On New Year’s Day 2020 at 10:00 AM, Friends of Fort Ontario Americorps staffer Corey King will lead an easy-paced one hour, 1.5-mile First Day Hike around the 75-acre Fort Ontario Military Reservation National Register District in Oswego, NY. Locations of buildings, events, and activities associated with the 1944 – 1946 Fort Ontario Emergency Refugee Shelter will be highlighted during the hike as part of 75th anniversary commemorations of the only camp for Holocaust refugee located in the United States during WWII. The tour will begin and end inside the old stone fort. Hot chocolate and coffee will be provided.

First Day Hikes is a national program offering free, guided First Day Hike Programs in America’s State Parks in all 50 states; they are intended to promote an alternate way of celebrating the new year by going outside, getting some exercise, and experience local nature and history. Last year nearly 55,000 people rang in the New Year, collectively hiking over 133,000 miles throughout the country on the guided hikes.

Fort Ontario State Historic Site is located at the north end of East 4th Street in the City of Oswego, NY. For more information on the hike contact Corey King at [[email protected]] or call (315-343-4711). Keep any eye on any updates on our Facebook page.