Blog #4

Blog #4

       My favorite moment at Save the Harbor this year has to be working at the Beach bash with all the save the harbor staff. I liked this time in particular because I was able to enjoy spending time with my friends while on the beach. There was amazing food and all around the entire event was chill and I had a great time. 

       My favorite site this year has to be All Access because I love being able to visit the islands on a regular basis. My favorite part of all access has to be the boat ride there and back, especially because there has been a whale in the harbor and I was able to catch a glimpse of it. 

       Over the summer I have learned many things about George’s island that I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t been working here. I learned about the usage of the prison during the civil war and how confederate soldiers were kept there.

      I have also learned a lot about myself while working here. I’ve improved social skills and general communication skills by working with my coworkers and the kids I interact with. The skills I have improved on at Save the Harbor will have a long lasting impact on my life. Communication skills are essential when working and I know my skills will only improve over time.

       If I’m being honest, I will miss my friends after the work ends. I know I’ll still see them and be able to communicate with them, but it will not be the same as being able to see them everyday at work.

       My plans for the fall include college visits, school work, and potential getting a job for the school year. Other than that, that’s all. 

Here are three of my favorite photos with captions.

(This is a picture of my friends on a raft. They were having fun)

(This is a picture I took during one of the staff meetings, we all look so serious and I find it kinda funny)

 ( I got my hair braided while on the boat coming back from George’s island)

       

 

Blog #3

 Blog #3

       Staff Day Tier list? 

In S tier we have the Revolution team visit. This has to have been one of my favorite trips ever because it was very fun riding the train with my friends to Foxborough. When we got there we got to see the New England revolution team practice. After that we talked with a few people on staff and we even got food. It was interesting to see how much work is put in and how hard the players have to train. The ride back was very fun and I got to speak with a fellow co-worker who I hadn’t seen in a long time, I was able to catch them up with everything that I had been doing over at BCM. That made the trip the best and most memorable. If I was able to go back to ask a question, I would ask how the recruitment process works for new players.

In A tier we have the Aquarium visit. Visiting the Aquarium was very fun because I was able to explore the different exhibits with my friend Makayla and Patrick. We went all around the aquarium and saw the big sea turtle before I was immediately dragged to the gift shop (mind you we had only been in the aquarium for like 10 minutes). We looked around at some cool stuff before deciding we would come back later. We went to the stingray touch tank and I was able to pet one. We explored for a little while longer before carving out some time to grab some stuff from the shop and caffe. I bought a sea turtle plushie which was given the name Thomas. I also had to grab a little snow globe that I saw, it had a piece of red coral in the middle and when it was shaken all of these shiny red hexagon things would fly around. I decided it would be a nice little gift. 

       After that we had to go outside to meet with some of the aquarium staff. We played a few ice breaker games and got to ask them questions about the job. Overall, my time there was amazing. If I were to go back and ask a question, I would ask what specific education is needed to work with the animals at the aquarium.

In B tier we have the MIT visit. This was one of my favorite trips because we got to play with underwater drones. We had to modify the drones to either pop balloons or catch rubber ducks in the water. It was really fun experimenting with the different drones even if my team lost against the other. After playing with the drones, we had to learn about ocean acidification through a game that we played. We were given 1 minute to find oysters on a page and circle them with a marker. This was meant to represent how crabs can find their food in clean non acidified water. Then, we were given glasses that were made to be hard to see through. We again had one minute to find the oysters while wearing the glasses. The glasses represented how the crabs vision can change due to the water being acidified. If I were to go back and ask a question, I would want to ask about the chemistry behind ocean acidification and how it can be prevented.

• Mateo U

Blog #2

 Blog #2

    There are two marine species that I have encountered so far, the Atlantic Rock crab and the Portly Spider crab. The Atlantic Rock crab can reach sizes from 1-6 inches and can be found all the way from Iceland to South Carolina. These crabs live in the ocean floor and can be found near the shore or even 750 m below the surface. They are opportunistic feeders which eat smaller creatures including mollusks, clams, and sometimes even other crabs. Due to their abundance, there is currently no worry of their extinction. I happen to like these crabs a lot because I think they look cute.

      

       Now onto the Portly Spider Crab, these impressive crustaceans can grow to have a total leg span of 12 inches. These types of crabs are predatory as they commonly feast on large starfish. These crabs tend to cover themselves with algae and small debris as a defense against predation. They can be found in bay and harbor bottoms around Nova Scotia, The Gulf of Mexico, The Chesapeake Bay, and around the bay of Washington D.C. The water that these crabs tend to inhabit can often be very polluted. However, these crabs can withstand  low-oxygen and polluted waters. 

Farewell to BCM

       Working at Boston Children’s Museum has been a great experience. I have worked with old friends from last year while also making new friends this year. My team was basically the same from last year including Kimani, Chase, Isis, and I. There were two new JPA’s, one new LHE, and a new SHE. The two new JPA’s I was working with were Emanuella and Nalisha. We became friends pretty quickly and we’ve had many fun times together. The new SHE is Jess and she is probably one of the nicest people I’ve met, It was a pleasure to work with her. The days were admittedly pretty slow and we did not get many people when working with the public. When we did get people however, it was fun teaching them how to use the rods and how to pick up the crabs in our touch tank. If anything, I am going to miss going to lunch with my old group. I hope I am with some of my other friends next week.

Bye!

• Mateo U

My sources:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer_irroratus

https://gulfofme.com/all-sea-life/rock-crab-peekytoe-crab-cancer

https://divedeeper.site/species/atlantic-rock-crab/

https://www.chesapeakebay.net/discover/field-guide/entry/common-spider-crab

https://www.nps.gov/pais/learn/nature/spidercrab.htm

Blog #3

 Hi! This is my third blog!

Throughout this summer, we have been exploring future careers, experiences, and meeting new people through our staff Fridays. So far, there was a resume workshop, MIT visit, Revolution practice with QnA, and the aquarium. 

My favorite staff Friday is the visit to the aquarium. Although I go there often, it was so cool to see the marine life and checking out the touch tank. It was also nice to learn more about the teen staff and their role within their internship. There are a variety of responsibilities; visitor experience, animal care, and etc. Below are some pictures I was able to take throughout my visit in the aquarium with my friends! 

Some Aquarium Photos

My second favorite staff Friday is the visit to MIT. We got to do a competition using their underwater robots. The goal of the competition was to hook on as many ring, catch as many ducks, and pop the opponent's balloons on their side. The teams were about to add on design to the pre-made robot in order to fulfill one of the objectives. I got to talk to one of the MIT students about how they got into MIT because it a college I would like to go to in the future. It was surprising to hear they wrote their college essay about ducks and scored really high on the SAT. It inspired me to work hard and pursuing something that truly interests me.

My third favorite was the visit to Gillette Stadium to watch the Revolution team practice the day before their game. I was able to get my soccer ball signed by a few of the players which made my day. We also had a QnA session with the different people involved in running the behind the scenes of game day and advice on how to get into sports. If I was able to, I would have asked how much they spend on preparation for game day, especially setting up the stadium. 

I am excited for another week at the islands and taking more photos!

That's all I have for this blog! See you again soon!

-Kayla D.

Blog 3

The field trips we have had this summer can’t really beat any other summer I’ve been apart of Save the Harbor. Going to the New England revolution practice, the MIT workshop and the aquarium are just some of the trips we’ve done that I really liked the most. 

The Gillette trip was probably my favorite out of all the trips mainly because it was cool to get behind the scenes of a pro soccer team and see how every aspect matters when running one. The way they work is very interesting because they have so many people on each aspect like marketing or even advertising online or on billboards. I did ask the head of marketing if I could get a one day contract but he said it wasn’t up to him to decide. 

The MIT workshop was pretty fun as well. I really liked the workshop where we created robots to get the most points in order to win where I collected most of the points for my team. I learned about working there not only includes the facility in MIT but it includes a lot of facilities north of Boston around New Hampshire and Maine. One cool interaction I had was when a duck hopped onto the dock when we were doing a water quality test. If I could ask one question i would ask if they have similar facilities across the world and not only in the U.S

And lastly the Aquarium. I’ve loved going to the aquarium ever since I was little so it has to be on my list. Working at the aquarium is similar to what we do but they work hands on with the animals in the enclosures like the penguins and hundreds of fish in the other tanks. They plan to educate the public about what they do and also to educate them about the ocean life around us and around the world. One funny interaction was me thinking I could take a penguin home in my backpack. If I could ask a question it would probably be if I can take a penguin home. 

What I’m excited for next week is the fishing trips coming up along with the possibility of seeing the whale in the harbor again. 

See you on the Harbor!!!

Erik J

Blog 2

For my second blog of the summer I am going to identify two animals that I handled and or experienced for my first month. 

The first animal that I encountered was a Dogfish on a fishing trip. A cool fact about dogfish is that they are actually venomous. They release the venom from their two spines on their fins. They grow up to 3-4 feet in length and they live in the northern pacific and Atlantic Ocean. They primarily feast on fish and sometimes crab and squid. They also can live up to 80 years old in the wild. 

The second animal that I encountered was a skate. A fun fact about them is that the largest one on record was 8 feet in length. The size that they can grow up to is 8 feet max but it’s usual to see them 30 inches in length. They reside all over the world in all depths and they feed on multiple crustaceans and fish. 

With my time at piers park ending soon I had a really fun time kayaking, fishing and interacting with all the kids. The open space in the park to play games like soccer or football was very fun considering the grass was always slippery which would cause a lot of us to fall. I can’t wait for what’s in store for me at all access in the last month of this amazing summer. 

See you on the harbor!!!

Erik J

3rd Year !!!

Hi everyone, as you guys probably know from the previous years before my name is Erik. I currently live in East Boston and I just graduated from the O’Bryant and I’m pursuing my career in aviation at Bridgewater State university. I really like to fish and do any activities that include being on the water. As an example scuba diving and sailing are two things that I really like to do when I have the ability to do so.

This summer I am excited to meet the new head staff along with old friends that I’ve had for the 2-3 years that I have been here. Along with this I am excited to do more fishing trips and even see people from the sites I haven’t seen for an entire year. What brought me back for the third year in a row was to get more work experience and to possibly get some help to transition into adulthood going into college at the end of the summer. 

I can’t wait for what comes for me and my peers in the next 8 weeks and I wish that the summer fun never ends. 

See You on the Harbor!!!!

Juner’s 2nd blog

 Species number 1 is green crabs

fun fact about green crabs

Rapid Reproduction: Green crabs are known for their high reproductive rate. A female can produce up to 200,000 eggs in a single spawning event, and the eggs can hatch in as little as 2 to 3 weeks.

Typical size for a green crab.

Green crabs typically have a carapace width of about 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm). However, they can occasionally grow larger, with some individuals reaching up to 5 inches (13 cm) across.

Where in the world can they be found at.

- North America: They are found along the eastern coast of the United States from Maine to North Carolina and in parts of the Canadian Maritime provinces.

One of the green crabs habitas are: 

Rocky Shores: They inhabit areas with rocky substrates where they can find shelter and food.

The green crabs diet consists on

Mollusks: They prey on various mollusks, including clams, mussels, and oysters.

Small Fish: Green crabs will consume small fish and fish larvae.

Other Crustaceans: They feed on other crabs, including smaller or juvenile crabs.

Detritus: They also scavenge on detritus and decomposing organic matter.

Conversational fact about the green crab

Ecosystem Disruption: Invasive green crabs can alter habitat structures, such as seagrass beds and mudflats, by predating on species that maintain these habitats. This can lead to further ecological imbalances.

2nd species is a baby shark

Here's a fun fact about baby sharks: Baby sharks, or pups, are born fully functional and capable of hunting right from birth. Depending on the species, they may either be hatched from eggs or born live, but in either case, they are equipped with instincts and abilities to find food and avoid predators from a young age. This early independence is crucial for their survival in the wild.

Typical size of a baby shark.

Small Species: Pups of smaller shark species, like the blacktip reef shark, can be about 8 to 14 inches (20 to 35 cm) long at birth.

Larger Species: Pups of larger species, like the great white shark, are much bigger, typically around 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 meters) in length when they are born.

Where can baby sharks be found at.

Coastal Areas: Many species, including blacktip reef sharks and hammerhead sharks, have nursery grounds in shallow, coastal waters where pups are born and grow.

Estuaries and Mangroves: Certain species, like the lemon shark, use estuarine and mangrove areas as nursery habitats due to their relatively safe environment and abundant food sources.

Open Ocean: Some pelagic species, like the great white shark, have pups that are initially found in open ocean waters before migrating to deeper areas as they grow.

Coral Reefs: Coral reefs provide critical nursery habitats for various shark species, offering protection and rich feeding grounds for young sharks.

This is one of the baby sharks habitat.

Shallow Coastal Waters: Many species, such as blacktip reef sharks, use shallow coastal areas as nursery grounds. These areas provide relatively safe environments for pups to grow and develop.

These are some of  the baby sharks diet.

Small Fish: Many baby sharks feed on small fish, which are abundant in their nursery habitats.

Crustaceans: Pups often eat small crustaceans like shrimp and crabs, especially in estuarine and mangrove environments.

Plankton: In some cases, particularly for very young sharks, their diet may include plankton or other tiny marine organisms.

Invertebrates: Baby sharks may also consume various invertebrates, such as squid and octopuses, depending on their availability and the shark species.

Piers park was one of my favorite sites because sometimes I went patdle bording and it was fun the experience there was amazing especially seeing how happy the kids were to go fishing. 

Favorite part of piers park was the lunch break it was like 1:30 long and it was my favorite park because it gave me time to rest and get something to eat.

That’s my second blog

Juner 3rd blog

My favorite field trip was the aquarium because I like to visit the aquarium especially when I have people to go with like my friends from save the harbor. And because in the aquarium they have a lot of fun stuff to do like touching the stingray and to see the fish and turtles swimming around. I learned that most of the aquarium employees really to work because they see the joy in  the people that visit daily. Some of them work at feeding the animals and other stuff.i had asked them how much do they paid I find it memorable because I was the one that asked the question. Would you go to work somewhere else for a big amount of money.

Blog #3

 The MIT visit was by far my favorite field trip. While I was there, we learned about ocean acidification and how it affects marine life negatively. This was illustrated by participating in a group activity where we wore glasses that mimicked sight in crabs living in higher acidity levels in their environment. I was shocked by how hard it was to see in them. I learned that a rise in acidity levels is caused by CO2 in the atmosphere which the ocean absorbs. It is common knowledge by most that the rise in CO2 is directly linked to emissions from fossil fuel based energy. 

The other activity we participated in at our MIT visit was engaging in a team building game.  We designed our own underwater robots powered by propellers with the goal of winning the most points.  The points were earned by popping balloons, collecting rubber duckies and underwater rings. This was fun for everyone but it also illustrated how robots can be used underwater for research and ocean clean up. 

The Aquarium was my other favorite field trip. Although I had been many times before as a child, this was my first visit in many years.  Despite it having been some time, the penguins were still my favorite. While at the Aquarium we met other teen staff members who worked there and learned about the work they do there. The one job that stood out most to me was the person who helped feed the animals in the main tank. I thought this job position was interesting because many of them seemed to form connections with those animals.  

Next week I am looking forward to spending time on the water and hopefully more nice weather.  I am also excited to go on tours of George's Island and take Beach walks on Spectacle Island.

See you on the Harbor!

Albany Norman

Blog blog blog

So far, going to Gillette stadium was the best fun Friday.We went all around Gillette on golf cart.We saw the revolution practice for three game against another team.(fun fact: one of the player Peyton miller is 16 and a starter for the team) we got to learn the roles of the coaches and how game day works for the players and coaches.One thing I wish I asked is how much the team would pay for Messi or how much players they would trade for messi. 2nd best trip ,well wasn’t really a trip was learning how to make a resume.since I’m 16 I should learn how to make one and that trip clutched up for me because if I want a job I need a resume.Learning how to make a resume held me because now I can make mine and when I need a job I’ll tell them about myself and the jobs I worked.If I was to ask a question it would be,what if I just tell them about the jobs I did and show them how good of an impact I’ll have for the job would they still give me the job ? The aquarium was good because we got to connect to kids our age and ask them how they enjoy working with sea animals.The aquarium staff told us what it was like to work with animals that we could possibly see in the harbor or maybe catch and being able to see all these animals was very cool.the sea lion exhibit was very smelly that really made me upset and I was also cold but besides that the aquarium was ok.one question I wish I asked is why don’t they have alot of sharks. i wanna catch a big fish before we end for the year.Jah out

Back on all access

fishing on Spectacle Island

Hey guys, it's Seoule writing my second blog of the summer. During the month of July this summer at Save the Harbor I worked on the sight, All Access Boston Harbor. If you read my blogs last year you would know I worked on All Access the whole summer. This summer was different with new people and new routines. All access is a program that runs free cruises out to Spectacle Island on Wednesdays, and Georges Island on Tuesdays and Thursdays. While on the islands groups have the options to join us on walks, fishing, playing kickball, or just going out to explore on their own. My favorite part of all access would be playing kickball. Even though this summer has been extremely hot, people still love to participate and play. 

One marine animal I've encountered this summer is the American lobster while on a fishing trip with captain Charlie. The American lobster (Homarus americanus) is native to the North Atlantic Ocean. A fun fact about the American lobster is that it has the ability to regenerate lost limbs! If a lobster loses a claw or a leg, it can grow a new one over time, although it might be smaller or differently shaped initially. Also, lobsters can live for several decades and continue to grow throughout their lives, shedding their exoskeletons in a process called molting. People used to think that lobsters were scavengers and ate primarily dead things. However, researchers have discovered that lobsters catch mainly fresh food (except for bait) which includes fish, crabs, clams, mussels, sea urchins, and sometimes even other lobsters! American lobsters can reach up to 8-24 inches long and can even weigh up to 44 pounds.

Another animal I've encountered this summer are seagulls. Being on different waterfronts while working with Save the Harbor, I'm bound to see at least 5 seagulls a day. Seagulls are highly skilled at scavenging and foraging with a diet consisting of fish, molluscs, invertebrates and discarded human food. Seagulls vary in size depending on the species. Generally, they range from about 12 to 30 inches (30 to 76 cm) in length. Seagulls are incredibly adaptable and can thrive in a variety of habitats. They are commonly associated with coastal areas. A fun fact about seagulls is Some species of seagulls even have "accent" variations in their calls depending on their geographic location, much like regional accents in human languages. This means that seagulls from different areas might have slightly different "dialects" in their calls, helping them communicate more effectively within their local populations.

See you on the water, 

Seoule

Second Blog

Hi this is Kayla D.! Last month I was at All Access and was at Spectacle Island for most of the month.  The most memorable moment I had at AABH was when Leah and I frantically tried to learn ASL in order to communicate with an organization that were deaf. It was cool to learn, as we continue to learn through an app on our phones. Other fun things that we is catch a lot of green crabs and spider crabs. The kids and passerby love to see and hold the crabs, long with ask many questions. 

The most commonly caught species at All Access are the invasive green crabs. One fun fact about green crabs is that they can spawn up to 185, 000 eggs at once, which is a lot of eggs. European green crabs typically range from 2.5 to 4 inches width (of their carapace). They can be found in North America, North Africa, and Europe, living in rocky shores, sand flats, cobble beaches, and tidal marshes. Their diet consist of shellfish, small crustaceans, and marine worms. They are invasive in Massachusetts and Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is currently conducting a policy regarding the control and population of green crabs. 

Participant with a small green crab

We also catch longnose spider crabs which are also know scientifically as Libinia emarginata. The size of carapace ranges from 6 to 10 centimeters. These crabs are found in the Eastern Coast of North America in shallow waters. They consume dead or decaying fish, invertebrates, seaweed, and jellyfish. 

Spider crabs going in for a hug

I am excited to be back on All Access and ready for Georges Island to be open again. I hope I get to see different species on the island and the heat to go away. I am looking forward to giving tours through the dark tunnel at Georges Island. Turn off your phones and flashlights or the Lady in Black will get you!

See you next time!

Kayla D.