Messy Mondays

It was another great day at Carson on Monday. Between our hula hoop contest, and the kids trying to build the biggest sand castle, it was a close call for highlight of the day. Many of the kids from this program had never built a sand castle before! And for a few of the foreign kids it was their first time on of of Boston's beaches. It was a day of many first's at the beach. These kids were in the middle of constructing "the biggest sand castle ever" as one of the kids called it. They were determined to make it bigger than themselves, until it was time for them to go to lunch. But the fun didn't stop at launch time. After the kids stuffed their faces with pb&j sandwiches, the kids were back on the beach. This time they started a hula hoop contest. Personally, my hula hooping skills are sub par at best. But some of these kids would still be twirling the hula hoop on their waist if their camp didn't have to leave. It was fun seeing little kids between six and eight, hula hoop better than the staff. Both of these girls, Sasha and Tonya, were named the best hula

hoopers in their camp. They both kept the hoop spinning for about two minutes! I can't even keep the hoop up for fifteen seconds. These two girls kept going and even when it was time for them to leave they still wanted to stay and hula hoop more. Guess I need to brush up on my hula hoop skills. Until next time, keep saving the harbor, Preston.

Friends of Wollaston Beach KidsFest.

This weekend I had the privilege to head down to Wollaston Beach in Quincy to help with the annual KidsFest, hosted by the Friends of Wollaston Beach. Upon arrival the crew and I received a warm welcome from the volunteers there, in particular from Neil McCole who heads up the fantastic organization.

Setting up at KidsFest.

As the event got underway families streamed onto the beach to take advantage of all the awesome stuff provided for them free of charge. Friends of Wollaston beach had organized for moonbounces, a duck hunt, sack races, hula hooping, jump roping and many other fun activities for the kids to participate in. On top of this they also brought a truckload of prizes to be handed out throughout the afternoon.

Our touch tank was also a hit.

Perhaps my favorite event, and the one with the best prizes, was the duck hunt. Rubber duckies were placed in the ocean and the kids were gathered at the top of the beach. At the sound of a horn the kids all rushed down into the water to grab a duck, all of which looked slightly different from one another. Some of the lucky kids who managed to grab a duck holding a football were given brand new boogie boards. Everyone else got to take home the duckies they had grabbed and were certainly privileged to get other prizes over the course of the event. Indeed, due to the generosity of the Friends of Wollaston Beach and their partners, no one went home empty handed. 

Coming from the water with a captured duck.

Afterwards the beach-goers went on a hunt for the blue and white Jet Blue marbles, with three or four being found. Finally as the sun set the team and I helped handout mass quantities of glow in the dark gear to help fuel the kids dance party, an event furthered by the exceptional DJ skills of Neil, despite the modest opinion of his own talent behind the booth.

Overall it was a fantastic event that got a lot of families out enjoying a spectacular beach. I cant imagine a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon... well, maybe besides fishing on said beach.

- Tom Rebula

Hula Hooping with the Staff

       Hey guys, it's Thi! Yesterday was a day of firsts!
       During lunch, we got into the sports equipment and found our tiny hula hoops. Of course, Bridget and I started to find other ways to have fun with the hula hoops since we couldn't actually hula hoop since we were too big of children. I was having a blast jumping rope with the hula hoop.

A picture of me in action!

        Once I had roped in the elusive Bridget Foley, the courageous Carolyn joined to make it a trio. Our maritime historian just had to join in the fray and squeezed himself into the last few open spaces of the hula hoop. That's FOUR people in a very small hula hoop.

David, me, Carolyn, then Bridget

       I also went fishing with Bridget Foley on her last day out of the office. We had a blast with the Vine Street kids - shout out to Jakai, Rommer and Genesis!!

       I had such a fun time yesterday and I can't wait for All Access next week!


Have fun,

Thi Tran