

and is celebrating the 5th Anniversary of this event.  

Artisians & vendors slated for Maryland :

Donna Elias, designer of the “original” Maryland Lighthouse Challenge Print will be on hand; she will be showcasing an assortment of her beautiful artwork. Donna will be at Seven Foot Knoll both Saturday and Sunday. A returning guest, Bob Trapani, Executive Director of the American Lighthouse Foundation, will be at Concord Point Lighthouse signing his newly released book, Delaware Lights: A History of Lighthouses in the First State. Also returning this year are The Lighthouse Hunters, Tom and Christine Cardaci. They will be set up at the Turkey Point Lighthouse both Saturday and Sunday. New to the Challenge this year: Bill Younter, Harbour Lights Co-Founder to will be available at the Calvert Marine Museum to meet collectors and sign replicas. Harry Fahl is new to the  Maryland Lighthouse Challenge and will have his amazing photo display set up at the Turkey Point Lighthouse both days. And the final guests, descendants of Point Lookout lighthouse keepers will be on hand to share their stories about what life was like at the lighthouse. A special addition this year is a pre Challenge cruise to visit lights on Sept 14th. Details can be found here

http://www.lilighthousesociety.org/Challenge_page_2007/challenge2007.htm

&

http://www.lilighthousesociety.org/Challenge_page_2007/challenge2007.htm

The Final challenge of the year is held in NJ on Oct 20th & 21st and it is their 11th annual event.

This year due to the popular night time challenge started last year visiting Lighhouses at night will be offered again as well.  ( Nightime visitors receive an additional gift at each participating light.

Details can be found here:

http://www.njlhs.org/challenge/challenge.html