Babies!

I think it's fair to say I have the best summer job ever. I don't even work, I explore. I'm low key Dora the Explorer because there's different things to do every day and new things I learn about. Last Friday at children's we had the pleasure of catching a pregnant female crab! The amount of eggs she had were uncountable. There were probably like thousands. If you've ever watched Finding Nemo, at the start of the movie you see all the fish eggs, they literally look like those in microscopic size. It was a spider crab and she was a lot more gentle than I thought she would be. She was not as overprotective and allowed us to open up and see all her babies. It was quite a catch, everyone who came up to the touch tank was amazed. We soon released her back into the ocean for her safety and for the safety of her eggs.

 

 Not only was that the first time seeing a pregnant crab but this weekend was my first time at the sand sculpting festival at Revere Beach. We set up a station for fish printing and after that I was able to walk around and look at all the pretty sculptures. What job allows you to have fun as working? Mine! I took lots of pictures and my snapchat story was so long. Bella and I got lit as we sat in the model cars from Chevrolet bumping loud music. I enjoyed some fried dough while admiring the sculptures and ice cream. It was a day well spent. My time is never wasted at work. Until next time, can't wait to see what's coming up.

All summer 16

Kharliyah

Sand sculpting at Revere........

                                                            Sand sculpting at Revere



The Group

      Hey Everybody! Last week on Sunday some of us went to sand sculpting at Revere Beach, it was fun because we had different group of Save The Harbor Save The Bay. We entered for the sand sculpting tournament. Some of us don't know who won because we left the time we suppose to leave but it was great working as a team. Preston, Esmeralda, Mauricio, Mike, Andrea, Daynaja, and I was sand sculpting the logo of Save The Harbor/Save The Bay, the other group was going to build a fish tank but they decided to build another sand sculpture, so it was a crocodile.

Our Sculpture

      Early in the afternoon, last week we were thinking about if we should go in the water to have fun but we thought it was going to rain and it was kind of windy. We all were having fun at Revere, working as a team as "Save The Harbor/ Save The Bay". When we were sculpting at Revere Beach people around asked us if we were in the tournament, I  was over excited  and I was like yes we in the tournament  and we are going to beat them. But once we were done with our sculpture we had lunch, it was good because we ate pizza. While we were eating pizza a little girl destroy piece of our sculpture. It was so funny that all of us scream "Nooo" she just look at us like we was crazy and just walked away.

I was Chilling 

      It was a great day at Revere Beach, we learned that when we work as a team and we will succeed as team to finish our project. But at the end when we were done building I was chilling at Revere Beach with no sun and a sand couch. I was going to get comfortable but I went home to sleep.







Sincerely, Carlos Garcia

Sand sculpting

Almost every year I go to see the sand sculptors but this year they were really amazing. It was a really fun experience this year going with other people from Save the Harbor/Save the bay; even though we were working it was a lot of fun. There was a large group of us so we split in half and each group entered the amateur sculpting contest. Originally when I was told that was the plan, I thought it was a joke but once I arrived to the beach I learned that it wasn't a joke.

My group consisted of Carlos, Mauricio, Daynaja, Andrea, Preston, Mike and I. We took so long to decide on what to make. I suggested that we make a snowman tanning in the sand but we decided on the Save the Harbor logo. Although there aren't any pictures of it, it came out pretty good. It took a lot of time to do because we made the wave a few inches higher than the top part of the logo. The other group made a very cute looking alligator which won the competition. I honestly really enjoy the different events that we have to go to because I don't know what to expect but they all always end well. I can't wait for the next event that I will be going to.

Until my next adventure,
Esmeralda

Revere Sand Sculpting Competiton

Hey hey, it's blog time!


      So, last weekend we had the unique opportunity to attend the 2015 Revere International Sand Sculpting Competition. The Save the Harbor group arrived a little early, that way we could walk up and down the beach and see all the cool, professional sculptures made the day before. Once everyone arrived, we met one of the judges, who let us take a picture in front of the centerpiece sculpture, "The Spirit of Massachusetts"!

The Save the Harbor crew, in front of "The Spirit of Massachusetts"

      Once that was done, we signed up for the amateur team sculpting competition. Since the teams were limited to six members we split into two teams, one led by my fellow SHE Mike, and one led be me. My team's original idea was to make a fish tank, which we figured would be pretty easy to do. Once we finished it though, it really just looked like a big mound of sand with some unidentifiable drawings on it, that were supposed to be fish. So, since we still had plenty of time left we decided to try something new. As we were debating what to do next, one of the JPAs on our team, Ian, started idly shaping some sand into what kind of looked like a crocodile. We decided to run with it, and while the rest of the team worked on shaping the crocodile, I scoured the beach for shell fragments to be the teeth. The final result was great, and ended up winning first place in the team division!

Our first place Crocodile sculpture!

      Once that was done, I took advantage of the large mound of sand that had been our fish tank and turned it into a couch for the team to relax on while we had lunch.

Me, on the sand couch!

Cheers!

Justin

Harbor Illumination and Revere Beach Sand Sculpting

This past weekend I took part in my first two beach events for the summer. The beach event are additional events, usually on the weekends, that we help out in. I was very lucky for the first one. When I would normally travel to get to my site each day, my first beach event came to me in the town where I live, Hull. The event is called the Harbor Illumination, and what it is is one side off the town's Bayside shore is lit up with flares every ten feet or so. The outcome of this is one huge landscape of glowing red dots both near and far relative to you. I had been to this event in previous years, on my own as a spectator. But this was the first year that they were having events take place before the light up. Which is where Save the Harbor came in and did fish printing with kids.

The flares lined up

The second beach event I did the following day was the Revere Beach Sand Sculpting Competition. I was under the assumption originally that we were going to help run the event, but I was pleased to find out that we would actually be participating in an amateur league of scultpters. Save the Harbor was divided into two teams of six at the event. The group I was assigned with originally had the idea of creating a fish tank out of sand. Creating a three dimensional bubble to then create fish designs on. The idea was interesting, but it was poorly executed, resulting in a big mound with unidentifiable carvings. When we had decided we had done the best with what we could do with this idea, I started a sculpture of my own. Slowly I created the rough outline of what would be an alligator. And slowly as people started to see my effort and join in, there was a whole team working on this entry. When the finished product came out, people liked it more  then the tank, so we used this our entry instead. This netted Save the Harbor the first place spot in the competition!

Working on the alligator

-Ian P.

Last Week's Adventures

Hey everyone in the blog-o-sphere!

It's Thi, back again with more stories. This weekend was packed full of adventures, including the awesome fishing tournament with the Michael Fallon company as well as the Revere Beach National Sand Sculpting Festival. I had the greatest opportunity to be a part of both.

First off, for the fishing tournament, I was placed with my younger brother, Abdi, and Jedi. We were on the Legacy, led by Captain Rick along with Steve. Things were rocky at the beginning, trying to figure out who needed to be where and what supplies we all had to have. After that, we were off! Slowly, we stayed in the inner harbor, putting out only two lines. There was a quick tug on one line, but alas, no luck on catching a fish. We then moved to various other "secret" fishing spots - ideal places where fish should be plentiful and biting. Although we were very patient, we got no bites. On the way back to Fan Pier, the captain let Jedidaia and I drive the boat!! Captain Rick told us all about the rules of the ocean, staying on which side of the red and green buoyed markers in the channel. All in all, it was a great day and a really fun experience. I even got to bring home some of the winning fish!

For the Sand Sculpting Festival, I wasn't working in the youth program, but I had a chance to visit Revere Beach with my older sister this past Monday. They were amazing!! One could tell how much time and effort there was put into the sculptures and it sure paid off. The intricate lines and details were just exciting to see.
It was such an awesome weekend and I can't wait for more adventures!!

Woot! Repping STH/STB

My favorite!

Stay wavy and cool,
Thi Tran

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

Revere's Sand Sculpting Contest 2013 is Boston Strong

There is no better way to beat the heat this summer than flocking to the beach. Though this weekend if you are looking to enjoy good music, food, activities, and some incredible sand sculpting, might I suggest you go to the Revere Beach Sand Sculpting competition. There are so many wonderful things to do and see and It’s just right off of the MBTA’s Blue Line. There is something for every kind of person.

If you are going to Revere this weekend to drink in the food options, there are many food trucks that feed a diverse appetite. You could enjoy a cookie from Cookie Monstah or a lobster roll from Lobstah Luv. Eaters who enjoy more ethnic food there is a mexican food truck called, Taco Party.  There are many more that are planned to be at the event for Saturday and Sunday including Kick**s Cupcakes, Slush King, The Pasta Pot, Captain Marden’s Seafood, Clam Jammers, Radish, and Grilled Cheese Nation. For those who are looking for some classics there is plenty of food you would typically find at a county fair! There were several stands for lemonade, italian sausage, hot dogs, pizza, fried dough, and french fries! That is not all! There are plenty of freebies around, so look around to see promotional products to try from drinks to appetizers.

For those who can look forward to some good tunes there are plenty of fantastic bands and entertainment for adults and children. Today the Toe Jam Puppet Band told stories on stage which included the children complete with costumes and music. If you dig a tribute band than you would have thoroughly enjoyed seeing Studio Two covering all the Beatles’ classic hits. If you missed that today it’s ok, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed by Overdrive and World Premier on Saturday or All Summer Long Beach Boys Tribute Band on Sunday.  For full bios and videos on the singers who are performing you can visit www.NoBoMagaizne.com

For families with children young or old, you’ll be thrilled to see Radio Disney at Revere with games and opportunities to show off your singing talents. This is just one of great examples of the many activities you can be a part of at Revere Beach this summer at this amazing event. Radio Disney will have prizes for winners of their games. There are also some fun activities for people of all ages in the Interactive Kid Zone. Located out of the sun in a tent behind the stage, you can beat the heat with DCR with learning about trash in the environment and the importance of cleaning up after yourself at the beach. You can also splash around with Save the Harbor/Save the Bay in the touch tanks that will have Lobsters! You can also learn about wastewater management with the NWRA and color drawings! For those who are up for digging around in the sand for treasure you can join Minelab in a demonstration of their metal detectors and look for things in the sand.

Of course the main event is the sand sculpting! The theme this year is centered around Boston Strong. Some of the sculptors come from as far as Latvia and Holland while some are from places closer to home like Florida! The centerpiece sculptor is from as close as Saugus, MA. I have to say I am incredibly impressed with this year’s sand sculptures and that many interpreted the theme of Boston Strong very well.

I hope that everyone can make it out this weekend and enjoy the sunshine out on the beach! I will be at the Save the Harbor/Save the Bay table on Sunday and I would love to see you there to join me!

The End of Another Summer

It's that time of year again -- All Access is done for the summer, the summer sites are wrapping up for the summer, and it's time for the staff to say their goodbyes.  Every summer goes by so much faster than I think it's going to, and it's because of all of the cool people I get to work with on a daily basis.

I won't be forgetting this year's staff anytime soon.  All of the interns, plus the high schoolers from Blue Cross Blue Shield and the MLK Program, have been great to work with on the boat and make my day much more fun.  Since this is my third year on All Access, I recognize a lot of the groups that come out to the islands with us.  Seeing the kids experience the harbor and all that it has to offer makes me appreciate what a great job I have:  being a part of a memorable day for thousands of children from across the city.  And for those of you who are wondering, All Access took 5,056 kids to Spectacle and Georges' Island this summer!

Every summer Save the Harbor is part of some pretty cool events.  This year was the first time that I saw the Tall Ships that docked in Boston the first week of July.  Talking to the Colombian sailors and seeing the beautiful ships up close was such a unique experience, that I would never have been a part of if not for Save the Harbor.  Another of my favorite events is the Revere Sand Sculpting Festival -- every year the artists come up with crazier and crazier designs!

Every year, we learn about how much the harbor has changed for the better in the past 26 years.  Beaches that used to be filthy are now clean and home to fun programs for children and adults alike.  Working closely with community groups all over Boston, I've seen first hand how a clean harbor can positively influence someone's life; I feel lucky to have been a part of an organization that looks to protect the ocean and islands for the next generation of harbor explorers.

 -- Carolyn

The Start of Better Beaches 2012

Every year at STH/STB, staffers participate in various "Better Beaches" events throughout the city and surrounding towns.  Better Beaches events are chances for the community to experience the wonders of the ocean and harbor by watching a sand sculpting festival, reading books with young children, or simply just hanging out with friends and family on a beautiful Boston evening.

One of my favorite Better Beaches event to attend is the Revere Beach Sand Sculpting Festival, which was two weekends ago.  My mother grew up in Revere, and I really enjoy going back to the beaches where she played as a child, especially when I'm there to help Save the Harbor teach tons of kids about how cool the marine environment in the ocean is!

Our five-pound lobster, named Thi, was very popular among children and adults on the beach.  The kids tended to be nervous about touching this clawed creature that one girl thought looked like a giant bug; but most were very brave and picked up our friend Thi.  The adults were more interested in what we'd be doing with Thi at the end of the day; I think a lot of them had visions of lobster rolls dancing in their heads...

No matter how big the lobster, every year the sand sculptures upstage our crustacean.  My favorite this year, by far, was the centerpiece of the event:  Fenway Park!

  
In honor of the 100th anniversary of Fenway, all the artists who competed in the festival worked together to create this masterpiece -- and Save the Harbor, one of the event's sponsors, made it onto the finished work!

There are lots more Better Beaches events coming up this summer -- stay tuned to hear more about the great things you can do around the harbor on these lazy, hazy, summer nights.

-- Carolyn

The Lobster Named "Tee" at the Sand Sculpting Festival

     Hey there everyone! I just came back from the Sand Sculpting Festival at Revere Beach and although I am exhausted, I'm glad I had a great day. My day started off at 8:30 in the morning, since I had to go get a lobster for the touch tank. I thought I could just get a lobster that was around 4 pounds, but she was actually very close to 5 lbs! Arriving at the Learning Center tent, Mike, Anthony and I filled up the touch tank with cold ocean water which was kept cold with ice packs. Here is a picture of a little girl holding her first lobster with two hands since "Tee" was very heavy:

                                 

While I took a little break, I walked around and saw this amazing sculpture called "To Bee or not to Bee." This is actually the winner of the contest! The detail on this bee is breathtaking - the wisps of hair on his back, the vulnerability of its position, and just everything was simply extraordinary!

This weekend has been amazing and I am just still speechless of the artwork and attention paid to those sculptures! I can't wait for All Access this week (:

Thi Tran

Sandcastles and Sunshine at Revere Beach!

Friday afternoon I had the opportunity to take a drive to Revere Beach and be a part of the sand sculpting festival. I had never attended before, and lets just say it is now on a must do list for summer.
The sculptures were breathtaking. It was amazing that these pieces of art were created from sand. Talk about using the resources nature provides.

Sculptures hard at work.

.

  The piece of art that reflected Fenway Park was my absolute favorite. It was vast, yet incredibly detailed. It not only was a beautiful replication of Fenway, the advertisers featured were all people who sponsored the sand castle festival. Save the Harbor Save the Bay was properly represented!!

Fenway Sculpture. 

 Underneath the education tent Save the Harbor Save the Bay was one of organizations that were present to provide materials and experiences about the importance of preserving and cherishing the ocean.

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay Table

It was great to see other organizations that all support the main cause of ensuring the ocean is clean and healthy for all the living organisms and for us to enjoy. It was a wonderful way to confirm that they work we do is having an impact and we are not alone in wanting to treasure the ocean.

Awesome Sculptures!

For the second summer running, I have had the pleasure of attending the Revere Sand sculpture competetion. Last summer I could not choose just one winner out of all the amazing works of art, and this summer I was no different. Each and every one of the pieces had something that made it worthy of the prize, so it was very difficult to choose, I feel for those judges. The sculptures were amazing and all but the most fun part was showing the lobsters we had in the touch tank to all the curious visitors, old and young. It was great seeing all the smiling faces and the amazing art. Can't wait to see what other amazing pieces will be made at next summer's event.

~wilshere

Revere Sandcastle Competition

It was a gorgeous Sunday at Revere Beach. It was breezy, eighty five degrees and there was not a cloud in the sky. Inside the learning center tent, we were able to teach kids how to hold a lobster and were able to teach them a little about lobster anatomy. We were also able to educate a few concerned adults on the sustainable nature of the lobster fishery in the Northeast.

Unfortunately the lobsters, which were from the supermarket, did not enjoy the attention - or the heat. All in all, this event was a great success and a great way to spend a sunday afternoon!

-Scott Wortman

Revere Beach Sand Sculpting Competition 2011

Sunday’s hot temperatures didn’t stop thousands from turning out to Revere beach to admire some of the truly beautiful sand sculptures and have some fun swimming, eating, and listening to good music!

Save the Harbor was on location to educate folks and provide a lobster touch-tank. People stopping in for shade were offered a chance to pet or pick up one of the two lobsters.

While some shied away, most eagerly looked at a sea creature, they might otherwise not see so up-close. Our great staff alleviated any fears people had about getting pinched by informing them that lobsters can’t reach behind their backs!

Overall, a very fun day to enjoy some art, food, and the marine environment!

Autri