Roger That

Monday was a day for the books at Piers Park! Recently, we have been accomplishing things even the Sailing Center's oldest staff have never seen at their site. After almost landing a Striped Bass fishing from the docks we thought we could not do much else that folks have yet to see until Monday.

Carefully transporting from lobster trap to water

We began our dock time like any other day by pulling the crab traps first. Crab traps are our first activity because they are light, easy for kids to get out of the water, and usually are loaded with things for them to look at. When a few kids look like they're not interested in the crabs, tunicates, and mussels that usually come up with the crab trap we ask if they want to pull the lobster trap, I've never had anyone tell me no!

We have the Harbor Explorers take turns because it is so heavy, they usually pull until they need a break and a friend will step in to help. As it rose to the surface I heard screams, not just from the kids but from the staff too. I thought to myself, we must have so many lobsters! As I took a good look at the trap I realized we did not have any lobsters, just one large creature that looked tangled and gasping for air. We realized we pulled up a skate in our lobster trap!

He was definitely waving to us.

We quickly tried to think of what to do. We knew we had a skate, we knew it was tangled in the trap, but we had no idea how to get it out or what we were going to put it into. Thinking it would be best for the animal to be in water we lowered the trap to buy ourselves some time. We looked for gloves, I've been told to watch out for a skate's tail but I wasn't sure how dangerous it may or may not have been. Finally, we found some thick gloves. I put them on and we pulled up the trap. We had a large plastic wheelbarrow filled with water ready to put the creature in to be able to examine it.

I surprised myself with how willing I was to stick my hands in to untangle this creature that could potentially have hurt me in the process but I knew I had to get the skate out. Finally it was able to curl itself into a ball making it easy for me to pick it up. When we finally got it into the water my team felt so successful, the kids and the Piers Park staff were amazed. We could not stop gawking over the amazing animal in front of us. The kids decided to name him and listened intently as we taught them all about skates. We watched him swim around and it looked like he was waving his pectoral fin at us. He must have been a Jolly Roger because he got out of that trap!

Over and out,
Briana

Comparing the anatomy of a skate to a flounder with our Harbor Explorers 

How far will you go to get a starfish?

If you worked with the Harbor Explorers at Piers Park, then you would know that the kids in the program go crazy when there is a sea creature in the touch tank. No matter what it is, either fish or crabs caught in the traps, they would gather around the touch tank to see what's in it. So when the rest of the Save the Harbor team and I saw a starfish on a rock during low tide, we thought it was a good idea to bring it in a touch tank and show the kids. So someone had to go into the water and try to get it. That's when one of the Save the Harbor staff, Raymond offered to get it.

At first, I thought he was joking because it was a cold, rainy day. When he went to get a kayak and a life jacket, I knew he wasn't kidding. He kayaked to where the starfish was and tried to reach for it but he couldn't reach it. He then got out of the kayak and tried to get the starfish. At that moment, it started to pour down making it harder to get the starfish. At one point, we offered him my umbrella to stop the drops on the water so it can be much easier to see. After five minutes of Raymond swimming around the dock trying to get the starfish, he finally got it, but while doing so he cut his finger on a barnacle. So we had to put the starfish in a touch tank with salt water in it and rushed him up to the tent so he could clean up his finger. When we got to the tent where all the kids were, they all started to crowd Briana, who was holding the tank, trying to catch a glimpse of the star fish. When she put it down, all the kids started to ask questions about who got it and the staff told them that Raymond got it. Everyone started to thank him and actually cheered for him getting the star fish. Now it's the day after and I'm not at Piers Park to see how all the kids are doing, but I bet that they are still talking about the star fish Raymond swam to get.

A sailing instructor holding the Star Fish

The Star Fish

Raymond holding the Star Fish in the Kayak

Impressions That Matter

Hey guys! 

As the weeks go by I begin to notice more of the small things that happen. Kayaking, sailing, fishing and all the dock activities have always been exciting to the kids, and seem to be what they look forward to the most. What I've noticed is that what they look forward to the most is us, the councillors. Whether it's fishing with them, eating lunch, playing games, or just having us listen to their stories, this is what they value most. You don't realize how much they watch you until you see it happening to someone else. Like today, Andy came to Piers Park for the first time this summer and immediately a girl named Grace was attached to him. She wanted him to sit next to her, play games with her, and more. I thought it was the cutest thing, and that's when I realize certain harbor explorers do the same to me. I never thought much of it because getting asked to sit next to someone is nothing of great importance until you think about the reason. They want you out of anyone else to sit next to them, or play games with them because they want to spend as much time with you as they possibly can. 

They admire you in their own way, like you're the coolest person they've ever met. In particular, their was a girl named Maddie who I bonded with. Everyday she's begged me to take her kayaking, asked me to be on her team for capture the flag, even though I'm terrible: do her hair while she waited for her dad to pick her up, etc. This all seemed normal to me, just an anxious kid ready to explore, until she gave me this.

She said she wants me to come back next year, in case her parents don't sign her up for next week so she can see me again, and that just warmed my heart. Then, right before she left, she wanted me to take a picture so I will remember her for sure.

It makes me feel like I'm doing something worthwhile, something with purpose.

The start of my summer at Blacks Creek!

Playing a game of "Indian Chief"

This summer, I will be working at Blacks Creek with the Harbor Explorers Program, sharing the joy of learning about the harbor through fishing, drawing, and playing games with all the young adventurers.  Tuesday, July 7^th was my first day at the site and I already know it’s going to be a fantastic summer.  Our campers were full of enthusiasm as we scoured the shore and waded in the water with nets looking for minnos, crabs, snails, and any other critters we could find (and move fast enough to catch).  Excitement was high as the kids counted their haul and shared stories with each other about what they had found in the water.  When it came to playing name games and kickball, everyone jumped at the chance to be a team captain or share a fact about themselves for “Where the Wind Blows.”

One of our adventurers found a crab!

Blacks Creek has always had a special place in my heart—when I was eight, I spent the summer taking sailing lessons at Blacks Creek and really fell in love with the ocean.  As one of the younger sailors, much of my time was spent on the shore playing games or exploring the beach with the counselors.  Living down the street from Wollaston Beach my whole life, I had plenty exposure to water and sand.  But the pollution and trash on the beach made it hard to really explore the tide pools and look for crabs or clams.  Going to Blacks Creek felt like going to another world—winding our way through wooded paths, tall beach grass, reeds, and rocky shores, we found hermit crabs, periwinkles, jellyfish, and insects.  Going out on sailboats at Blacks Creek was my first time in a boat on Wollaston Bay.  I had such a blast and discovered a newfound interest in ocean. Now, as an environmental science major and an intern with STH/STB, I know my interest in environmental conservation comes in large part from all the time I spent interacting with the marine habitat right in my own neighborhood.

Ben drew his own map of Blacks Creek after his first day

My experience at Blacks Creek makes me especially excited to share with our harbor explorers what my own counselors shared with me: a real interest in our marine ecosystem and a love for the things that live in it.  I want our adventurers to learn that engaging in the environment around them is so worthwhile and the rewards are endless! 

We spent our morning fishing with nets

Jessie Thuma—Policy/Communications Intern with STH/STB

My Interesting Welcome to Blacks Creek/Camp Harbor View

Hello all, 

Uncle Sam: Popular Game at Blacks Creek

I have been moved this week to Blacks Creek in Quincy and then Camp Harbor View for the second session on Long Island. I learned that a lagoon is very different from the Harbor that I'm used to. Though it leads into the ocean and is saltwater, the harbor is probably my favorite of the two. I'm not saying that Blacks Creek is great for exploring the banks, but the current can be dangerous. I'm a strong swimmer and I wouldn't test currents. Nevertheless there are hermit crabs, minnows and other fun little creatures. I also got to play my favorite game of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay: Kickball. The kids at Blacks Creek are a little younger than those on All Access but they were just as energetic to play the game. After the kids at Blacks Creek I was exhausted. From now on I will sleep at least 12 hours a day because the kids at Camp Harbor View were dying to get out on beach for walks and discovery. Unfortunately we were only recruiting kids for the fishing club so there wasn't a lot of time for a walk. Nevertheless a trip out to the pier concluded that there are a lot of crabs in this part of the Harbor. More than I ever expected there to be; the lobster in the trap was female so no one had a lobster dinner tonight but I'm sure there will be more. 

The Crabs You Find at Blacks Creek

It was nice to meet new staff members from Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. I've never been to Long Island and this is only my second time out at Blacks Creek. The new experiences were good, so I think I'll enjoy the time I have here. Never leave a stone unturned!

Till then,

Ruth Scott

Is It Really Over Already?

It’s hard to believe that summer is already over! It seems like just yesterday I was cluelessly wandering the Boston Fish Pier trying to find the elusive Save the Harbor office and telling myself that I would eventually get used to the intense fish smell (not quite so). But alas, time flies when you’re having fun, right? Over the course of these short weeks I have had the opportunity to explore unique parts of the Boston Harbor, work with some of the best and most dedicated coworkers, catch more crabs than I had previously thought humanly possible and meet some of the most curious and inspiring kids from the different Boston communities.

I came to Save the Harbor with the hope of sharing my enthusiasm for the environment and I can confidently say that I achieved that goal. Seeing all our Harbor Explorers show up early every single day (even on those gray and rainy ones) ready to get their hands dirty was incredibly rewarding and inspires hope for future generations of environmental conservationists.

Each day brought new experiences and my list of favorites from the summer would be endless. But, here’s a quick list of things I am already missing:

1.     Crab Races

2.     Sharks and Minnows

3.     Starting the day with the amazing view from Piers Park

4.     Shoreline walks with Southie kids

5.     Lobstahssss

6.     Impromptu dance parties on the dock

7.     The unconditional love for Save the Harbor staff

8.     Spending the day with goofball kids

A special shout out to my JPAs - Jazeel, Monique, Nhu, and Vinh. The summer would not have been the same without you guys. Thanks for showing up every morning with smiles on your faces. The East Boston and Southie kids (and me!) will never forget their summer with you.

Until next time,

Sarah C

J

Food Fight!!

Ready for action.

After spending the last seven weeks getting to know the kids at McDonough Sailing Center, I expected to close out the summer with nothing less than utter insanity. And they did not disappoint! The Save the Harbor staff and I were informed that every year the kids celebrate the end of the summer with an Ice Cream Sundae Toppings Food Fight followed by everyone jumping off the dock. The days leading up to the event, all the kids were doing was some serious strategizing: “whipped cream is fun, but chocolate syrup is better because you can shoot it from a distance,” “caramel sauce is the best because its really sticky,” “sprinkles are only good if the person you throw them at is really covered in chocolate.” Needless to say, everyone, including the Save the Harbor staff, was eagerly counting down the seconds until the 1pm Food Fight start time. At 12:50 you could see kids moving anxiously towards the dock, syrup and whipped cream at the ready. With the sound of a horn, sheer chaos broke out. It was a mass of nearly 100 kids of all ages squirting chocolate syrup, strawberry sauce, whipped cream and caramel on everyone and anyone in their path. Sprinkles and maraschino cherries were flying through the air as everyone turned into human sundaes. It was all over in about 15 minutes and by the end of it, kids were covered to the point that they were unrecognizable.

Sundae Topping Madness

The aftermath

 After all the syrup and whipped cream bottles had been thoroughly emptied, there was a mass ocean plunge as everyone jumped off the dock into the freezing water. There was so much sundae topping everywhere that even after cleaning the dock (three cheers for power washers!) the place smelled like chocolate syrup, even in the water. It was my first sundae toppings food fight and I hope it won’t be my last! With all of its silliness and camaraderie, it was the perfect way to close out the summer at McDonough.

Save the Harbor Sundaes!

-Sarah C

Goodbye Everyone :/

Its been a nice seven weeks working with Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. Waking up early every morning was a struggle. I'm not a morning person, but I made sure I woke up early just to see the smiles on the kids' faces. Sometimes I arrived at work not feeling like myself, but when I saw the kids I immediately was in a better mood. I had the best time working at McDonough Sailing Center and Piers Park and I am going to miss all the kids sooo much.

I hope to work with everyone next year. It was nice working for Save the Harbor this year. I learned a lot through out the weeks. Everyday I learned something new. I enjoyed working with Sarah, Nhu, Vinh, Myriam and Jazeel. I would love to work with them again because they made my summer fun and enjoyable. Byeeeeee everyone! Enjoy the rest of the summer and hope to see you guys next year :D