It's Clammin' Time

Today I got to experience my second field trip with Save the Harbor! Along with eight other Save the Harbor staff and various volunteer groups and individuals, I traveled by ferry to Thompson's Island to plant clams. A couple of the staff had been there before and knew much more about the island than I did. Originally, Thompson's Island was a farm school, later evolving into a farm and trade school, and eventually becoming Thompson's Academhy, a boarding school for boys. At the top of the island remain the brick sturctures built for the prep school, and are now used at dormitoriews for overnight camps and summer school programs that use the island.

When we arrived, we were all brought to the "Family Fun Area" to sit, drink and eat, and get to know each other. We were then split up into 9 groups, each led by an Outward Bound summer student who was knowledgable in clam seeding. Every group was responsible for seeding one "net" area of clams. This required us to dig trenches, pull out crabs and worms, and pack in mud to keep the net in place. Thankfully, they provided us with boots. But Mark had a hard time getting his hip-boots off at the end of the day.

A professor from UMass Boston who helped to lead the project also explained the importance of water testing in the harbor and what we can do to make sure it stays clean and preoductive.

At the end of the day we were able to lounge on the grass and play Ladder Golf before the ferry arrived. It's so cool knowing that the clams eaten in Boston in the next year coul dbe ones that I planted! It was a wonderful first trip to Thompson's Island!

Alana

Just Another Manic Monday

Yesterday I was lucky enough to attend Save the Harbor's Staff Day adventure to Spectacle Island and experience my first trip out on Boston Harbor! The Long Wharf dock was sweltering as we all lined up to board Boston's Best Cruises. I think everyone was anxious to escape the city heat. Our ferry ride in itself was an adventure! We saw police boats patroling the harbor and passed by the Deer Island plant up close. The boat first dropped passengers off at Georges Island, which I definitely didn't have a problem with, as we got to be on the boat longer! It was full of beach-goers and island explorers even though it was only 11 AM!

The staff then arrived at Spectacle Island where Bruce and Patty were waiting on the docks with their boat, Verandah, with a delicious lunch for everyone. We were treated to hot dogs, "chicken dogs" (which I had never seen before), sea bass salad (courtesy of a sea bass caught by one of the staffers earlier in teh week!), carrots and hummus, and Cape Cod chips. I think we went through three rounds of hot dogs before everyone was full! For dessert, we enjoyed grapes, strawberries, and chocolate chip cookies. Patty even gave me a tour of their boat before they had to depart.

Afterward, the staff split into two groups, one of which went to play an annual game of Capture the Flag while the rest of us enjoyed the perfect beach day! Sheuli dove right in the water and, as Annie said, "just bobbed around like a little seal". Caitlin, Stacey, Matt, and Cassie joined us. Cassie dove right in, too; Caitlin and Matt were a little surprised when the ferry wakes rolled in and soaked them up to their waists. It was a fun, fantastic day!

Alana

A great day at the beach!

Beach day! Beach day!

It was a hot and sunny day at Wollaston Beach! Myself and three other Save the Harbor workers were hosting a touch tank that held a male lobster. We had to constantly refresh the saltwater to ensure that the lobster will stay alive. So, every twenty minutes we put the lobster in a plastic bag with the saltwater and race down by the shore, toss the old water, and get fresh water. On my rotation to stay by the lobster in the bag, a young boy watched what we were doing, and asked if we were trying to kill the lobster! I said of course not, and explained how we did leave some water in the bag for the lobster, and how it is actually a good think that we are constantly refilling the tank! After five minutes of convincing he finally bought in. It was great that he showed some interest and asked questions when confused.

Kristina :)

Ready, Set, FISH!

How do you get 35 high school and college students into an office meeting on a bright, summer afternoon? Ask Bruce Berman! Over the past two weeks, the Save the Harbor/Save the Bay office was full of energetic senior marine educators and returning summer staffers to help plan and ready our summer youth programs. Binders have been made, materials have been ordered, fishing poles have started overcrowding the youth room, and youth program directors Michelle Palermino and Brianne Studer can only be seen racing around the office and dashing around Boston inspecting new and former program sites.

Senior Marine Educators Brianne Studer, Michelle Palermino, Sarah Appleton, Paula Teichholtz, Sheuli Molla, Tommy Regan, and Lead Explorers Connor Newman, Carolyn Burkett, and Will Clark had to opportunity to attend the Blue is Back Reception at Castle Island in South Boston, seeing first-hand what clean beaches can do for youth programs in Boston.

Save the Harbor runs two free youth programs during the summer months focused on training the next generation of stewards with hands-on, experiential learning and reaches over 5,000 youth every summer. All Access Boston Harbor reaches out to over 125 youth programs and invites them to learn about the marine environment and maritime history on day trips to George’s Island and Spectacle Island. Boston Harbor Explorers is a daily hands-on environmental youth education programs in partnership with the area’s youth sailing centers.

Looking forward to an exciting summer, Connor has been in the office since the beginning of June, ordering everything from zip-ties to eel pots and carting lobster traps and fishing poles into the youth room at the office. Connor fondly remembers catching his first fish with the program at the Boston Children’s Museum two years ago and is looking forward to more firsts this summer.

Michelle is excited to expand the programs this year, including working with Community Boating to institute days on the Charles River, visiting the Boston Children’s Museum five days a week instead of three, and reinstating programming at Constitution Beach on Wednesday afternoons.

Lists have been made, T-shirts are on their way, order forms have been sent out, now all we need are the kids! See you July 5th!

Alana