All Aboard for All
Access Boston Harbor!
Last Thursday July 10th 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:
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Group- Girls Inc. of Lynn:
5.
Action- David with Friends of Adam St. Library:
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