Long Island Lighthouse Tours have become increasingly popular since Dr. Gayle Haines started her company, LI Lighthouse Safaris, Inc., in 1996. At that time, she was President of the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society. Lighthouse Safaris, Inc. provides services to guide and assist small and large groups to Long Island's lighthouses by land or sea. All tours are customized to fit groups needs. Groups needing motor coach and boat transportation must provide enough lead time to insure reservations on the day or days requested. Overnight accomodations are packaged with hotels in areas to be visited at cut rates. Other attractions most often included in a package are the Old Westbury Gardens, Theodore Roosevelt's Summer Home, Mansions on the Gold Coast, Cradle of Aviation & The Children's Museum, Nassau County Museum of Art, Historic Village of Stonybrook and shopping in quaint seaport commmunities. Lighthouse Safaris lighthouse tours run through the summer months, from May though September. During the colder months they head to warmer climates and continue their lighthouse tours and travel packages in Puerto Rico. Since having sparked an interest in lighthouses on Long Island among civic groups, corporations, schools, and event planners, several lighthouse enthusiasts have formed their own non-for profit groups to raise funds for lighthouses in their local communities. Montauk Point on the east end, Huntington Harbor, Eaton's Neck USCG, Southold (Horton's Pt. Light) and Greenport (Long Beach Bar Light), often referred to as the "Bug Light", and Plum Island are some of the lighthouses featured on guided tours. East End Lighthouses, Inc. is one such group, a chapter of The American Lighthouse Foundation. As a local not-for-profit organization, they are dedicated to the preservation and maintenance of Long Island lighthouses as historic structures and continuing their operation as Federal Aids to Navigation. East End Lighthouses depends on memberships, donations and proceeds raised through event and fundraisers to further their goals of preservation, maintenance and restoration. Light house cruises and tours are generally scheduled from June through October, weather permitting. Members get discounts on tours, scheduled and private events. Reservations are suggested for public events and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The US Lighthouse Society is the nation's oldest and most respected historic lighthouse preservation and education organization. The Long Island, New York Chapter, formed in 2000, is all volunteer non-profit organization, composed of over 300 Long Island lighthouse fans. The Long Island Chapter was established to assist in the restoration and preservation of the lighthouses of the Long Island, New York area and make Long Island's lighthouse heritage known to the public. The Chapter is currently involved in many projects and is working to educate, inform and entertain those who are interested in Long Island's lighthouses, past and present. The ultimate lighthouse tour is the Long Island Lighthouse Challenge. A two-day event, where participants are "challenged" to visit a fixed number of lighthouses and lighthouse-related sites in a given amount of time. At each stop they receive a souvenir and, if they complete all stops on the Challenge, they receive a special commemorative souvenir. The event generally includes extra activities and things to do along the way. It is a collaborative effort of all of Long Island's historic lighthouse preservation and education groups. The Long Island Lighthouse Challenge is an annual event that takes place in May. Full course details are announced prior to the event. Previous stops on the Long Island Lighthouse Challenge have included:

Fire Island Lighthouse

Montauk Point Lighthouse

Cedar Island Lighthouse

East End Seaport Museum

Long Beach Bar Lighthouse

Orient Point Lighthouse

Plum Island Lighthouse

Horton Point Lighthouse

Old Field Point Lighthouse

Eaton's Neck Lighthouse

Huntington Harbor Lighthouse Long Island Lighthouse Safaris is accepting bookings starting in February for the LI Lighthouse Challenge and custom guided tours are available for large or small groups. LI Lighthouse Safaris, Inc. 4636 Captree Island Captree Island, NY 11702 1-888-281-7071 631-422-4213 You can find out about membership, upcoming events or how to make a donation to the lighthouse organizations listed below: East End Lighthouses, Inc. PO Box 21 Greenport, NY 11944 631-477-4121 Long Island Chapter. U.S. Lighthouse Society 29743 Main Road Cutchoque, NY 11955 631-207-4331