Fun And Lunch At The Pop Up

Hello everyone my name is Mark Rose Site Director at Save The Harbor Save / Save The Bay's Boston Harbor Pop-Up

We welcome the community , families and friends to come stop by and learn some new fun facts about the Harbor and enjoy some of the exciting activity's we have for you guys we are located at 226 Causeway Street.

Today me and Jah'Ni got a chance to be a part of the Changing Course Project which is making cool looking fish out of plastic bottles and acrylic paint

 Also Jah'Ni and I would love to share the amazingly delicious lunch we had today which 

was yummy smoked mackerel with some tasty ceviche with a wonderful aroma made by Save The Harbor's very own Bruce Berman 

  bruce@bostonharbor.com

Fish Printing is for all ages

Hello Ladies and Gents

The fisherman is back in action this summer with plenty of fish prints while working on the fish pier from June 19-21, I had the chance to share the joys of fish printing with many visitors from all over the age spectrum! It was a great experience to work with the new and familiar staff from Save the Harbor/ Save The Bay.

Starting at around 11:30 AM, I would see these awesome smiling faces:

The Little man in the blue shirt was so excited to see how well the colors spread on the fish's scales.

He was so focused!

This little guy in the red shirt was so focused on making sure his fish came out nice and smiling on the inside, that he forgot to smile on the outside!

With the harbor winds coming and going, it did make hanging the fish prints to dry a little difficult. Luckily, we have yet to have someone end up with a splatter of our ink on their clothes.

If you're reading this and you didn't get a chance to fish print, all summer long we'll have events at various beaches and sites. So keep your eyes peeled for Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay events from Nahant to Nantasket! 

Have a great summer!
Ray

Same Harbor Same Love !!!

Hello everyone my name is Mark Rose. I am 22 from Boston MA . I started working for Save The Harbor/Save The Bay as a junior program assistant for the youth summer program in 2010 .

I've learned so much about the Boston Harbor and the history of it over the last 7 years . In 2015 I was honored as one of the Boston Harbor Hero's which was really special for me I was very proud that my hard work and dedication to the program was noticed .

I am very excited to be back this winter and help out with our Save The Harbor/Save The Bay's Curriculum Guide . This is something I always wanted to be apart of . I watch our office staff and our interns work so hard every day and it really inspires me the amount of help they provide me with work and even everyday life I couldn't thank them enough .

Opportunity is one of the biggest keys in life growing up in the inner city of Boston  wasn't so easy . Unfortunately I was unable to finish high school . Over the years this has been a major set back for me as I try to move forward and progress with my life . I'm proud to say that I am currently studying for my GED/HiSET exam with all the help I need from Save The Harbor . My goal now is to study and prepare myself to take my exam no later than April . I just want to thank everyone who's put their time and effort in to helping me stay focused.  The support really means a lot.

                    Live, Love And Laugh
                                                                                                                           Mark Rose

The “Simply Marble-ous” Treasure Hunt

 

Save the Harbor’s “Simply Marble-ous” Treasure Hunt:
Just like Pokemon Go, with real treasure and real flights from JetBlue!

If you find a 1 inch frosted blue marble on one of the Boston Harbor’s public beaches
from Nahant to Nantasket between now and Halloween it could be your lucky day.

Just post a picture of yourself with your marble on the beach @savetheharbor on
Facebook or Twitter and you could win two round trip JetBlue flights to any domestic
destination they serve from Boston’s Logan Airport as part of the 5th Annual “Simply
Marble-ous” Treasure Hunt for JetBlue Flights.*

Save the Harbor interns Jennifer Barrack and Eileen Dalessandro
helped "release" 30 pounds of marbles on the region's public beaches.

The JetBlue “Simply Marble-ous” Treasure Hunt began in 2012 on the beaches of
South Boston with a beach clean up sponsored by JetBlue’s crew members in
partnership with Save the Harbor. In just a few short hours, more than 100 people did 5
weeks worth of work cleaning up the beaches in South Boston. At the end of the day,
the participants released blue marbles on the beach for beach-goers to find, starting a
tradition that continues to bring fun to beach goers and treasure hunters alike.

"Many of JetBlue's crew members volunteer for Save The Harbor/Save The Bay each
year. It's just one way we highlight our commitment to the city of Boston," said Ronda Ivy
McLeod, Manager of Regional Marketing, Northeast, JetBlue. "The Simply Marble-ous
Treasure Hunt is a favorite among crew members. It's a live example of our fun value in
action."

“In the five years since we began this event with our friends and partners at JetBlue,
Save the Harbor and our corporate and community partners have removed more than
150,000 pounds of trash and debris from our beaches,” said Save the Harbor’s
spokesman Bruce Berman. “To celebrate we have “released” 150 pounds of blue
marbles on DCR’s beaches in Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South
Boston, Quincy and Hull, and at Treasure Beach on Spectacle Island. Find one and you
could be this year’s winner.”

According to Berman, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay will be releasing 30 pounds of
blue marbles this year to celebrate Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s 30 th Anniversary at
30 free “Better Beaches” program events that include summer concerts in Lynn, the
sand sculpting festival in Revere, beach festivals in Winthrop, East Boston, South
Boston, Dorchester and Quincy, and at the Harbor Illumination Festival in Hull.

You can download a calendar of this year's events here.

“Like Pokemon, the marbles are not easy to find, but that’s part of the fun,” said Berman. “If you need a hint, ask Mary Read the Pirate or one of our 34 our youth program staffers for help at one of this year’s free beach events. If you still can’t find one, don’t despair. You can buy a
“Virtual Marble” online for just $10 so you can join in the fun.”

*Though the fun is unlimited, some restrictions apply. To find out more about the
“Simply Marble-ous” Treasure Hunt and Save the Harbor and DCR’s Better Beaches
Program, follow @savetheharbor on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or visit their website at www.savetheharbor.org.

Are You Smarter Than A 9-Year Old?

The start of the summer couldn't have gone better! Even with weather challenges we had an amazing first week! There was one highlight of this week that I'll never forget. Wednesday and Thursday I had the chance to go on All Access where I met some pretty fun kids. Wednesday was hot but I still had a great time playing catch with the kids. Thursday was the day that will always stand out to me. I was walking around the ferry talking to groups when I saw these three kids sitting alone. I walked over there and starting talking to them. One of the kids was so excited to tell me about the history he knew about Pearl Harbor. You see, my new friend Franv (or Frank with a "V" as he told me) had just traveled to Hawaii, where he went to the Pearl Harbor memorial. As a total history nerd I was interested to see what Franv had to say, and to be completely honest, I wasn't expecting it to be so accurate. He explained to me, in detail, the terrible events of that day.

Franv and I sitting on the top- deck of the Provincetown II

After a while Franv and I had taught each other a lot. When I told him some information about Pearl Harbor he didn't know he was fascinated. As our conversation drew to an end he insisted on telling me what he brought for lunch. He pulled out some delicious looking chicken parm with a bread stick. I joked and told him to save me some for the trip home. While I didn't see him on the island I saw him on the way back. He was sitting at a table with his face covered in pasta sauce and a goofy grin on his face. He claimed he looked for me so he could share the leftovers,  I simply laughed and got him some napkins. He told me about his plans for the weekend and all his friends at home. I'll never forget the time a 9-year old had more knowledge than I could have imagined.

Happy Learning!
Sam

At the Seashore

Hi Everybody!

           My name is Samantha (most people call me Sam) and this is my second year with Save The Harbor, Save the Bay. Last year I had the privilege of working at Camp Harbor View for the first half of the summer. I had the opportunity to go on fishing trips with the kids and see their excitement when the reeled up a fish; whether it was a skate or a flounder, their amazement was contagious. One of my favorite parts of working at Camp Harbor View were the hikes to the old fort. The kids loved exploring the onerous old fort and jumping out in an attempt to scare their friends. They even scared me once or twice! 

         For the second part of the summer I was at Carson Beach. Here I got to play soccer with America Scores, which I absolutely loved! I’ve played soccer for the past five years at the O’Bryant where I also play softball for Ms. Ryan. Being at Carson was great because we also had the chance to go kayaking and paddle boarding. The kids there loved to play four square and catch. Teaching the kids to clam was an interesting task. The highlight of the summer at Carson Beach was sand raking! The beauty of the beach covered in art was indescribable. I’m excited for yet another year of adventure, education and surprises! 

Goodbye for now!

Climbing structure at Camp Harbor View, on Long Island

Hello and goodbye, friends of Save the Harbor!

I cannot believe that the summer has come to a close. I hope you are all taking advantage of this beautiful weather- keep getting to the beach, it will ease the back-to-school blues!

I wanted to start off with a photo from Camp Harbor View because it represents one of the greatest parts of working with Save the Harbor- there are always new adventures to be had. I did not work at CHV until the end of the summer, but it really made an impact- the staff is incredibly motivated, the campers are fun and engaging, and Long Island is stunning. This is the climbing structure that I was itching to get on (maybe some other time!) I am excited that CHV is making climbing a part of the camp because for me, rock climbing is stress relief, fun, and over-all upkeep. I am happier and healthier now that I rock climb, and I'm glad to see that kids in Boston are learning about this amazing sport!

Jaimie with a crab!

Sisters Jaimie and Julia with their mud-man!

I think I left a piece of me with all of the smiling friends we made at Blacks Creek this year. I'm going to hold on to these memories forever! Blacks Creek was the site I spent the most time at- thanks to our partners at Quincy Recreation, we enjoyed a great summer with the sailing center!  From finding crabs and eels to making sculptures and mudballs during our rare low-tide days, I'll have a lot to miss from this site!

Abdi at Blacks Creek with Jaimie and Jordan!

Alex and Jayda!

One of the most beautiful parts of this summer was seeing our JPAs take up leadership role. Here's Abdi with some of our kids at Blacks Creek. Abdi is the youngest in his family, but he took up leadership like a natural. From teaching the kids how to play "Taps" to taking over all of the responsibility that comes with being King of the Crab Trap, Abdi was an asset to our team this summer. He has a great time with the kids, and they are always smiling when he is teaching them.

Norah Dooley, Patty Foley,  and some of our guests at the Beach Bash! 

Ahmed, Ketchup King, at the Beach Bash!

Similarly, I found myself learning from our JPAs! Jayda, above, is one of the most organized and motivated people I have ever met. We arrived at Nautical Day at Blacks Creek and she immediately caught us an eel for the touch tank. Jayda's unbeatable and energetic smile and disposition were inspirations for me this summer. Thanks for teaching me so much,  to all of my brilliant JPAs!

As I reflect on the rest of the summer, what I remember most are smiles and sunshine. I'll always be grateful to Save the Harbor for giving me this amazing opportunity. For letting me work with Ahmed, our expert LHE, when I was nervous on my first day; for having an on-call pirate and a president who enjoys listening to sea tales with kids; for Bridget Ryan, our incredible Head Teacher.

Thanks for an amazing summer, Boston!

 Carolyn House

Being A Leader

Leadership plays a big role in my life, not only at work but also when I'm at home . Everyday I put on my Save The Harbor shirt I look at myself as a leader . I know when i go to work there are plenty of kids and family's that look up to me . I also have to be a leader for my co-workers–– not that they need it, but just being there to help and giving extra support is showing a lot of leadership.

At home, I have my 3 younger siblings that really look up to me . I know its on me to show them the positive way of life . I tell them all the time that school is the most important thing right now. If you finish school you can do whatever you want in life .


One of the main reason I love working for Save The Harbor is we're about giving back to our community. It feels good being able to hear that we provide access to some of the cleanest beaches in the country . Some kids and adults that come out with us have no idea what they're going to experience, so when you're standing at the highest point on Spectacle Island just look around at the view and take a second to think: its not about just standing on a island in the middle of the Boston harbor, it's really about enjoying the finer things in life .

 Not every city has a Boston Harbor. Not every city has organizations like Save The Harbor that provide  free access to programs for the youth around them. Being apart of something so special like that is being a leader. The fact that I'm able to help change and make my city a better place is an amazing feeling.

Sand Raking at Carson

Friday, August 7, I tried my hand at sand raking. My artistic abilities weren't exactly magnificent but it was an AMAZING experience. The intricate designs we all managed to get together were not what I was expecting. I thought, at first, that our designs were too individual to come together as one piece. I thought they were chaotic, not artistic. That was until we began to connect to one another's. The final piece was amazing and imppressive! It spanned a huge portion of the beach and was drawing quite the attention. Tomorrow's piece should be just as impressive, if not more.

Stay Creative!
     Sam

Seafood Festival & My First Time at Children's!

Sunday, August 2, I attended my first ever seafood festival! From 11-3 I did fish printing with the kids, as well as coloring and word searches. The kids were intrigued by the "real fish" we were using for the prints. Some parents were even surprised by the flounders! One young girl was giving out glitter tattoos in exchange for a donation to the mspca! I gladly donated and got a silver peace sign on my arm. I ended a great day with free tasty burger!

Tuesday was my first time at the Boston Children's Museum! We helped the kids fish and had them touching crabs! They were so fascinated by the spider crab we caught. When the day was slow and there was no kids I took an opportunity to let my artistic side shine! I used the chalk to make the Save The Harbor logo under the tent. I'm sure the crazy hail storm I ran through to get home washed it away, but not before I took a picture!

Stay Creative!

Sam

All Access & Carson Beach

Tuesday was my first time enjoying All Access! We took a trip to Peddocks Island where I enjoyed a hike round the island followed by a refreshing swim in the water. The ride out was entertaining, I approached three young girls around the age of seven and began asking them questions about the harbor. The responded by asking me twice as many follow up questions as I asked them. Soon their interest in the harbor was replaced by an interest in funny stories and talking about our dogs. Every so often they would ask me random questions like "Are there sharks here?" or "Am I going to get eaten by a whale?". The curiosity and easy distractions made me remember the field trips I would take with the Boys & Girls club when I was younger.

Wednesday I was at Carson Beach. When we thought our kids blew us off because of the heat, the Dorchester Y came through. They brought kids whom I played four square, taps, popcorn, and catch with. When they were swimming I went down to the water with them and was promptly splashed. After the kids left we took advantage of the free time and went kayaking. When we got tired we took a break, held on to each other's kayaks, and put our feet in the water. We regretted that later after we drifted out even further and had to paddle our way back. All in all it was a fun day and I can't wait to go back tomorrow!

Until Next Time!

 -Sam

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

Beach Walks at Camp Harbor View

This week we mixed things up a bit and took the kids on beach walks! Instead of a fascination with shells and hermit crabs the kids took a liking to the Asian Shore Crabs. All together the kids collected over 600! We invited a little friendly competition between lighthouses to see who could collect the most! The largest amount collected by one group was over 300!

As well as the beach walks we allowed the kids in fishing club to use an underwater camera to look under the surface. Other than a few crabs and a lot of rocks we didn't see much, but the kids were fascinated with that alone! They could see an environment separate from their own and it also helped me prove to them that it wasn't their fault we couldn't catch fish at the dock; there was just none to catch!
See Yah!

    -Sam

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

Leadership Is Key #BCM Crew

Today was a successful day at the Children's Museum. We caught 3 fish on our rods and also pulled 2 out of the crab traps . I really enjoy working at the museum. Its a fun and cool place. I can see why all the kid LOVE IT !  The number of family's  that participate with our organization has been increasing  everyday. Mike even mentioned that we had over 200 yesterday, which really shocked me .  

 

Showing leadership has always been important to me,  and I know it means a lot to the Save The harbor / Save The Bay . This is my 3rd summer working for the Boston Children's site. I know the 1st year JPA's tend to look up to me sometimes and have no problems coming to ask for good advice to help them become a better leader in our organization . 

I encourage any family's to come visit some of our 8 sites around the Boston Harbor . The Harbor Islands are amazing and beautiful , It truly is a great life changing experience, especially if you've never been there. There is a ton of history behind the Harbor and the Islands . One of Save The Harbor's goals is to keep helping family's, youth programs, and the community stay connected with Boston Harbor. I am proud to be a part of it .

   

                                                 - Mark Rose 

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

Adventure Time!

Tuesday, we took the kids at Camp Harbor View on a little adventure! To switch things up a little bit we brought the kids to the old fort at the top of the hill. After a short hike to the top we found the fort; abandoned and begging to be explored! Accompanied by a group of kids I went into the fort, letting them lead the way and figure things out for themselves (as long as it wasn't too dangerous!).

While exploring the fort the kids thought they heard a ghost and ran back outside. When I suggested we head back since they were too scared, but they begged to go back in, so in we went. It was exciting for not only them but also for me. Some kids were hiding behind walls and scaring each other (Okay, maybe they scared me once or twice but that was just luck), while others rambled on about who would get taken first if they were in a scary movie. It was really nice to see the kids enjoying themselves during our little exploration and I had a blast doing it with them! Their reactions and made- up stories were priceless and I can't wait until next time!

Keep Exploring!
   Sam

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

FISHING TRIP!

Today we took our first fishing trip with the kids from Camp Harbor View! It was so much fun! Everybody on the boat caught at least one fish whether it be a flounder or a bass. Some of the kids got discouraged when they weren't catching any fish but others had already caught two. After a while they started catching fish and were super enthusiastic about catching more! One of the funniest parts was when the kids tried to put the sea worms on their own hooks and got really grossed out. It was also hilarious when one camper named Joshua was trying to hold a fish but got freaked out and dropped it. It started flopping around and he tried to move away so fast he fell on top of the backpacks. After dropping the kids off at the island we headed home where we stopped to do some fishing of our own. I can't wait to take another trip with the kids, it really was a blast!

Happy Fishing!
-Sam