We had a fruitful day fishing today at Camp Harborview. Two children successfully hooked a skate a piece within minutes of casting. For the two of them this was their first time fishing, let alone actually catching a fish. They were both very excited about their catches and did not want to release them back into the ocean. However, after explaining to them that skates are in fact not fish, but actually rays, they promptly liberated their trophies and began fishing for bigger game; something they could take and home and eat with their families.

Also, today we caught a surplus of Red Rock Crabs in our crab traps. The kids gathered round and delighted in seeing the crabs crawling over one another. The campers were especially interested to see the legs missing from some of them, comparing them to starfish the way they are able to regenerate their limbs. A few children were reluctant to touch the crabs fearing that they would "pinch their fingers off." However, after a  quick demonstration of how and where to hold them, it wasn't long before the whole group was taking turns!

Sincerely,

Maxwilliams Iwuala

David the Goliath

Yesterday was my first time visiting Peddock's Island, one of the Boston Harbor islands in the rotation of the "All Access" team here at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. I had heard that All Access was fun, but I was unprepared for just how fun. After arriving on the island we immediately began a game of kickball, the holy grail of ll recess activities; my inner child was torn out of me, arriving with a hunger that could only be quenched by home-runs. Sadly my team and I were defeated 8-4 with the last four runs of the opponents runs coming in the last inning!

Only one thing could have washed away that heavy stench of defeat and that is the crashing of waves from the Atlantic Ocean; in other words, we went swimming. It was there on the beach that I encountered the infamous David Coffin, known for his expertise in the involuntary depositions of unsuspecting victims into the water. But today, he would no longer be considered a threat to the kind townspeople of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay as on this day the mighty David was smitten, and at the hands of his own craft no less. After years of tormenting the poor village, the warriors were finally able to band together and cast the hardy beast into the ocean. And the village lived happy ever after..

Sincerely,

Maxwilliams Iwuala

Until Next Time!

This week marked the end of Camp Harbor View's first session which means, sadly, we will be saying goodbye to all of the campers currently enrolled including the fishing club. Although summer camp has ended for these kids it makes me proud to know I was able to help give them an experience that they are going to remember as they continue through life. At the very least, they have obtained the knowledge necessary to fish-- from stringing fishing poles and attaching weights and hooks, to baiting their own rods and casting into the water.

These children have been given an opportunity to get acquainted with the Boston Harbor, a piece of their home that previously was foreign to them. They learned about the many policies implemented to clean the harbor, the new waste management system engineered to prevent the harbor from being re-polluted, and even about invasive species threatening the populations native to the area. We spent time scouring the island's beaches searching for Asian shore crabs, a subject these children are now well versed on; they can tell you the sex of the crabs, how to locate and capture them, and why they are a danger to the crabs native to Boston. The campers had so much fun working with us and learning about fishing that I've heard from many of them their plans to return next year and join our fishing club. I would love to see them again next year and spend another summer fishing the days away!

Sincerely,

Maxwilliams Iwuala

Mighty Max

Today I was fortunate enough to try Camp Harbor View's daunting high-rope course. I rode on what is called the Slingshot, a contraption where one is first hauled 45 feet into the air and then dropped at the pull of rip-chord causing them to swing about freely as if they were a human pendulum. I was amazed at the bravery of the young campers, that they would attempt such a thing; I am 20 years old and even I was terrified of the construct! I hooked up to a harness, strapped on a helmet and was "ready to fly" as was the slogan uttered by the assisting young campers who were in fact instructing me throughout the entire process.

I remember just how high that rope took you; in the beginning I was trying to convince myself that this wasn't so bad, but the rope continued to carry me ever higher until I was above the entire camp! At the top, I could barely look down let alone pull the rip-chord to release myself. I desperately wanted to come back down to ground level, but sadly I realized that there was only one way down. I pulled that chord and whoosh, my body began free falling as if the single rope keeping me suspended had detached at the pulling of the rip-chord. Thankfully, this was not the case and I began swinging back and forth, bck and forth with so much speed that I probably could have cleared a football field had I let go. Honestly, I'm just glad I didn't lose my lunch!

Sincerely,
Maxwilliams Iwuala

Off to the Races!

Yesterday Camp Harbor View hosted their yearly Amazing Race. The campers and camp counseling staff raced through the course, making stops at designated race stations all over the island in search of the next clue that would aid them in their journeys. At some stations the groups were required to hold hands and form a large ring and then pass a hula-hoop around the ring without breaking the circle. At others they were instructed to create haiku poems and when given a series of three words, break apart each word in order to form an entirely new word. Upon completing the tasks the groups were then rewarded with a clue directing them to their next location.

The Save the Harbor/Save the Bay crew had a station staged on the famous Shell Beach where the campers scoured the shore in search of various sea shells, washed up pieces of sea glass, and their favorite, expertly-placed mystical blue marbles. At first many were  discouraged by the task as the shore line seemed too flooded with infinitesimally small items to locate the ones they were looking for. They soon learned that with teamwork the task became tangible and were successfully able to locate the hidden pieces and move on with the next clue.

Great job everybody,

Maxwilliams Iwuala

To Fish, or Not to Fish

To fish, or not to fish? At Camp Harbor View that is never the question! Before coming here I thought I knew how to fish, or at least enough to fake it. After receiving instruction from my senior harbor educator and the many fisherman and sailors with a vested interest in passing along the art of fishing, now I can truly appreciate the age-old saying, "Give a man a fish, he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime."

I have never been one to get my hands dirty but when you're fishing it is certainly unavoidable. Lets say. for example, you're planning on fishing using a previously caught, or store-bought, fish for bait; you can't use the whole fish at once unless you want to return home early and empty-handed. You must cut the fish into tiny, manageable pieces in order to increase your number of casts and chances of actually hooking something. This past Monday I was delegated to filet our bait fish, a task I've always somehow seemed to have found my around. At first, I tried to go about it the neatest way possible, refraining from placing my hands on the fish and trying not to get fish all over my uniform. It wasn't long before both of my hands were covered in scales and fish juice, with no hope of being mistaken as the person NOT smelling heavily of seafood. So all in all, I guess you could say it was 

another typical day at Camp Harbor View!

Sincerely,

Maxwilliams Iwuala

Ahoy There!

Yesterday the Camp Harbor View fishing club teamed up with the Save the Harbor staff stationed there and hit the harbor for a day of fishing. The kids were extremely excited to get a taste fishing from a boat, a first experience for many of them. Unlike me, many of the campers were successful at catching at least one fish and a few caught several. They learned how to secure weights on the fishing line, how to bait their own hook,  and the importance of releasing the fish that do not fit the requisite length for capture-- an important lesson necessary for the growth and success of the various fish populations.

We were fortunate enough to have Bruce Berman accompany us for our fishing trip. He showed us the insides and outs of the fishing world; which bait yields the best results, which hooks are better for hooking certain fish, and how to bait our own hooks. We were mainly using sea worms for fishing bait and Bruce wanted to prove to us that the worms were nothing to be afraid of, irrespective of their hairy legs and retractable hidden pincers. He used me for his example, placing a worm into the palm of my hand and allowing it roam around! I was able to maintain some type of composure for the children luckily, or else I might have found my way off the boat and into the safety of the harbor.

Sincerely,

Maxwilliams Iwuala

First Days at Camp Harbor View

Working at Camp Harbor View has been amazing. Every morning I get to ride a ferry to work, upon which I indulge in breakfast and board games, mainly playing unsuspecting victims in chess. Although it's traditionally a game played by two opponents facing off against one another, these morning games have developed into community efforts with onlookers continually offering up move suggestions.

On Wednesday the campers got a chance to explore one of the beaches located on Long Island. Here they learned about native and invasive crab species, and also how to determine their sexes. Then they were instructed to scour the beach in search of both man-made and natural objects and then to create a tale that explains the different items they found. My favorite story was one told by a girl that had found burnt cinder and described it as a meteorite that had crashed down on the island and created the very landscape existing there today.

Sincerely,

Maxwilliams Iwuala

Let the Games Begin!

Hello! My name is Maxwilliams Iwuala and I am a rising junior, studying biology, at Stonehill College. This will be my first year working with Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and already it is off to a great start. This past week I visited Georges Island for the first time where I experienced the famous dark tunnel. Although it was fun feeling the adrenaline rush through my body, I am glad to be crossing it off of my to-do list; that tunnel sure is dark!

A fellow Lead Harbor Explorer (left) and myself (right) exploring Georges Island

Norah Dooley imparting her story telling wisdom

The Save the Harbor/Save the Bay staff was fortunate enough to have met Norah Dooley the famous author and story teller, and also her pillaging counterpart, Mary the Pirate. Mrs. Dooley instructed the team how to visualize a memory and then share it using descriptive details from the recollection. Each one of us shared a story in 30 second, 60 second, and 3 minute versions enabling us to not only transmit the full memory to our peers, but also to sift through the details of the story and determine which are crucial to its understanding and which can be left out-- a very important skill when telling a story. All in all, I am very excited for this summer to officially commence; let the games begin!