Back Again on the Harbor!

Hello Everyone!                   

                                             
My name is Candido Barros and this is my 3rd year with Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. I'm taking on a new role as a Lead Harbor Explorer, and I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. 

I have lived in Jamaica Plain for the past few years. I first discovered that I enjoyed fishing when I would go to Jamaica Pond every other weekend. I studied carpentry in Madison Park High School in the use of basic carpentry hand tools, hand-held power tools, and design to complete projects such as building a picture frame, coat rack, and picnic table. In the fall, I will be continuing a vocation in carpentry and will be using the skills I learned in high school.

I'm looking forward to this summer and hope everyone has a great learning experience!

See You Soon,

Candido

Rain, Thunder and Lightning OH MY!

It was an eventful morning. As I traveled to the office to get  bait for Piers Park, the sky opened up and down poured like I had never seen before. The thunder was booming, the rain was falling, and the lighning cracked against the darkness of harbor's sky. There I was, huddled in a water taxi, hoping to make it across the harbor to Piers Park without falling victim to the stormy waves.

When I arrived, the dock was wet and slick, with  no harbor explorers in sight. Candido and I helped Lanie organize the  chaos and eventually settled down in the tent playing games with the two brave sailors who arrived.
Then, one brave harbor explorer arrived, Patrick! We again bunkered down in the tent and hoped for the rain to pass. And as luck would have it, by ten am the sun was shining brightly and we headed to pull out our fishing gear. The sailors headed out to the harbor to enjoy the sunshine and we were thrilled to be able to fish.

With our fishing rods in hand, we were ready. Patrick, Candido, and I were so excited to be fishing and marveled at the beautiful blue sky when hours earlier it was a grey disaster.

Destinee, Patrick, & Candido fishing in front of the beautiful Boston skyline!

Patrick reeling in one of his many catches!

We then caught EIGHT Sea Perch in a two hour period. We made sure we used our smallest hooks, and very little bait. It seemed every minute we were pulling up our lines. Destinee, a young sailor who missed her boat, joined us. Candido was in charge of removing the hooks and completed the tasks efficiently. I think Candido was born to be a fisherman!

Candido pulling out a hook with Patrick carefully watching.

I CAUGHT MY FIRST FISH, EVER! It was an amazing feeling that I don't know if I will be able to replicate it. It was only because of Candido's encouragement and excellent fishermen skills that I was able to catch a fish. Just like the other fish, it was only a small sea perch, but I couldn't be happier! I was also very brave and untangled the hook from my fish's mouth as Candido held it.

SO EXCITED !

Overall, it was a small group of explorers but a successful morning at Piers Park!


:) Ali Hurney

Monday Funday

Monday at Piers Park was remarkable. I made a few new friends, Donovan, Rocio,  Angie, and TJ, and welcomed back Jack, Michael,Daniel, and Patrick.
Sadly during the morning game Sharks and Minnows, one of our youngest minnows, Donovan hurt his knee.  Vinh and Candido took over the game, as I helped Donovan. Luckily, the ice pack and just taking a break from the running made Donovan feel as good as new.

Besides the early morning mishap, as the day went very smoothly. Rocio enjoyed using the net to capture mussles and Candido picked out the best mussels to use as bait.
As the morning was coming to the end, we had the most exciting events! We began catching sea perch, also called cunner - a fairly common wrasse related tp the tautog.

This is so spectactular because we hadn't had much luck since early in July.
Patrick was the first harbor explorer to catch fish, with Michael close behind.

Michael with the second catch of the day!

Rocio holding the line, as Angie tries to free our fishy friend.

The rest of the Harbor Explorers jumped in and began to fish in the same section. Angie and Rocio were very helpful holding out sea perch and removing the hooks from our fishy friends.

Donovan, Jack, & Rocio sitting on the dock!

It was an awesome morning at Piers Park, and I am so thankful our luck with fishing changed for the better.

:) Ali Hurney

Caught in the Harbor!!

It was a very thrilling week at Courageous! When my friend Billy the Striped Bass made his way to to Courageous, he was filleted, seasoned, grilled, & fed to my friends from the learning program! I made sure all of my kids at Piers Park & Courageous got to see and touch Billy and they loved him.


I, with the help of Ana & Vihn, filleted Billy as a part of the after school program at Courageous.It was a an exciting afternoon where our young sailors were captivated by the filet process. Our young sailors were amazed by the internal organs and fins of our friend Billy!

Pointing out various parts of Billy!

My younger kiddos from the BPS learning program learned about how geography impacts how we live. Ms. Sara used a large white board map and pointed out different locations in the United States & we brainstormed what life may be like there. For example, would someone who lives in Ohio have fresh seafood? We learned that Boston Harbor can provide natural resources that we can use! To prove this point, Candido, Vihn and I seasoned and grilled Billy!

OIive oil, salt, pepper, butter & lemon helps to season a filet of Bass perfectly!

Many of my kiddos had not tried fish before and I am pleased to say they enjoyed it! Leann, loved it and could not wait to go home and tell her Dad she tried grilled bass.  Even Matthew, who at first did not even want to try the fish, asked for seconds!

Leann gives us a thumbs up after trying our fish!

Overall, Billy the Striped Bass, was a great resource for learning and nutrition!

:) Ali Hurney

Crabs after Crabs

Wednesday at Piers Park we caught many crabs. We caught about 28 crabs in 30 minutes. One of the trap wasn't baited and it had 8 crabs. No fish yet but its still fun for the kids to learn to how to fish.

Latter on we stared a crab race, it was fun. One little girl name Libby is one of my favorite kid because, she gets so excited whenever there a baby crab and she yells my name so we could name it things like Floppy or Flappy. Today  I arrived all the kids yelled my name, "Candido! Candido! Candido!" because they all like the way I play with them and help with their fishing rods.  

At Courageous Sailing,we talked about natural resources, items from the earth humans use, for example fish, lobsters and crabs. They come from the ocean. 

To prove this,  Ali  grilled the striped bass Bruce caught for us.  It tasted like chicken.The kids ate it and they kept asking for more. Even the kids who haven't ever eaten a fish before still liked it a lot. Vinh and I  both cooked second filet of  fish and it was delicious. Actually it tasted better than Ali's , because our filet cooked longer and the meat had a more flavorful taste. This might be because the butter and lemon melted into the filet so when you  bit it you tasted the lemon and butter. 

Overall it was an excited day for the kids and I.

This is Libby with the crab she named  Flappy.

The Filet 

Adventures Of The Crab

On late Tuesday morning, at Piers Park Sailing Center, me and the staff and the kids discovered that this crab in this picture was  a "green crab."
I taught kids about green crabs and red rock crabs and how to tell the difference.

As the day was going we found out that two green crabs we learned about earlier were trying to mate. Female crabs before they mate , there shell gets soft so they can fertalize the eggs and keeps them in there abdomen until birth.

The kids were asking me different types of questions. One of the questions was "how is it the animals are suppose to get together?" It was an awkward moment for me. I explained to them that it was the cycle of life and that different sea creatures have all shapes and sizes and colors as well.

It was a beautiful day especially being around kids that love to learn about different things.

On this same day we let the kids explore more. The girl in the picture "Alex" was excited to hold her first lobster and so were the other kids! Even though it was a muggy day it was still exciting for me and the kids and it still brightens my day to be around amazing kids.

- Ana Munoz

GoodBye Everyone :(

This was the best summer ever for me with SavetheHarbor/SavethBay.
I loved working with all of you.

I learned a lot and went to places I've never been to. My favorite event was the Summer Splash. I had so much fun working with all of you! I wish we could have spent more time together!

It's hard to say goodbye to each other. I hope all of you have a great rest of the summer. Be safe.

-Candido

Staff day

On Staff day we had hot dogs, cookies fruits and chips in Bruse's boat then we played capture the flag but my team lost. At least i got the flag have way to the line. Then we went swimming put the water was cold and i didn't care how cold it was i still swim. That was the funniest time this summer i had. I was happy to meet some of the staff i never seen. Awesome day for all the Staff.

Candido

George's Island Mystery white circle shape

Yesterday at George's Island we took a couple pictures in the tunnel and we saw some small white circle shape around the picture. They were everywhere around the tunnel every time the camera flashes. People though they were a ghost. I don't even know what it was. Probably dry paint.

Candido

Mystery Bottle

At Communnity Boating there was this program call Rozalia Projects Rov, found an old milk bottle that was stamped 1938 on the bottom Hood milk company . They alson found a hat,nike sneaker,3 pairs of sunclasses, red sox pants and an old chair so the kids built a men with all the trash they found.

Candido

We did it

Yesterday at Spectacle Island with All Access Boston Harbor we walked up to the top for kite flying. It took about 30 minutes for us to make the kites flying. As we were about to leave everyone's kite start to fly. The kids smiled and running screaming my kite is flying.

Candido

First Fish!

At the Children Musem this little girl ask me to teach her how to fish. As the lure came out of the water she got so excited and ran to her mom yelling i got my first fish.She came back to me asking for the fish but i told her that it whas a fake fish and she start to cry.


Candido

Another Week in Paradise

Hello harbor island explorers!

The past 2 weeks have been spent at the famous Spectacle Island, and it has been so so hot! Because of the heat, most of our visiting campers made the smart decision to stay in the water while we've been at Spectacle, either by walking along the shore looking for sea glass or by simply jumping right in to the waves to cool off -- including yours truly!

This past Thursday a group of campers from Paige Academy came out to the island with us, and about 10-12 of these young explorers went on a search for treasures with Mark, Candido, and myself. Paige Academy has visited Spectacle and Georges Island with us over the past years, and the kids are always enthusiastic and well-behaved. These young campers spent a good part of their day amassing a huge pile of sea glass and pottery, and even got to meet the Save the Harbor, Save the Bay President, Patty Foley!

I love working with the campers from Paige Academy, and all of our other campers, because they make me really appreciate my job. They are so excited to come to the islands, and are so happy to spend the day playing on the beach and flying kites that I am almost always in a good mood when I leave work. So a big thank you to Paige Academy, and all the other groups that come to the islands with Save the Harbor!


Until next time harbor goers,

~Carolyn

About Me- Candido

My name is Candido Barros. I'm 16 years old. I go to Madison Park High.

I spend my time after school at home helping my mother with chores or play Basketball at the park with my friends. Iwant to go to College and become a Basketball player some day and also study Science.

I like working with kids to teach them new things. I have been in the United States for 6 years. I'm from Cape Verde Island. I grew up with my mom and my little brother.

Since I have been with Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay I have learned more about sea creatures. I'm so excited to spend the rest of my summer with Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay.

-Candido