To start off the morning right, Save the Harbor and the East Boston YMCA kids sang the "Haul Away Joe" sea chantey. The chantey reminds us that when we all pull in the same direction, we can get almost anything done!
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| "We'll haul away together!" |
Then, the kids broke off into groups to learn more about the harborside, and each group took turns at different Boston Harbor- themed stations. The first station was fish printing, where the East Boston YMCA kids channeled their inner artist by making Gyotaku fish prints with real scup and mackerel and an artificial flounder.
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| Using the scales and bodies of fish to create art |
At the touch tank, kids had a chance to meet Lawrence the Lobster and Rocky the Rock Crab. They were fascinated to learn about why lobsters have two different sized claws, and where crabs hold their eggs. The kids also learned about crustaceans’ diets and their role in Boston Harbor’s ecosystem.
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| Eric, a JPA, holding Lawrence the Lobster |
Next the group had the opportunity to partake in Save the Harbor's new Mosaic project to learn about sustainable fishing. Save the Harbor taught the kids that sometimes when we use unsustainable fishing methods to catch fish, such as dragging a huge net through the water, we can accidentally catch animals we don't mean to and hurt the environment. Each kid colored different types of marine life native to Boston Harbor like lobsters and flounder, and then hung up their colored drawings in a big net to represent how bycatch can damage the marine life right next door. This ongoing project not only brings Boston kids closer to sustainable seafood and fishing methods, but also beautifies the space at Atlantic Wharf!
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| A beautiful mosaic in the making |
The kids had a blast at the last station, playing games like "What you can't see under the sea" and "A big Wind Blows". Kids acted like an animal under the sea, and created their very own ecosystem!
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| What animals were these kids acting as...? |
And of course the day wouldn't be complete without the delicious lunch from Boloco, courtesy of Atlantic Wharf.
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is grateful for our amazing partners at Atlantic Wharf for continuing our tradition of excellent vacation and summer programming at their outstanding location on the Fort Point Channel.
Thanks also to James Hook & Co. for lending us Lawrence and Rocky for the morning!
For more information on our Youth Programs and other similar events, visit savetheharbor.org and check out our blog - blog.savetheharbor.org
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