The Great Splash!

Welcome to Carson Beach, friends of Save the Harbor!

Welcome to our Beach Bash and Splash!

We could not have had more spectacular weather for last Friday's Beach Bash and Splash! Hundreds of kids and hotdogs later, the beach was still buzzing in the hot summer sun, and the Save the Harbor crew had more fun than we could have imagined!

Face painting, fishing, sand-raking, fish printing... you name it, we had it! I think I painted 50 rainbows onto kids on Friday! We had a touch tank under the same tent, and kids could not get enough of Larry the Lobster! Thank goodness for organization, or the sheer volume of activity would have lead to chaos. We planned and we executed- take a look below at what happened when all of the kids splashed into the water at noon!

Ready, set...

SPLASH!

After a morning of fun and an afternoon splash, it was blue shirts to the rescue! Here you can see Andrea putting ketchup on a hotdog- we had lunch ready to go as soon as the kids were out of the water! Our JPAs carried crates of water around for kids and counselors who had retreated to the shade with their hotdogs and snacks- hydration matters!

Go, Andrea, go!

 Finding a calm space in the aftermath of the splash, professional storyteller Norah Dooley enchanted a group with pirate tales. It's not hard to fall under the spell- I have been there myself- of one of Norah's stories. Dressed as Mary the Pirate, she really captivates her audience!

The captivating Nora Dooley!

 Need more evidence? This second photo is my favorite of the day. Perched at the end of the line of yellow shirts is our own Save the Harbor president- Patricia Foley! Ms. Foley's kind smile and calm demeanor make her a welcome presence at these events. She always offers our staff encouragement, and I absolutely love seeing her out and about- she gives this organization everything she's got, and we are so lucky to have her!

Patricia Foley, everyone!

I'll end this with a shout-out to the amazing members of the Save the Harbor staff. Thanks for splashing around in those blue shirts and letting everyone know that the beaches of Boston belong to them. You guys build community, and that matters. Also, Lindsay's shorts tan stands unrivaled.

Until next time, rockstars!
Carolyn

Blue shirts, Lindsay's shorts tan

The Pit Challenge

Today, there are all types of crazy challenges out there on the internet.  From the cinnamon challenge to the gallon milk challenge, they seem to get crazier by the day.  But now, a new challenge is catching on with the Save the Harbor staff. 

The Cherry Pit Challenge, is a very simple concept.  I bring cherries with me to every site I visit, once you take your last cherry out of the bag, you have to keep the pit in your mouth for the rest of the day.  If at any point the pit falls out or you take it out, you lose!

Pit Check with the Pit Master

Many have tried and failed to beat the all time pit master David Coffin.  Legend has it that he has kept a pit in his mouth for 24 hours straight!  BUT let the record show that on July 15th, 2015, I did in fact beat him.  For one brief moment I claimed the Pit Challenge title belt!! 

For such a simple game, it really is a ton of fun!

See you out on the harbor!
May the Pit be with you.

~Lindsay

Guide to Boston Harbor: George's Island

Guide to Boston Harbor

George's Island

Georges Island is a 39 acre island in Boston Harbor, just 7 miles from downtown.  This island is rich in history with many great features.

Visitor Center
Gift Shop
Café
Drinking water and restrooms
Picnic shelters and cooking grills

There are open fields for recreational use and the dock is available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.  Despite all that, the island's most prominent feature is its historical fort. It is accessible throughout the summer and early fall by ferries to and from Boston and Quincy.   

boston.com

During the days of the original 13 colonies, Georges Island was composed of two major drumlins, and was used for agricultural purposes until 1825.  It was then that the U.S. government acquired the island for coastal defense.

Over the next 20 years the island was dramatically altered, and one of the country's finest forts was built. Dedicated in 1847, Fort Warren's defensive design was virtually obsolete upon completion. However, the fort did not go to waste.  It served as a training ground, patrol point, and Civil War prison that gained a favorable reputation for the humane treatment of its Confederate prisoners. After 100 years of military use, the fort was decommissioned in 1947 and acquired for historic preservation and recreation in 1958.

Today the island is a great place to spend the day and gives its visitors a first hand experience with a little piece of history.  Take time to explore the fort on your own or with a guide.  Follow its narrow halls to it’s different levels, various rooms, and potential dead ends.  You never know where you will end up! Swimming is not allowed on the island, but the docks provide great areas for fishing. Walking into the forts main yard, there is ample room for recreational activities and picnics.  Be sure to be aware of one of the islands most curious inhabitants, its small family of Canadian Geese. 

The geese and rangers are not the islands only residents though; many people throughout the centuries have claimed to have seen a very unique inhabitant roaming the fort grounds.  The ghost of a woman, better known as the
Lady in Black, is said to roam the fort’s dark corridors.

A lady in black, not to be confused with The Lady in Black

The Lady in Black is the ghost of Mrs. Melanie Lanier.  She was the wife of a Confederate soldier that was imprisoned at the fort in 1862.  Legend says that when she received a letter from her husband saying he had been captured, she was compelled to free him. She traveled from Georgia to Hull, Massachusetts where she stayed at the home of a Confederate sympathizer.  She observed the fort with a spy glass and on a stormy night rowed across to George's Island and went ashore. Once on the island, she cut her hair short, disguised herself as a man, and armed herself with nothing but an old pistol.

She slowly made her way around the prison cell walls, whistling an obscure southern tune, until she heard her husband whistle back. Mrs. Lanier was then able to squeeze through the slit-window of his cell.  With the help of her husband and the other prisoners in his cell, they were able to open the cell door and begin their escape.

The group was almost free when the guards were alerted by their commotion.  They ran down a dark narrow tunnel, and where surprised by a guard.  Mrs. Lanier fired her pistol in a last attempt at escaping  Unfortunately, the weapon backfired and the bullet struck and killed her husband. As punishment for her deeds, Mrs. Lanier was condemned to death by hanging. Her final request was to be given female clothing.  After a thorough search of the fort for such garments, all that was found were old black robes. She was executed in these robes and buried on George's Island.

To this day, people still claim to have seen her.  In one account, a shadowy figure has been seen walking the halls, but when followed, is unable to catch up to.  Once, after fresh snow had fallen, footprints in a circular pattern were seen in the yard, but there were no prints leading up to them or away from them.  Today, you can test your own bravery by entering the same dark tunnel where she was captured.  It is said that this is her favorite place to be on the island; enter at your own risk!

Test your bravery in the dark tunnel and plan your own trip with the links below!

http://www.bostonharborislands.org/ferry-schedule-spring-fall

http://savetheharbor.org/ 

Guide to Boston Harbor: Spectacle Island

Guide to Boston Harbor

 

Spectacle Island
 

Spectacle Island is a 105-acre island in Boston Harbor located just 4 miles offshore of downtown Boston. The island has a colorful history, and today is a public park which provides:

 

Visitor Center and Exhibits

Sea Glass Café (open seven days a week) 

Drinking water

Restrooms

Changing rooms 

Rinse showers

Venue for catered events

Marina with day and overnight slips

 Lifeguarded swimming beach

 Five miles of walking trails 

 

 During the Summer, Spectacle Island is one of the sites used for Save the Harbor's All Access Boston Harbor program, as well as a frequent destination for our fall and spring day trips.

 

Photo Credit: Boston.com

Long before Spectacle Island became one of the most visited Harbor Islands, the island was not a popular destination.  For almost 1,000 years, Native Americans used it as a dumping ground for clam shells and fish bones. After the Pilgrims settled the area, the island was used as a quarantine hospital for smallpox victims, and later as a glue factory.  In 1847, two hotels were built on the island, but ten years later were shut down for gambling and other illegal activities.  It wasn't until the 1920's that the city of Boston began using the island as a landfill.

Up until 1959, trash was continuously dumped onto the island.  The trash piled up so high, that the once primarily flat island was now one of the tallest in the harbor.  After the landfill was shut down, the island of trash remained there undisturbed for many years, slowly polluting the harbor. 

 

Fun Fact: It was said that on foggy days, fishermen could tell their location in the harbor by the strength of the smell of Spectacle Island.

 
In the 1990's, construction on the Big Dig had begun, creating the need to find a place to dispose of the 3.5 million cubic yards of excavated dirt, gravel and clay.  Construction began in 1993, to transform Spectacle Island from a dump into a beautiful state park.  During this process, the trash was burned, and the island covered with dirt and top soil.  Workers then planted 2,400 trees and 26,000 shrubs.  The island joined the national parks system in 1996 and officially opened for visitors in 2006.

 

Photo Credit : Boston.com

Although Spectacle has been completely reconstructed into a beautiful state park, and it's past seems all but erased, you can still find some remains from its days as a landfill.  Pieces of old glass bottles and ceramics can still be found on the beaches.  No need to worry about cutting your feet though, these pieces have been transformed by the ocean and time, making them smooth.  They are considered the treasures of Spectacle Island.  This treasure hunt however is not a hard one, just take a 15 minute stroll along the shore and you'll find beautiful beach glass of all shapes and colors.

 

Today, Spectacle Island is ideal for hiking, swimming, boating, and leaning.  It's a fantastic destination for families and groups of all sizes.  Stop in at the  “green” visitor center with exhibits about the history and evolution of the island. With its many hiking trails, you can explore on your own and find yourself at the top of a drumlin within 20 minutes.  From there, you can take in the spectacular panoramic views of the city skyline and the other harbor islands.  The rangers on the island also provide frequent guided historical tours, as well as kayak excursions around the island.  Take time to enjoy the open fields, they're a great place to picnic and set up group activities like kickball, frisbee, or soccer. Down on the pier you can cast your rod into the harbor and try your hand at recreational fishing.  It's also a great place to find green crabs and skates!  After a long day of exploring, nothing feels better than cooling off with a quick swim in the harbor.  Although Spectacle's beach isn't a white sand beauty, a few quick steps over the pebbley shore brings great rewards with a refreshing plunge into the blue harbor waters. 

Fishing off the pier

Soccer and sports in the fields



learn to make fish prints

Cool off in the harbor

 

Spectacle Island opens with the first ferry in May and closes on Columbus Day each year.  To plan your own trip, check out the links below for more info on ferry times and Save the Harbor/Save the Bay's All Access summer programs.

 

http://www.bostonharborislands.org/ferry-schedule-spring-fall

http://savetheharbor.org/

The possibilities are endless, you just have to get out there and start exploring!

 

Fish Prints @ Spectacle

Hi Friends!

><> HAPPY SHARK WEEK <><

Today was my first official day back on AABH and it was amazing!  Arriving on the dock after our quick boat ride over, it felt like last summer never ended and I was walking right back into my normal routine.  The eager kids and counselors hustled off of the boat and wondered what to do first.  Normally fishing and sports are the big contenders when it comes to activities, however today I brought along a unique treat.

Thanks to Bruce's fishing skills, I was given a black fish to ink up and use to create beautiful fish prints.  At first the kids were more interested in the fish itself.  Asking if it was still alive (no worries..it wasn't), where it came from, and what I was going to do with it.  However, before I could even finish explaining, the kids eagerly grabbed brushes and started choosing ink colors and designs.

It was a color storm of blues and greens and splattered inks but after a few trial and error attempts, the kids got the hang of it.  And the final pieces they produced are really beautiful!  Once my hands were sufficiently stained blue and purple, and the fish was all but falling apart, I explained to the kids that it was time to use the fish for bait.  That way it didn't go to waste and it would help them catch more crabs and fish.

Printing took up most of my time today, but everyone else was all smiles at both the fishing and the sports stations.  It was a fantastic start to AABH!  Just like last summer, no day on spectacle is complete without swimming, so I took my inaugural dip.  It was cool, refreshing, and a perfect way to end the day.

Can't wait to see what the rest of the summer has in store!


~~Lindsay

Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself

Hi Friends!

My name is Lindsay Phenix and this is my second summer as a Senior Harbor Educator with Save the Harbor/Save the Bay.  Last summer I was responsible for conducting healthy outdoor activities on the harbor islands as part of the All Access Boston Harbor program.  This summer, I will continue in that role as well as contribute as the artist in residence.  I have tons of great ideas, and can't wait to get back on the harbor to see what this summer has in store!



My love for the ocean began with my summers spent on Cape Cod.  Thanks to my dad and grandfather I became fearless when it came to exploring the waters and shores just down the road from our beach house. Before graduating from Saint Michael's College in 2014, I had the opportunity to study abroad on the Caribbean Island of South Caicos (located in the Turks & Caicos Islands).  There I studied with the School for Field Studies conducting research on the island’s marine life and marine protected areas.  Additionally, I learned about the many conservation efforts taking place to protect the fragile reef ecosystems from over fishing and global warming. 

It's safe to assume that I love everything about the ocean and its creatures.

Fun Fact: I love sharks and I like to paint them!

Orientation week was amazing, and it was awesome to see so many familiar faces mixed in with the new ones.  Getting back out on George's Island was a sweet homecoming, despite the dark tunnel seeming darker than I remembered.  I'm really looking forward to getting to know the new staffers and I'm counting down the hours until Monday!



2015 Summer Staff


Get excited for a great Summer!!



Lobster Traps, Crabs & Lobsters..Ohh My!!

It's hard not to feel some excitement pulling up the lobster traps each morning when the kids arrive at the Pavilion.  The anticipation grows as the trap gets closer and closer to the surface with every pull of the rope.  With all the excitement, the kids often jump in to help us pull the trap up faster.  This week we caught many green crabs and even one Jonah crab.  However, the main event of the week occurred when we pulled up our first lobster!





The kids went crazy with excitement when they saw the lobster. They helped us band the claws, and soon after wanted to hold it.  Then came the questions; they wanted to know everything about it.  One brave soul was even daring enough to wear the lobster on his head for a short time (just long enough to capture the perfect selfie).

Summer's newest fashion statement

All in all, starting off the day like this certainly gets me excited, and it's great to see the kids just as interested and excited as we are.  I can't wait to see what other interesting creatures we bring up this summer!


Until next time!

Lindsay Phenix
Senior Harbor Educator & Coach

A Week of Firsts: All Access Boston Harbor

At the beginning of the week, I was challenged to do something every day that I had never done before. Initially, I thought this would be quite a difficult task to accomplish; however, I am glad to say I was proven wrong each an every day I spent on Spectacle Island.

Pre game huddle. GO PURPLE DRAGONS!

Stepping off the boat and onto the dock I realized I had arrived in a new and exciting place I had never been before.  I couldn't wait to find my way up to the flat grassy field where we would be able to play games.  A group of excited kids followed us up the path to the playing field.  In no time at all teams were formed and it was time to play kick ball!  Not since elementary school gym class had I seen such excitement over kicking that bouncing red rubber ball.  The games were full of close calls, walk off home runs, stolen bases and most importantly big smiles.

After all of the games were over, it was time to add another item to my list of new experiences.  It was one that I had over looked completely.  The time had finally come for me to swim in the harbor for the first time.  The water was cool and refreshing, a perfect way to end my day on the island.


Can't wait to get back out there!!
See you on the field and in the water!


Lindsay Phenix
Senior Harbor Educator & Coach

North End Family Pride Day

Working this past weekend's North End Pride was a blast!  With touch tank, lobsters, and 7 JPA/LHE's in toe, it's safe to assume we had some fun.  All of the kids and families that stopped by our table were more than happy to learn about our lobsters and most were even brave enough to hold them. As the day went on however, our lobsters soon became upstaged by a third creature to join our touch tank....

Thanks to the generosity of the balloon artist across the path, the rare balloon lobster became quite a superstar.  I thought I even saw a few more kids asking for a balloon lobster of their very own.  As our time there came to an end, the place was in full swing.  From the street magician to the petting zoo, the place was hopping! Maybe next year we'll even enter our own Save the Harbor team into the bocce tournament!

Until next time!
~Lindsay

Icey Day on Spectacle

Nothing like harbor water and ice
to wake you up in the morning!

For the past week or so, I've been noticing a lot of videos being posted on facebook of my friends dumping buckets of ice water on their heads.  I honestly didn't know why they were doing it...I thought that maybe it was just another trending challenge like the long forgotten cinnamon challenge or gallon challenge.  It wasn't until I was nominated to par take in the ice challenge that I found out what a great cause it was for.  I owe a big thanks to David Coffin for nominating me.  It was my pleasure to take part in this challenge to raise awareness for ALS.  And it certainly started my day off at Spectacle in a unique and bone chilling way!

And as for my staff who still doesn't believe that they have been nominated...consider this your final warning!  :)

Stay warm!

Lindsay

Busy Week at Peddocks

I know picking favorites is usually taboo, but I think it's safe to say Peddocks Island is my new favorite Harbor Island.  My first week there was jam packed with excitement and even a celebrity appearance.  The first two days were filled with fishing, an intense kickball game, and snorkeling! Once I was suited up in my mask and fins, cruising through the water was effortless. I'm really hoping that on our next trip there will be better visibility so I'll be able to capture life on the bottom with my GoPro Camera!

Chavelyn's Selfie with the Governor. You go girl!!

Our third and final day at Peddocks was marked with a special appearance from Governor Deval Patrick. The whole island was a buzz with excitement.  As a special gift from Save the Harbor, we presented him with a golden fish print that was made at our tent during the Sea Food Festival.  I think the biggest highlight of the day may have been Chavelyn's selfie with the Governor!  I'm really looking forward to venturing back to Peddocks Island.

Lindsay Phenix

Staff Day 2014 - The Lost Footage

On Monday July 28th, the Save the Harbor/Save the Bay staff was brought to Spectacle Island to enjoy what we thought would be a fun day at the beach.  The footage found below is all that could be recovered from that day...

                                     

Just kidding! Staff day was a blast, and I couldn't have been prouder of my AABH kickball team for winning the game against the "No Access" Boston Harbor team composed of all of the kids from the other sites!  This day was definitely one of the biggest highlights of my summer!! Fun for all on Spectacle Island.

**Filmed by Lindsay Phenix (Me)

**Music: Imagine Dragons - On Top of the World

Boston Seafood Festival!

Despite Sunday's wash out weather, there was a lot happening on the Boston Fish Pier.  The Seafood Festival was well under way and a little rain certainly didn't deter the crowds from the great food and many activities going on.  Our main event of the day was fish printing.  Although we received some strange looks at first, as we spread the ink over the fish, once a few example pieces were done people were over joyed to join in.

Soon our table was crowded with kids and families wanting to make beautiful pieces art.  Some tough decisions had to be made throughout the day, like whether to use blue or green or if the fish would look better in stripes or dots; but in no time our tent was lined in flounder prints of every color. The coolest part of the process was seeing the anticipation on the kids faces as the rice paper was lifted off of the fish and the design was revealed.  I'm really looking forward to seeing how each of the individual prints come together in our Save the Harbor mural!


Peace, Love & Fish Prints!

Lindsay Phenix

Revere Beach Sand Sculpting Festival

Working at the Revere Beach Sand Sculpting Festival this past weekend was an absolute blast!  The works of art created by the competitors were out of this world and quite breathtaking.  I've always enjoyed creating art, but I'm not sure if I would ever have the patience or sheer talent to work with such a difficult and fragile material.  It was amazing to see the transformation of the sculptures over my two days there.  It's hard to believe that a pile of sand could be transformed into realistic faces and larger than life sculptures in such a short amount of time.

Despite the focus of the festival being on the sand sculptures, we caused quite a stir at our own table in the Kids Zone.  Kids, families and people of all ages were interested to see our touch tank and learn about the harbor.  It was great to see so many people interested in what we were talking about and wanting to hold our lobsters, green crabs and massive Jonah crab!  The visitors at our tank were amazed to learn that all of the marine life in our tank were from the harbor.  They were even more surprised to learn that they could be found at Revere Beach as well! In all, it was a great two
days out on the beaches!




Until next time!


~Lindsay Phenix

First Fish at Piers Park!

Monday was a very exciting day at Piers Park.  Just as the hope of catching a fish for the day had been lost, we found a new friend in an unlikely place.  While pulling up our crab trap for the final time, we noticed something unusual and different had found its way in.  Taking a closer look, we realized that we had captured a small 4 inch Sculpin!

This type of fish is bottom feeder, commonly found in both fresh and salt water.  While it swam around in our touch tank we were able to show all of the kids its spines, located on its dorsal and pectoral fins.  These are used for protection and allow the fish to better hold onto substrate at the bottom of the ocean.
Needless to say, the kids were ecstatic that we finally caught a fish to accompany the many crabs and jelly fish that we normally catch.

Although the sculpin was no where near as impressive as reeling in a massive striped bass or skate, that little guy was our catch of the day and definitely made a big splash.  Looking forward to getting back out there again!

Until next time!

~Lindsay