Arts & Crafts & The Great Outdoors

Everyone loves Fridays; it's the end of the work week, and the weekend lies ahead with all its promises of sleeping in and a new episode of Game of Thrones and not having any real responsibilities for two whole days. For me, I look forward to Fridays because it means I get to spend another amazing afternoon with the kids from the South Boston Neighborhood House out on Carson Beach!

Getting ready to paint...before discovering the magic of fingerpaint

Last week the kids started working on a long-term project of giving a rowboat an artistic makeover. After taking a nice long dip in the water, the kids came up under the gazebo to work on the boat. Paintbrushes in hand, they set to putting their ideas to paper. The idea was that we would take what they painted, cut it out, and decoupage it onto the boat. Maybe my bias is showing a bit, but these kids have a lot of talent! The rowboat is going to look incredible when it's finished.

Naturally, when you have kids, paint, and not enough brushes to go around, paint is going to end up more places than just the paper it was intended for. Once kids figured out that fingers make an excellent substitute for a paint brush, just about everyone in a six hundred foot radius ended up covered in paint. Luckily the paint came right off with a little bit of water and elbow grease. The boat project is off to a great start, and I can't wait to see how we progress next week!

Another day another fish print!

After my afternoon at Carson Beach,  I took my art skills over to Constitution Beach to spend the evening fish printing with kids at the East Boston YMCA's Family Fun Night. We were joined by one of our pirate story tellers, Tony Toledo, and Stephanie, a trainer from the YMCA who was teaching a family fitness class! Tony got down to business right away, telling the kids some incredible stories and helping us build a crowd while Stephanie got her class started.

That night we met some really fun and incredible kids and families, and made some really beautiful fish prints! Due to some strong winds and my own two clumsy hands, I ended up covered in the ink used for the prints. I headed back home drenched in ink, paint, sand, and fish, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Black and white and red and blue and green and pink all over,
Melissa

Lawn On D

Hello Everybody!

I'm telling you, this ball is huge!

   Saturday night I had the chance to go to the Lawn on D and play some volleyball. Only, this wasn't your typical volleyball game...Instead, we played with a giant soccer ball! The ball was taller than I am! The game was a huge hit and at least forty people were playing the game at once!   

   One of the greatest parts about the game was the community it seemed to create. People of all ages, sizes and color came together to simply play the game. There was no separation of  groups, instead there was just teams of people who had never met before trying to have some fun! 

Teamwork makes the dream work!

     Another really cool part of the night was the teamwork displayed by the people playing the game. As it got windier the net began to cause some technical difficulties, however, nobody lost their patience or left to go somewhere else. Instead, they offered their help and waited for it to be fixed before continuing their game. even at the end of the night, when somebody lost their earring, everybody took out their flashlights to help look for the missing jewelery. It was great to see people come together to enjoy a fun game of giant volleyball!

      Play On!

        Sam

Andres Amador Brings Art on the Shore to Boston Harbor.

Andres Amador, a San Francisco-based artist, will be making spectacular art on the metropolitan Boston region's public beaches from August 7-9 as part of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay's Better Beaches Program.

Andres' artwork can span over 100,000 square feet, achievable only during low tide. His artworks do not last long- within minutes of finishing a piece, and often while still in progress, the returning tide begins resetting the canvas.

Andres has been featured by the BBC, CNN, Discovery Channel, and numerous TV programs and periodicals globally. His artwork has appeared on beaches in the US and internationally, with his primary canvas being the Northern California coastline.

Schedule:
8/7 - Workshop at Carson Beach in South Boston from 9:00  - 12:30
8/8 - Public participation project on Constitution Beach in East Boston from 10:00 - 1: 30
8/9 - Solo project at  "Treasure Beach" on Spectacle Island from 11:00 - 2:30

If you would like to take part in the workshop on Friday or the demonstration at Constitution Beach on Saturday, please send an email to info@savetheharbor.org.
Here are some links Andres has pulled together for us:

Photos of previous artworks:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gcm96dqfey0r74b/AAA3p-UkomMxbxQJheC8bkSka?dl=0

Videos made for this appearance:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/w2kum7gtcbjntkz/AABEqh0HntKHY3MFmg2E99Fma?dl=0

If you would like to take part in the workshop on Friday or the demonstration at Constitution Beach on Saturday, please send an email to info@savetheharbor.org

See you on the beach!

FREE Better Beaches Program Events on the Region's Public Beaches

In June Save the Harbor/Save the Bay awarded $204,000 in Better Beaches Program grants to 35 groups in 9 beachfront communities from Nahant to Nantasket to support 70 FREE public events this year. Learn more about this program by clicking here.
 
After a very wicked winter, we are pleased to report that the
 summer of 2015 is off to a spectacular start!

Check out the calendar below for details.

We hope to see you on the harbor, the beaches and in the islands.

East Boston Beach Event!

Hello again, Explorers!

I am so excited to share stories about the Constitution Beach event last week- a campfire with our partners at the YMCA! ¡Nuestro evento en la playa la semana pasada nos fue super bien, fue muy divertido y  además, fue un placer conocer a la comunidad de East Boston!

I have two left feet!

One of the highlights of the evening was, of course, the dancing. Everyone enjoyed our D.J., Damien, and he played songs that the kids could line-dance too! Our JPAs got involved, bringing their smiles and their sweet moves to the dance floor! We even had some Bachata lessons, it turns out we have some real talent on our team!

Finding clams and answering questions!

Thankfully, identifying bivalves, chatting in Spanish, and getting people to the beach are easier for me than Bachata! To get started, my fellow SHE, Nikita, and I,  ran up to the mic and made a quick announcement about going to the beach. We figured out that we had both hard-shell and soft-shell clams down in the low-tide sand, and we took advantage of that opportunity! Soon, we had kids running up to us from all over the beach saying "look what I found!". We found an oyster, some quahogs, tons of soft clams, hermit crabs, and snails! Our JPAs made sure that all of the clams got safely back into the ground, and helped get the kids excited about finding critters!

 Some really great questions were asked at this event, sometimes between chews of marshmallow, (free from the YMCA!). Some of these included: "how to clams make their shells? Do they shed them, like crabs do?" and "why is the snail coming out of its shell, but the (quahog) clam is not?" I have a little experience in teaching ESL, and though I love exploring languages, they hardly ever stick their necks out or squirt water at you- which is why working with clams keeps me happily on my feet!

I can't wait for more fun in the sand, bring your questions and your towel and come see us at our next Better Beaches event!

Until next time!
Carolyn

The Friends of Wollaston Beach present... KidsFest!

This Saturday September 6th, fellow SHE Iris and I headed to Quincy for the Friends of Wollaston Beach KidsFest.  KidsFest is an annual public event that received support from a Better Beaches grant this year.  The stormy weather held off for the first couple hours of the well-attended event.  It was low tide on the beach, with plenty of sand space for games and activities for the crowds of kids to enjoy.  A DJ provided music and kept sack races and hula hooping contests lively.

 Iris and I brought along Larry the Lobster for a low-key touch tank.  We found some tiny crabs on the beach-- so small I wasn't sure what kind of crab they might have been.  We helped to run games and activities, and we also spread the word about the Simply Marble-ous Contest, which you can learn more about here.

The humid weather provided for a beautiful rainbow-- before the storm rolled in!

Thanks to the Friends of Wollaston Beach for orchestrating a great free event for youth and families to celebrate the end of the summer!

Save the Harbor 2014 Summer Events

Its summertime and there is lots to do on Boston Harbor.
We hope you will join Save theHarbor/Save the Bay on the waterfront, the Boston Harbor Islands and the region's public beaches from Nahant to Nantasket as we celebrate clean water and better beaches this summer.

The Fan Pier Invitational Youth Fishing Tournament (July 17) gives 50 underserved youth and teens the chance to enjoy a day of fishing and fun on Boston Harbor on donated fishing boats with volunteer captains and crews.  It is sponsored by the Fallon Company and Circle Furniture. For more information, go to http://www.falloncompany.com/2014/06/annual-fishing-tournament-july-17-2014/
To donate your boat or volunteer as a mate, contact bruce@bostonharbor.com.

Aquapalooza at Perry's Cove (July 19) and Soundwaves at Spectacle Island (July 26) blues festivals in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park. This year's lineup includes The Throwdown Blues Band and Sugar Ray and the Bluetones. Tickets for the band boat are $25 in advance or $30 the day of the events. The New Boston ferry boards at Rowe's Wharf at 11:30. To reserve your tickets, email info@savetheharbor.org and donate $25 per ticket at http://savetheharbor.org/contribution.html .

The 4^th Annual Beach Bash and Splash (August 8) is our end of the season celebration of clean water for youth and teens from across the city at M Street beach in South Boston, which is now one of the cleanest urban beaches in America. In 2013 the event brought more than 788 young people to the beach for a fun filled day including an old fashioned cookout and a simultaneous splash into the clean waters of Boston Harbor. To volunteer, email info@savetheharbor.org

The Swim and Paddle for Boston Harbor  (August 9) is a competitive, chip timed one mile open water swim and paddleboard competition. Registration for the swim is $50 and registration for the paddleboard competition is $25. Top finishers and the participant who raises the most funds will win round-trip flights on Jet Blue Airways. Participants can register at swim4bostonharbor.org


AmericaScores Beach Soccer Blast (August 23) is a one-day soccer tournament for both teams and individuals. The registration fee and individual donations help to fund youth events by both AmericaScores and Save the Harbor. Registration for teams is $550 and registration for individuals is $55. Participants can register online at https://www.fundraise.com/activity/america-scores/beach-soccer-blast

2014 Better Beaches Events 
This summer our Better Beaches Program Partners in Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull will host a variety of family-friendly events on beaches from Nahant to Nantasket. Every week for the rest of the summer and well into fall, these fun and free activities will take place on some of the nation's cleanest and most beautiful beaches. The list will be updated as more dates become available.

• BCYF Curley Community Center Beach Jam (July) is in its third year. Featuring free live performances from both locally-based and national groups, the concert is an event suitable for the entire family.
• City Point Neighborhood Association Beat the Summer Sizzle at Pleasure Bay (date to be determined)
• Constitution Beach YMCA Campfires (June 19, July 17, August 21, September 18, October 16) brings together hundreds of children and their families to enjoy the beach in the evening around a crackling campfire.
• Friends of Belle Isle Marsh Harvest Festival (October 6) features horse-drawn hay rides, pumpkin decorating, crafts, live music, live animals, a touch tank, and other fun, free, and family-friendly activities.
• Friends of Lynn and Nahant Beach Red Rock Summer Concert series (every Thursday, July 3 – August) is a free concert series on the beach at Lynn Shore Drive. The kickoff concert on July 3 will be followed by fireworks. A special childrens' concert will take place on July 26, with activities for all ages.

• Friends of Heritage Park World Folk Festival (September 13) is gearing up for its 6th year of celebration of food and music from around the world. The festival specially features performances by diverse women.
• Friends of the Paragon Carousel Reading Program (every Friday, July 11 – August 22) invites children to come to the Paragon Carousel Museum, where a different princess each week will read them stories.
  
  
• Friends of Savin Hill Shores Beach Festival Family Movie Nights (August) bring together families for free movies and popcorn on the beach. Bring your own chairs and blankets.
• Friends of Savin Hill Shores Sunset (August) brings together community members to enjoy the natural beauty of the beach with lantern making, live music, and a campfire singalong, followed by a viewing of the sunset from the shore.
• Friends of Winthrop Beach Family Activities on the Beach (July 12 at Yirrel Beach, other dates to be determined) provide free activities for children and their families on Winthrop's beaches

• Friends of Wollaston Beach Kidsfest (August 14) brings youths and their families from all over the city out to enjoy the beach with moonbounces, sack races, jumproping, and other fun events, all with prize rewards. Save the Harbor will be providing a touch tank, so kids can learn about and get close to local critters. 
  
• Harbor Arts Festival (September 20) benefits the Harbor Arts Shipyard Gallery, which is dedicated to fostering Boston's artistic community, The festival features galleries, live music, street theatre, night dancing, and other cultural events, as well as a panel with local environmental groups to discuss climate change.
  

• Hull Chamber of Commerce Endless Summer (September 20)  is an annual huge event, featuring live entertainment, samples from over 25 local restaurants, and over 75 local artists and vendors. Proceeds benefit the Hull Chamber Scholarship Fund, which helps local students have the opportunity to study abroad.
• Quincy Asian Resources August Moon Festival (August 17) highlights Chinese culture with performances, exhibits, games, and vendors. Last year, this festival was the largest outdoor cultural event on the South Side.
• Quincy Beaches and Coastal Commissions Pumpkin Fest (October) is an annual harvest festival with pumpkin picking, face painting, seasonal crafts, and plenty of outdoor activities for kids.
• Revere Sand Sculpture Festival (July 18 – 20) is one of the most anticipated beach events of the summer and one of the nation's largest sand sculpting competitions. The festival features food trucks, live music, fireworks, and the opportunity to view works made by artists from all over the world.
  

• South Boston Neighborhood House Family Fun Nights on the Beach (July 15 and August 12) combine food, live music, crafts for kids, and free Super Duck boat rides and other activities to provide free fun for kids and their families.
  
  Save the Harbor would like to thank all our Better Beaches Program Partners and the BCYF Curley Community Center, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Greater Boston YMCA, Legal Sea Foods, Mix 104.1, Tasty Burger, Russo Marine and
  JetBlue Airways and Harpoon Brewery for their support.
  
  See you on the beach!

HarborArts 2013

On Saturday, September 21st Save the Harbor attended the 3rd Anniversary Celebration of HarborArts, Inc. commemorating the opening of the first exhibition ever held at the Boston Harbor Shipyard & Marina. It was a beautiful day at the Shipyard, and we were excited to see so many people supporting the community, arts, and East Boston neighborhood.



Setting-Up at HarborArts

The day before the event Edlyn Chavez, our Development Intern, and I set-up a crab trap nearby hoping to catch some sea creatures. On the morning of the event, we set-up our touch tank ready to show off Larry the Lobster and Rock Crabs straight from the Boston Harbor. We were also able to collect Mussels and small Moon Jellyfish. We quickly released the Moon Jellyfish, but I thought it was interesting to see how many we could scoop up with our tiny dip nets.



Showing the Anatomy of a Rock Crab

This was my first time at the HarborArts Festival, and it was a great experience to be a part of such a well organized and successful event led by Matt Pollock of HarborArts. The theme this year was "East Your Art Out", and in the past three years the festival has grown in sponsors, vendors, and participants. There were many vendors from the East Boston Neighborhood and artwork from across the globe. The band, London Bridgez, played live music, and hamburgers were cooking on the grill to satisfy anyone's appetite.


Vendor Tent



Found Art from Animal Shells

Save the Harbor was also able to see many friends new and old at the HarborArts Festival. Rachel Edwards, one our dedicated Board Members, stopped by with her daughter to see Larry and his friends. They enjoyed learning about Larry the Lobster and touching the different animals.

 

We were also able to spend time with our new Development Manager, Ryn Miake-Lye, while she volunteered for HarborArts to help direct traffic and oversee parking.

 

It was a wonderful day to spend time in the East Boston community educating families about the Harbor, working with our Save the Harbor Staff and Board Members, and enjoying the last bit of Summer and welcoming the Fall season.

Until Next Time,
Iris Ayala

South Boston City Point Neighborhood Association End of Summer BBQ

On Saturday, September 7th Save the Harbor attended the South Boston City Point Neighborhood Association's End of Summer BBQ sponsored by Sullivan's of Castle Island and Save the Harbor/Save the Bay in Marine Park. The SBCPNA held the event to celebrate the successful summer in Southie. No end of Summer Celebration would complete without hamburgers, hot dogs, sunshine, and laughter. It felt like summer wasn't quite over.

South Boston City Point Neighborhood Association's End of Summer BBQ

Vice President of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, Matt Wolfe and I, set-up a touch tank with Larry the Lobster and a smaller lobster friend. Matt showed the families of Southie the anatomy of the lobster, described where Larry lives and what he eats, and even convinced the animal to display his powerful back stroke for the children.

Matt Wolfe, VP of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, holding Larry the Lobster

Many from the neighborhood gathered to eat, learn, and even paint with help from South Boston's Watercolorist Laurete, Dan McCole. I always enjoy events in Southie, because there is a strong sense of community, and the community is welcoming and willing to offer a helping hand. 

To read more about this event, please follow this link from South Boston Online:
http://www.southbostononline.com/CPNAsummerparty.cfm

Until Next Time,

Iris Ayala

Better Beaches Events 8/10-8/11

This past weekend, I was able to attend two Better Beaches Events, Open House at Carson Beach and Family Pride Day in the North End.

We talked about water quality at the Open House with the Department of Conservation and Recreation. We tested the pH balance of three water sources: the ocean water at the beach, bottled water, and the drinking fountain. We found that the ocean water was the most balanced at 7.0, the bottled water at 8.0, and the drinking fountain at 8.5. For animal and plant-life to survive, the pH balance level needs to be within a range of 6.5-8.0. If the water is too base or too acidic, then the water may be harmful to animal and plant life. It was really fun to test the water with the JPAs, and I learned a lot about the water in Boston.

Water Quality Testing with Save the Harbor Staff

At the North End Family Pride Day, we brought a touch tank with an authentic Larry the Lobster. We had to be creative to find a water source, because there was no dock on the water. But with one of our JPAs help, Jennifer, I was able to walk over the rocks down to the water and put enough in the cooler to keep Larry afloat. Our Save the Harbor table was set-up next to the travelling petting zoo, and it was great to see the young children playing with the farm animals. Thanks to the North End Against Drugs we were able to enjoy a bratwurst with peppers and onions during the festivities. We were even able to hear an all-male acapella group. It was a fun event to enjoy with our Save the Harbor Staff.


Save the Harbor Staff at the North End Family Pride Day

Until the next event,

Iris Ayala


New Experiences This Summer

During our Staff Meetings, Bruce asks us to share one thing that we've done this summer that we've never done before. There have been many firsts for me this summer. I was surprised when I was chosen to be a Senior Marine Educator, but it has been a great experience to learn while doing and absorb as much information about the harbor and marine life as I possibly can. I really enjoy working with the Jr. Program Assistants at the Children's Museum to provide a great fishing and crabbing program. I've worked with high school students for the past 4 years, and it's never a dull moment.

Children's Museum JPAs

This is also the first summer that I've fished almost everyday. When I was younger, I fished with my father, but my fishing duties were limited to passing him worms to bait. I never complained about my duties, because I was pretty happy looking out into the ocean view with my pink Barbie fishing pole. Since then I've learned how to bait a line and what type of bait to use, how to tie a weight and hook to a line, how to cast, and how to catch the small blue fish, herring, and pier fish in the channel by the Children's Museum. I've learned a lot in a month.

A Great Catch at the Children's Museum

This is my first summer as the Better Beaches Coordinator, so when I'm not at the Children's Museum, I'm busy scheduling events and signing up our Summer Staff to work on the weekends (I call it a leadership opportunity). I've been able to work at the Revere Beach Sandcastle Festival, South Boston Neighborhood House Family Literacy Night, Friends of Lynn/Nahant Kids' Event and Concert, and many others. From my previous work with Americorps and City Year, I am really eager to be in different communities and learn how they function. Since I'm a Boston transplant, I've learned a lot about the coastal communities and about the culture of the city.

Summer Staff at South Boston Neighborhood House 

Even though there's only about 3 weeks left of our summer programs, I hope to still have many firsts.

Stay Sandy,
Iris Ayala

Kids Event and Concert at Lynn/Nahant Beach

On Saturday, July 27th Senior Marine Educator, Tom Rebula, and I attended the Friends of Lynn and Nahant Beach Kids Event and Concert. We set-up a touch tank in the marine animals section, and we were joined by the Nahant Marine Center. They had several touch tanks available including Green, Spider, and Jonah Crabs, Starfish, Mussels, Quahogs, and a Blue Lobster. Equipped with our wild caught North Atlantic lobster brothers, Larry and Harry, Tom and I introduced them to the families that crowded our tables.

We showed the kids and their parents the lobster's dominant crusher claw, its antennae, how to identify whether it is a male or female, where the animal lives, and what it eats. Some of the kids even touched the tail of the lobster and were splashed as Larry tried to swim underneath the seaweed and back into the cold salt water.

Many of the children who visited the Marine Animals tent had their faces painted as Batman, Wolverine, Hello Kitty, and with rainbows. There also was a balloon booth, a snack booth with cotton candy and popcorn, and a kids concert to conclude the activities. 

This was my first time visiting Lynn/Nahant Beach and Red Rock Park. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and I really appreciated how clean the beaches were. I hope to swim in the waters of that beach soon!

Stay Sandy,

Iris Ayala

Wollaston Beach Discovery Day 7/13

The Department of Conservation and Recreation hosted Wollaston Beach Discovery Day this past Saturday on July 13th. They provided informational material about testing water quality at Wollaston and even provided a water quality test kits for kids to use. Friends of Wollaston Beach and the Aquarium also had informational tables and touch tanks available. The kids learned how to test the amount of bacteria and oxygen in the water.

Annie Adams from Save the Harbor/Save the Bay testing the water quality at Wollaston Beach

Informational Poster about Water Quality by Emily Ostroff from DCR

Despite the overcast weather, Quincy community members brought their families to the beach and enjoyed building sandcastles, throwing frisbees, and hula hooping. They had the opportunity to see the animals that live in the ocean water, what types of shells are commonly found in the sand, and how to keep their beach clean and healthy. It was not a bad way to spend a cloudy Saturday afternoon. 

Until the next Better Beaches event stay sandy,
Iris Ayala

East Boston YMCA Summer Kick Off at Constitution Beach

It was a beautiful day to be on Constitution Beach.

On Monday, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay headed out to Constitution Beach in East Boston for the East Boston YMCA Summer Kick Off. Boston students had a free day for Bunker Hill Day and many kids took advantage of their day off to soak up the sun, play in the waves, dance around and learn about the beach. It was a beautiful day to be outside. 

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay not only sponsored the event but had a strong presence, bringing their touch tank full of clams, mussels and oysters. The kids loved it! Some of them had eaten clams before, but a lot of kids hadn't, and many of them had never seen the inside of a mussel before. SHSB staff members Will and Carolyn were experts at showing the kids how to break open the mussel shells. Some of the kids loved the shells while others were more interested in the insides. They couldn't believe inside those shells were actual animals!

Along with SHSB's touch tank, there were other games for the kids and a DJ who did a great job getting the kids moving. There was freeze dancing with prizes and lots of line dancing--even the SHSB staff joined in! We did the Cotton Eyed Joe, the Cha Cha slides, the Wobble and the Cupid Shuffle. We had lots of fun and it was great to see the kids outside, enjoying the sun and the beach. We hope to see them there throughout the summer!

--Rachel Frenkil

Communication and Events Summer Intern