A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words

I think this picture sums up how much fun Spectacle Island was this week -- happy kids, happy staffers and a wonderfully cool Boston Harbor in which to swim.  With temperatures in the 90s, the water was the best place to be this week.

Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of the summer, it's easy to get tired or frustrated after days spent in the hot sun with lots of kids.  Sometimes we need a simple, fun day to remember that's what All Access is all about:  kids having fun and doing something new!  I'd never had 5 little girls use me as their personal flotation device, but they loved it and I was happy to be a small part of a day they hopefully won't forget anytime soon.

Here's to another great week on the Harbor!

-- Carolyn

PS:  Here's a picture to brighten up your weekend!  Photo cred:  Bridget J. Foley.

Splashed at Spectacle

As thursday rolled around again, I was so excited because on this day every week I am given the opportunity to get out of the office and join Save the Harbor staffers on an All Access Boston Harbor trip.  This is truly the best part of my week.  I get to spend my whole day outside, enjoying the sun, fresh air, and some really great people.  Because I do not currently live in the city, this opportunity to spend the day on Boston Harbor is very unique and exciting.

A great game of catch between the staff

This week All Access is taking each of their trips to Spectacle Island.  Spectacle Island does not only provide its visitors with a scenic view of Boston Harbor, it allows them to learn about the rich history of the island, explore the beautiful landscape, partake in an archaeological expedition of the “Treasures of Spectacle Island” along the beach, hike to the top of the North Drumlin to fly kites and see a 360 ­degree view of the harbor, or swim at the island’s beach.

David constantly used the football to splash me

Even though the island offers so many great options, the only thing I could think about all day was jumping in the water.  It was so hot out that day in Boston that I couldn’t wait to cool off and swim at Spectacle’s beach.  The staff and I started up a game of catch with each other and the kids.  There was one little girl named Amina that was just a little too short to participate on her own, so I decided to give her a little help.  Anytime she got the ball, we would work as a team to complete the perfect pass, with me lifting her up to get her to the right height to throw to another kid.  She has some great football potential!

Some of the children were a little apprehensive about swimming so Thi and Carolyn offered their help and gave them piggybacks in the water.  However, the demand for these piggyback rides grew quickly, and Carolyn was soon overloaded with children climbing on her backs.  Many of us experienced similar experiences.  When I taught the kids how to use the frisbee to splash and pour water on David, it was soon used against me.  Next thing I knew, two kids were climbing onto me, and I was sinking. Even though I got through that without going completely underwater, once I saw David coming in the water, I knew my streak of keeping my hair dry was over. As soon as David saw that I was still dry, he made it his goal to dunk me underwater. He quickly succeeded. Despite the outrageously hot weather, it ended up being a perfect day at Spectacle Island.
-Bridget

Hey! Who turned on the heat?

Well if there has to be a heat wave let it be the week we go to Spectacle Island, thank you very much. Before we left for the island this morning we met with all the kids under the Bank of America Pavilion tent and I asked how many people thought the harbor was really dirty? About 150 kids and staff raised their hand. After I told the story about the clean up of the harbor I asked the question again and about 5 people raised their hand. Everyone agreed they were going swimming today. How could you not -- it's 145 degrees. Okay. I might be exaggerating a little. I do that sometimes but it was wicked hot. How hot was it? It was so hot Thi fell out of her shoes.

The aforementioned Miss Tran AKA Thi Money

On the boat ride out to the island we handed out two cases of plums which were juicy and delicious. One girl looked like she needed something to do on the boat so I sent her off to count all the doors on the boat. There were 25. She got the answer right so she got to drive the boat for a few minutes. Fortunately she didn't hit any islands.

Once everyone had lunch and brought their trash back to the boat so the bay-gulls wouldn't get it, groups went off in different directions. Some went to play kickball or frisbeach with Davis the master frisbee man. Other groups went straight to the beach to swim. And one group came with me to look for the treasures of Spectacle Island.

We found some amazing beach glass (yes we put it all back) on the non-swimming beach. We found a light green knob off the top of a glass tureen which was absolutely stunning. I've never seen that color beach glass before. But the sun made a lot of the glass too hot to handle so the simple solution was to head over to the swimming beach and toss ourselves into the drink. No argument there. 

David Coffin

PS:  Happy birthday Carolyn!

PPS:  Bridget is hilarious, and I'm sorry I splashed her on Thursday.

Kickball, Crabs, and Fish! Oh My!

Yesterday I had the privilege of accompanying the All Access staff and three amazing groups from the Boston community on an All Access Boston Harbor trip to George’s Island.  I spent a great summer day playing kickball and enjoying the weather on the island (well once it stopped raining).  The chance to get out of the office and hang out with some great kids while enjoying Boston harbor has definitely become the best part of my week.  Last year I went on a couple All Access trips to Spectacle Island, but I had not gotten the opportunity to see all George’s Island has to offer. 

The kids get the opportunity to learn about many different kinds of marine life

George’s Island allows kids to not only enjoy the beautiful view of Boston Harbor, it gives everyone there a chance to explore the historic Fort Warren, learn how to fish, catch crabs, explore or just relax on the beach, and play sports with our youth staff.  For many of the children that accompany us on these All Access trips it is their first time on Boston Harbor and sometimes their first time on a boat!  The goal of these trips is not only to show how accessible Boston Harbor can be, but also to demonstrate how much enjoyment it can provide to people of all ages.

There was a lot of success catching crabs

Yesterday I spent most of my day on the field at the center of Fort Warren playing sports with the children and counselors from Paige Academy.  It was so amazing being able to play wiffle ball and kickball at work.  Best job ever!  Things got pretty heated during our epic kickball match.  Both teams had a lot of talent and were pretty evenly matched.  Unfortunately, our team ended up losing by only two, but the kids barely noticed because they were having so much fun playing.

Although my team did not win in kickball, I did have on major victory during the day. One main goal of most staff member on All Access is to get trash in David's bag without him noticing. This is quite a difficult task. However, while David was pitching in kickball, I seized my chance. He was focused on the game so he didn't notice me sneak over to my bag and grab my granola bar wrapper and put it in a pocket of his bag. At the end of the day, I waited for David to get to his car so celebrate my victory. It was quite an exciting ordeal. Overall it was a great day on All Access, but then again, it always is.

All Aboard All Access!

Hey there, Bridget here!  I am a rising senior at Hamilton Wenham Regional High School and back for my second summer at Save the Harbor / Save the Bay.  This year part of my job will be focused on one of my favorite aspects of our summer program, All Access Boston Harbor.  Every morning I join the All Access staff to welcome the groups, and every thursday I am lucky enough to go out on an All Access trip.

Over 200 kids from Idiil Learning Center excited for their day on the Harbor

Save the Harbor’s free All Access Boston Harbor program is extremely unique and important in that it allows children the opportunity to explore and learn about the harbor, a chance that might not otherwise be presented to them.  Each of the different groups is shown how much fun the Harbor can offer everyone and how important it is to the Boston community.  Every outing offers kids amazing educational and fun experiences that improve their perception of Boston Harbor.

Kickball is only one of the many fun things to do at George’s Island

The day begins with every group meeting at Boston’s Bank of America Pavilion to get ready for their fun and exciting day of exploration.  Then the entire group makes its way to the Provincetown II for a scenic boat ride to one of two harbor islands.  All of the groups will either spend their day at Spectacle Island or George’s Island.  On George’s Island, kids are presented with the opportunity to explore the historic Fort Warren and explore the shore, looking for sea creatures.  Spectacle Island allows the children to hike and explore the islands beautiful landscape, spend the day playing in the water and on the beach, fly kites, and even search for artifacts and sea glass on Treasure Beach.  

Some treasures found at Spectacle Island

By the end of the day all of the kids have learned so much about the harbor and many can’t wait to spend another day exploring it.  Last year, Save the Harbor was able to bring over 6,000 kids out on the harbor with these amazing excursions! I’m looking forward to another successful year.

All Access: Spectacle Island

On Friday July 13th 308 people boarded the Provincetown II at Bay State Cruise Line Dock and journeyed to Spectacle Island. The eight groups ranged from boys and girls clubs to church groups, but they all had the mutual goal of enjoying a fun day on the harbor.

Passengers sit at the front of the boat as they journey to Spectacle

 When we arrived at spectacle at 11:15 there was an immediate whirlwind of activity. The different groups picnicked and decided what their day on the island would hold. The SHSB staff offered kite flying, beach combing, and swimming as possible activities. Once the decisions were made, the next three hours were spent at different sites around the island. The main all-access SHSB staff consists of David Coffin, Carolyn Burkett, and Thi Tran. They manage the island activities in an efficient but very relaxed way, encouraging all of the groups to make the most of their day on the island.  Visitors laugh with friends and enjoy the beauty of the harbor all while learning about the harbor’s history and wildlife.

A young visitor flying a kite on one of the Spectacle's hills

A young visitor collecting rocks while beach combing on Spectacle's beach

These guided island trips are offered by SHSB’s All-Access program. The trips take place four days a week and alternate  between different islands. Each island trip offers educational and fun-filled opportunities.

Profile: Courageous Sailing Center

     Courageous Sailing Center, located in Charlestown, has dedicated 25 years to giving Boston's youth an oportunity to sail and explore the harbor.  Courageous sailing believes that through sailing they can teach children valuable lessons about life and learning.  Through their instruction, Courageous sailing center demonstrates strong leadership and helps give Boston communities access to the Harbor.  Save the Harbor/Save the Bay offers youth programs for different groups of Courageous sailors throughout the day.

     Our Harbor Explorers staff helps educate the children at Courageous Sailing Center about exciting aspects of the harbor that are accessable right on their sailing docks.  The kids all vary in ages, but they are equally engaged in each of the activites we offer. The minute we arrived on site, campers wanted to know when they could check the day before's crab traps. Groups of campers followed us  down the docks to check the rows of traps that were set with bait.  With each new trap that was brought up onto the dock, there was a set of cheers as the kids eagerly counted the number of crabs. The final trap on the dock (the lobster trap) is like the grand finale. The kids were all amazed to see live lobsters that have been caught right off of their dock. They learned basic crab and lobster facts, and if they were brave enough, they learned how to hold a crab.  Through these short oceanlife lessons, each child can see new parts of the harbor that further develop their summer on the water experience.

-Bridget and Alyssa

Profile: Camp Harbor View

   Camp Harbor View is located on Long Island, one of the Boston Harbor’s 34 Islands. Working with the City of Boston and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, the camp provides kids of at-risk neighborhoods around Boston with a very special summer experience. 800 children, ages 11-14, participate in the four week sessions. The total cost of sending a camper to the program is $5. Each day buses pick up kids from 14 different locations around the city and return them after dinner (the bus rides have no additional expense). With a beautiful view, great facilities, and tons of activities each day, campers enjoy all that Harbor View has to offer.

     Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay is proud to contribute to the program. SHSB staff members provide opportunities for kids to learn about the water and its wildlife and also teach kids about the harbor’s history; specifically, the history of long island. Kids can sign up for fishing club, or can come and watch as a lobster trap is pulled up onto the dock. Even if the lobster trap is only filled with crabs, campers learn about the harbor’s different crab species and about catching lobsters. SHSB staff members are also known to arrive with surprise harbor finds such as a 10 lb lobster or different types of fish. Through each new learning experience, the kids gain a better understanding of their city’s harbor and all of the fun and excitement they have access to.

    In our time at the camp we participated in fishing club. Each camper got their own fishing rod and cast without any guidance. As they fished, they laughed at the antics of kayaking club which was going by below the docks. It was clear that the atmosphere was relaxed and peaceful, that is, until someone caught a fish!

-Alyssa and Bridget

Profile: Black's Creek

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s Black’s Creek location offers a unique and fun way to explore the harbor. The program is connected to the Quincy Recreation Department. Through the Quincy Recreation Department, children (ages 8-16) can learn about all kinds of sailing and boating in the scenic Merrymount Park. Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay’s program gives kids the option to explore before or after participating in sailing and boating. When the children arrive for the hour and a half long programs at 8:30 and 10:00, the smiles of anticipation say it all.

First, the group gathers in a field above the water to play a name game, and then a game of harbor themed renditions of tag. These include “crab tag” and “captain crab”. Between the two games, kids learn that crabs can regrow their claws (when they are tagged in crab tag they “lose a claw”), and they have a chance to pose as seaweed swaying in the ocean tide (when they are tagged in captain crab).

The games end abruptly with a loud “Yeaaaah!” when the kids are asked if they are ready to explore the beach. They then wade in the water searching for hermit crabs, mussels, and any other exciting finds. After getting their hands muddy from mussel digging, they strap on life vests and go out on the dock where their mussels are used for bait in their fishing lesson.

With an hour and a half of fun and learning under their belts, the kids leave with the same beaming smiles with which they arrived. Below are harbor explorers Noah and Lucy. Lucy held a crab for the first time and Noah pulled up a crab onto the dock with his fishing bait!

-Alyssa and Bridget

Profile: The McDonough Sailing Center

The McDonough Sailing Center provides a free and instructive sailing program for the children of South Boston.  Kids can spend their entire day eating, laughing, and playing on the docks; or they can enjoy sailing together or independently around the harbor.  Both Save the Harbor and the Sailing Center share a goal of giving everyone equal opportunities to enjoy Boston Harbor.
 

McDonough Sailing Center is a perfect site for our Harbor Explorers Program.  When our Harbor Educators arrive, the kids are excited for their ocean life adventures.  They gather around as the bait is set into the crab trap and they quickly lower it into the water.  The trap admittedly does not stay down for long because the kids are too excited too see what their bait has attracted.  Some are brave enough to grab the crabs themselves, and others need our Harbor Educators help to learn how to hold them properly.  After hours of crabbing the kids never cease being fascinated by their clawed friends. The day we visited, the kids were especially excited about a certain crab named "Psycho".  He was missing one claw, which the kids learned could have happened when he had gotten scared or threatened. "Psycho" was also a very feisty crab.  When we arrived all the kids knew exactly what they wanted to do first; they all ran to get the crab trap. 

 

    Crabbing is not the only adventure offered to the energetic bunch at the Sailing Center. Our educators also bring out the fishing rods and teach them how to use clams, mussels, and crabs for bait.  After being taught to cast safely, the kids are ready to go, catching both crabs and fish, and maybe some sea lettuce as well.  It does not matter whether they have fished all their life or have never even cast a line, by the end of the day each child is confident in their fishing ability.  Another opportunity provided by our Harbor Educators is being able to see a real life lobster, and learning how lobster traps work. By the time that the activities are coming to a close, the kids seem to have the same amount of energy as they did from the start, and are disappointed that their fun can’t continue with more exciting harbor activities.

-Alyssa and Bridget

Profile: Boston Children's Museum

Hey Harbor Explorers!

One of Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay’s main goals is to reach out to the youth of the Boston area. We run two free youth environmental education programs which are the All Access Program and the Harbor Explorers Program.  Through different sites around the harbor, each summer, these programs teach children to love and enjoy all that the harbor has to offer. We will be sharing little snapshots of each of these locations with you so that you can see what makes each of these programs special.  

An important site in the Harbor Explorers Program is the Boston Children’s Museum. Boston Children's Museum is a great place for Save the Harbor to reach out and bring the harbor to life for many of the young children visiting the museum. The Boston Children's Museum is a great example of hands-on learning. Since 1913, the museum has been engaging both children and adults, and allowing them to discover new and exciting educational experiences. The Children's Museum is dedicated to developing a love of learning for every child who walks through its doors. This is what makes BCM a great site for Save the harbor to work with. At this site, our Youth Program Assistant and Harbor Educators capture the attention of visitors through our crab filled touch tanks and available fishing rods. 

The kids that stop by are provided the opportunity to learn how to fish and crab right off the dock at the museum.  Our harbor educators and assistants explain how to identify different fish and crabs, and teach kids how to properly handle the ocean life they will encounter in the harbor.  Educating kids about these fun environmental aspects of the harbor is not only fascinating for the children, it also demonstrates how accessible the harbor can be. When we were on site, many of the people passing were surprised to hear that it was possible to fish in the harbor! One father and son in particular were very excited to try their hand at fishing right in their own city as they had just returned from a fishing trip to Maine. The thing that makes this site so special is that kids get a quick glimpse of fishing or a touch tank and walk away with new knowlegde they would never have expected to gain on their trip to the city. Boston Children’s Museum is a great example of Save the Harbor’s effort to connect Boston’s youth to the harbor.

-Bridget and Alyssa

Tall Ship Adventure!

Hey everyone!

On July 2nd we explored a tall ship from Indonesia with the South Boston Boys and Girls Club. The kids seemed to thoroughly enjoy the excitement of being on the mighty ship.

Once they had toured the ship, the kids waved at the passing boats. They were especially excited if a boat honked back.

One surprise of the trip aboard was the reenactment of a cannon ball exchange from the war of 1812. The noise was startling at first, but once the kids were told that there were no actual cannon balls they enjoyed the show.

Myisha, age 7, said that she was having a great time exploring. When asked, she said that her favorite part of the tour was the massive steering wheel. 

In the end, the kids left with smiles and a new sense of life on the water!

-Alyssa and Bridget

Children's Guide to Boston Harbor: Crabbing

Hi again,

Today's post is about crabbing on the Boston Harbor! We will explain the basics of crabbing, and then we will tell you where the best places to crab are on the harbor. The types of crabbing we have tried recently can be broken down into two different methods. The first is the simpler of the two. This method is combing the beach for crabs. On certain beaches, crabs can be found by turning over rocks along the water. The crabs that are underneath small ocean rocks tend to be small and quick. It is important to be ready to catch the crab as soon as you lift up the rock. When handling the crab you can cup your hands around the crab or pick up the crab from behind. Picking up the crab from behind is a precautionary measure to avoid being pinched, but smaller crabs are much easier to handle and cannot pinch very hard. 

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay participants learning
more about crabs at Boston's Children's Museum

The species of crab generally found using this method of crabbing on the Boston Harbor are two invasive species. These are asian shore crabs and green crabs. Invasive species are not native to the area they inhabit. They can have damaging effects on that area's eco-system. Most of these species were introduced to Massachusetts on ocean-crossing ships. Below, both types of crabs are shown.

A child holding an asian shore crabs

 Asian shore crabs have three ridges near the front of their shells on either side.

Green crabs are easily recognizable by the five ridges along the front of their shells on either side. Do not be fooled by an orange green crab! This may be confusing, but it is possible for green crabs to be other colors besides green. 

One of the crab traps we hung
off of the fish pier. We caught
two green crabs!

The second way to go crabbing requires more gear. This method is catching crabs using crab traps. You will need a crab trap, a line, and bait. Crab traps and lines can be found at a local fishing store. For bait you can use fish or raw chicken. Crab trapping requires a permit only if you are catching edible crabs. Some edible crab species you might find in the harbor are rock crabs, jonah crabs, and blue crabs. The most common non-edible crabs you can find include the ones listed above along with spider crabs. In general, the crabs that you catch in these traps tend to be larger crabs.

To catch the crab you must seal the bait in the crab trap, close the trap, and tie a rope to it. You can then lower the trap off the dock until it is on the bottom of the water. You must leave the trap for a little while or overnight depending on the number of crabs you want to catch. When enough time has passed you can lift up the trap and see who you have found.
Crabbing is very accessible in the Boston Harbor. A lot of rocky beaches have crabs, and most docks can be used for crab traps. However, some locations are especially great for crabbing. These locals include a few of Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay's summer visiting sites. For beach combing and looking for crabs on the shore, both Spectacle Island and George's Island are great spots. You are likely to find endless amounts of Asian Shore crabs at either of these sites. For crab traps, Boston Children's Museum is a spot where you are almost guaranteed to catch plenty of crabs. The crab's you catch at the Children's Museum are likely to be green crabs and spider crabs.
Once again, if you recognize a crab as edible it is illegal to take it from the dock without a permit. For more information on crabbing permits click this link here. The non-edible crabs you catch can be used as fishing bait or can simply be tossed back into the water. Crabbing is a great way to enjoy what the harbor has to offer. Just make sure you are kind to your clawed friends!

-Bridget and Alyssa

Children's Guide to Boston Harbor: Best Harbor Hot Dog

Hey there Harbor Explorers,

Our names are Bridget and Alyssa. This summer our job is to create a guide for your Boston Harbor experience. We will be helping you discover the best of the harbor and the many activities it has to offer. It is our goal to make sure you have the best summer possible out on Boston Harbor! For our first entry, the activity that came to mind is, of course, where to find the best harbor food for your beach adventures!  In considering both taste and cost, we came to the conclusion that Sullivan's, located in South Boston on Castle Island, is a perfect harbor eatery. Sullivan's, first established in 1951, provides all of your classic beach eating favorites, such as burgers and milkshakes, at very reasonable costs. Among other favorites are their hot dogs and their french fries.

Sullivan's in South Boston

Conveniently located at the end of Carson Beach, on Pleasure Bay, Sullivan's has easy access to fishing and swimming destinations. Customers eat at outdoor tables or in the shaded grass near Fort Independence. If swimming or fishing is not for you, Fort Independence is a great place to explore and learn about Boston History. Fort Independence, first constructed in 1634, is the oldest fortified area in the United States that is of British origin. Whatever your plans, Sullivan's is a must-visit summer location. For more information click here. Enjoy!

Sullivan's friendly staff

-Bridget and Alyssa