All Access Boston Harbor- July Trip

All Aboard for All Access Boston Harbor!

Last Thursday July 10^th over 150 youths and supervisors from six different Boston area community organizations and youth groups ventured out into the Boston Harbor for a day of fun at Spectacle Island.  For some, this was their first time experiencing the Harbor and Islands.  For others, the All Access Harbor Cruises are an annual summer activity they look forward to all year.

The Harbor trips are all about combining recreation and education. Prior to boarding the Provincetown II for the Island, youth were treated to a discussion of the history of Boston Harbor/Islands and Boston’s water supply by maritime historian David Coffin.  Spectacle Island used to be a landfill and major contributor of pollution to the Harbor, but is now part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park.  Following David’s explanation of how water travels from Quabbin Reservoir to Boston and is then thoroughly treated and cleaned without emitting any pollution, the children and young adults no longer held the misconception the Harbor and its Islands were dirty.  They then had the opportunity to see it for themselves, as they voyaged out to Spectacle Island for a day of fun. 

The youths could participate in various activities led by Save the Harbor staff, such as outdoor sand art, crabbing, fishing, swimming at North Beach, playing kickball and other sports, and hunting for sea glass.  For many, the experience was made all the more enjoyable knowing that just a few decades ago, the very beach they were currently swimming and fishing in was covered in trash.  One young girl from Winthrop said it was “cool that it used to be so gross” and was now such a fun place.  Another young boy from Dorchester said swimming was his favorite activity, because “even though the water’s cold, it’s clean!”  The beach, grassy fields, picnic tables, and docks were filled with the sounds of laughter and exclamations of “wow that’s so cool!” and “can I try?”.  David Coffin made the request that each and every participant try something new that day; it was clear that everyone did so while having a great time in a beautiful part of Boston’s natural world.

These free youth environmental education programs are made possible with Leadership Grants from Bay State Cruise Company, Distrigas/GDF SUEZ, The Coca-Cola Foundation, Ludke Foundation, and the Yawkey Foundation II.

Save the Harbor is grateful for Partnership Grants from Forrest Berkley & Marcie Tyre Berkley, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, The Chiofaro Company, The Fallon Company, Hampshire House Corporation – Cheers for Children, John Hancock Financial Services, Inc., Massachusetts Bay Lines, Massachusetts Port Authority, National Grid Foundation, P&G Gillette, William E & Bertha E. Schrafft Charitable Trust, and the Clinton H. & Wilma T. Shattuck Charitable Trust.

Save the Harbor also appreciates funding support from Lawrence J. & Anne Rubenstein Foundation, Arbella Insurance Group Charitable Foundation, Blue Hills Bank Foundation, Blue Hills Bank Pavilion, Boston Center for Youth and Families, Breckinridge Capital Advisors, Carnival Foundation, Circle Furniture, Clippership Foundation, Department of Conversation and Recreation, Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation, HYM Investment Group Inc., Lovett Woodsum Family Foundation, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, South Boston Community Development Foundation, Reebok Foundation, Santander Bank Foundation, Boston Bruins Foundation, Thomas & Lucinda Foley, Red Sox Foundation, TD Charitable Foundation, Goulston & Storrs, Rowan Murphy & Andus Baker, Matthew J. & Gilda F. Strazzula Foundation, BOMA, Community-Suffolk, Inc., Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation, and hundreds of individual donors.

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is a non-profit, public interest, environmental advocacy organization working to restore and protect Boston Harbor and Massachusetts Bay.  Each year Save the Harbor/Save the Bay runs free youth environmental education programs, including the All Access Boston Harbor, that combine recreation and hands-on education to bring the Harbor alive for thousands of Boston area young people.  To find out more about our All Access Boston Harbor trips and other youth activities, visit our website at http://www.savetheharbor.org, our youth blog “Sea, Sand and Sky” at http://www.blog.savetheharbor.org and our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/savetheharbor. 

Pictures:

1.     Group- Friends of Adam St. Library:

 

2.     Group- Girls Inc. of Lynn:
 

 

3.     Group- Charlestown B&G Club:

 

4.     Action- Girls Inc., me, and Sam fishing:

 

5.     Action- David with Friends of Adam St. Library:

 

6.     Action- Brookline High School with green crab:

 

7.     Action- Anthony from Kathy’s Place playing kickball: