Back for part 2!

Hey everyone! So on Tuesday it was the start of session 2 for camp harbor view and it was very exciting. As the new group of kids got off the bus, they all came with smiles on their faces waiting to see what this summer has in store for them. When we got on the boat, there were a lot of "I missed you's!" and "I can't wait to's" which made me smile because it showed how much more of a family CHV is rather than just any old summer camp. Despite the hot scorching sun, the kids were full of energy and ready to explore.

Since it was the first day, we didn't do any fishing unfortunately, but we did get to do the intro activities with the kids to get to know them better. We played a bingo game where the boxes had characteristics for example "someone who dislikes chocolate" or "someone who has a twin"  and you had to find someone that fit that category and write their name. It was really fun and it helped me learn a lot about some of the kids and they also learned a lot about me.

Towards the end of the period when the kids were done playing bingo, we decided to verse each other in games of tic-tac-toe which of course was kind of an epic fail because I'm not really good and the kids had skills! It was a really nice relaxing day and I had a lot of fun getting to know the kids and playing with them. 

                                                              See you soon! Rusenny

Seaweed scarfs and lobsters!

Larry The Lobster and his crab friend

Our group of fishermen!

Hi everyone! It's Tuesday week 3 at Camp Harbor View and we still have only caught one fish (and the tiny one we caught in the trap) unfortunately but some other exciting things have happened! So yesterday as the new set of kids came in for fishing club they were all excited to get their rods out and patiently wait for the big catch. We haven't had much luck lately with fish, but there has been a ton of crabs of course. So out of no where one of the kids named Max yells "I think I caught something! Help!" as his rod was bending and pulling. And of course, we all rushed to see what mysterious fish could have been at the end of his rod. "It's defiantly a big one!" We all took turns at pulling until finally we reeled and reeled up... and what did we see?.. A ginormous piece of seaweed! It was about 7 feet long and all the kids looked at it in amazement and wonder. Jen then helped us identify the tiny living creatures that lived on it and what their role was. The kid who caught it was even brave enough to pick it up and put it around his neck!

Not only did we catch the seaweed scarf yesterday but today we caught something in the crab trap that surprised everyone. It was a lobster! It was very scary looking at first because I had never seen a live lobster that close up before just like some of the kids hadn't either. After a while of learning about them and how they get around by swimming backwards, I finally got the courage to touch it more although I still didn't get to hold it because they like to move around a lot! It was really fun because some of the kids held "Larry the lobster" and they had fun showing him around the dock and learning more about him.

Seaweed Scarf!

Does it get any better than Hustle Day?

The hustle field at CHV!

Hi everyone! So today was one of the most exciting days at Camp Harbor View. It was the last day for the kids in session one so that meant the first group of kids were done for the summer and there will be new group coming in for session two. In honor of it being the last day for them, it is called Hustle Day, and trust me, it was way more fun than it sounds! We started off the day by taking a tour around the Boston Harbor and then when we got to the island the day was full of colors! Yellow, blue, orange, purple, green, everyone was representing their individual group color and it was pretty exciting to see how ready the kids were to play and compete on the fields with their groups.
It was set up like a relay race so when the games started, I decided to go to the Wheelbarrow race and help out there. While we waited for the teams to come we played a game of crock-a-dilly-oh-my which was really fun because we all sang even though we didn't know all the words which was pretty funny. After that, we played a name memory game in which you had to say your name and something that began with the first letter of your name, and say the people's that went before you. I won't lie, it was pretty hard at first, but then it got easier and I remembered lots of new names and faces! When it was finally time to "wheelbarrow" the kids got in position and it really made my day to see all of them cheering on not only their teammates, but other teams too. They were all working together to win the race but also to have fun and make the best out of their last day at CHV. Moments like these, are what really make summers memorable. Although it was an exciting day, it was also a little sad because we already knew most of the kids and it was our last day with them, but we made the most of it and that's all that matters.

Til next session!  Keep exploring!

-Rusenny

Fishing trip!

Our group of fishermen!

    

Our group of fishermen!

Hi everyone! Yesterday was our biweekly and first fishing trip with the kids in fishing club since our first one got cancelled. In the morning, we grabbed all the rods and waited for the boat on the pier til it arrived at about 9:30. All the kids hopped on the boat and were very excited to see what amazing things they would catch on our trip. To start off, the captain, Charlie, caught a big Black Sea bass and it was really exciting because I'd never seen one before and many of the kids hadn't either so they asked millions on questions about it. After going deeper into the harbor, it was time to put bait on our fishing rods and fish on. We used sea worms for bait which I was completely terrified of touching because of their creepy pinching mouths, but soon I'll get over the fear of sea worms (just like I did my fear of crabs). Anyway, our first catch besides the captain was from a little boy named Adrian, it was really nice to see the look on his face when he felt something pulling on his rod and then yelled "I think I caught a fish! I think I caught a fish!" He railed it up all on his own and then on the end of his rod we saw a flounder! He had caught a flounder which was definitely longer than 12 inches so we got to keep it. After the kids all saw, they all got encouraged to keep on fishing because they could  be the next to catch something! I myself fished for a while in hopes of catching a flounder, a skate or maybe even a striped bass but unfortunately I had no luck in that, instead I caught some rock crabs that refused to let go of my hook! Even though I didn't catch anything crazy, I still had a good time watching the kids catch flounders, striped bass, and even a couple of skates. In the end we got to keep 5 fish, all which the kids had caught. They were all really happy and it was a really fun and relaxing day full of fishing and I can't wait for our next fishing trip to see what more we will find in the harbor!

                                                               See  you soon! - Rusenny

Crab-mania at CHV

The bravest holding two green crabs!

Hey everyone! So this is week two at Camp Harbor View and it's been a very fun and interesting one. Unfortunately, our fishing trip got cancelled because of the bad weather, but instead we got to catch crabs and teach the kids about them.  First, we got our crab trap and put a fish head in it to use as bait and then we threw it in and waited a couple of minutes. After a while, the kids eagerly put on their life jackets on to go down to the dock to pull up the crab trap to see if we had caught anything. They all wanted to help pull up the crab trap and as we pulled it up, a couple of crabs fell off on their way up but there were about eight still in the trap. It was nice to see how all of their faces lit up in amazement and curiosity at seeing all the different crabs.

Holding the "Ugly Spider Crab"

There were rock crabs, green crabs, and of course the "ugly spider crabs" as they called them. Many of them were scared to hold the crabs for the first time and others already knew what they were doing. Even though not everyone held a crab, they all touched them... or at least stared at them in fear from 20 feet away... but hey, that was me last year too until I finally got over my fear.

Overall, teaching them about the crabs was a really fun experience and I also got to remember a thing or two about crabs that I had forgotten. They haven't caught any fish yet, so seeing the crabs was at least a good reminder to them that the harbor is still alive indeed and along with crabs, there are plenty of fish in the sea!

Until next time! - Rusenny

First Real Taste of Summer

Summer officially started on the 21st of June, but for all of us at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay it really started on July 5th, the first day at our sites. I was really excited when I was put at Camp Harbor View on Long Island because I had heard many great things about the camp and the kids. The first day when we were all getting on the ferry, the kids seemed a little older than I imagined so I didn't know what to expect, but after spending the day with them and introducing ourselves and teaching them how to fish, all my uncertainties went away. It amazed to see how excited they all were to have fun and learn despite the really hot weather. Some of them were fishing for their very first time and others were already pros at fishing and even taught me a thing or two!

On the second day, Kim caught a fish unexpectedly while teaching the kids how to cast! It was a striped bass and all the kids gathered around to see and the look on their faces was priceless, it encouraged them to ask a lot of questions and have even more patience because now they knew there were plenty of fish in the harbor. On the third day back, we did some more fishing and after being a little grossed out to touch the bait I finally decided to grab a fish head that we used as bait and put it on the hook. It was pretty smelly and gross but at the same time cool to do!

Catching Striped Bass

As I stood from the island, being on the pier and looking off onto the water and the surrounding islands, it really brought me back to last summer and made me feel like this was my very first taste of the summer. What better way to start off the summer than this? I can't wait to see what more Summer 17' brings!            

                                                             'Til next time, Rusenny :)

Back for another year!

Fishing tournament

My name is Rusenny and this is my second year working at Save The Harbor as a JPA. The minute this opportunity was presented to me I was very excited yet nervous. Before Save the Harbor I was never really involved in any summer programs or any jobs. I remember coming in for the interview and asking myself over and over, "Do I really want to spend my summer working?" And after the first day I realized it wasn't just "work" it felt like more like enjoying the summer and discovering new things. 

Catching Spider Crabs at Piers Park

Playing games on All Access 

I can honestly say that this wasn't just a random job about showing up and doing regular tasks, but instead more about learning and experiencing new things and having fun. I got to work at Piers Park and All Access and it was a lot of fun. Seeing the smiles on the kids faces each morning really brightened my day. Last summer I also held my first crab and learned how to fish and many other things that I never saw myself doing. I got over my fear of spider crabs and I caught my first fish. This summer I'm really looking forward to learning a lot of new things all while being outside in the nice weather and sharing the Boston Harbor with the kids. I can't wait to see what this summer holds!


Until Next Time! - Rusenny