Fishing Trip #2 and my First Day At Carson Beach

On our second fishing trip with Camp Harbor View we caught some good fish! We caught a bunch of mackerel which we later used as live bait to try and catch striped bass. The kids had a great time and so did I (as expected)! This week I also spent my first day at Carson Beach which was awesome! We went kayaking and paddle boarding. It was all fun & games until we had to paddle back to shore against the current & wind. The 10 minutes trip out took us nearly a half an hour to take back in. By the end of the day I had acquired some well earned blisters from the paddle.

See you soon!

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

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

Second Session Startup

The second session at CHV started up last past Tuesday. This meant a whole new group of kids; some with fresh faces, and others that I had met last year - all eagerly anticipating a summer of fun out on Long Island.

Because it was the first day much of it was spent getting the kids into the clubs they wanted, and showing the new campers what and where things are at the camp. While this would seem like a tedious endeavor for nearly 500 kids, the exceptional staff at CHV know how to make even the most routine moments fun.

For my team and I, the day began at the club fair, where club leaders display their club and try to get kids to sign up. As usual Save the Harbor put in a strong showing to get kids to join our fishing club. Our sign and props were attention grabbing. Priceless looks erupted from the faces of campers when we acted as though our prop lures were alive. I can't even imagine the ruckus that would have been raised if we had brought a real fish, but to be fair to the other clubs and ensure that they also had some campers, we had to hold back. Needless to say, we had plenty of customers looking forward to wetting a line and hopefully fighting a fish.

After that the campers headed out to different areas of the camp to find out what kinds of activities happen at each site throughout the summer. SHSB runs through the camp's Knowledge Is Power program so we headed up to the KIP building for our presentations.

On the way over, Bob, the head groundskeeper, grabbed my attention and told me that a lobster had made its way into our trap. Fantastic! Nothing better than a fresh lobster to get the kids asking questions and wondering about what else Save The Harbor has planned for the summer. After a quick run down to the docks the team and I were on stage with a cooler full of freshly caught crabs and lobster.

Holding a lobster for the first time.

The lobster worked like a charm - striking aw and sparking discussion. We left that day with many campers eager to come down to Shell Beach and explore The Harbor with us.

To new explorers and stewards of The Harbor,
Tom Rebula

A Bountiful Day

Monday was a day marked by landmark catches at both of my program sites. 

At Blacks Creek one of the campers was surprised to pull up a net full of sea weed and find what he believed to be an American eel, a species that our Blacks Creek Explorers have become very familiar with. When he brought the contents over to me to help him remove the slender creature, I was thrilled to see that, instead of the an eel it was a common pipefish. This was the first time that the kids or myself had encountered one of these interesting cousins to seahorses at Blacks Creek. The kids, as usual, were thrilled to have found something new and were interested to hear about the mating habits of the species.

Taking the pipefish from the observation bucket for release

Our luck at Blacks Creek carried over to fishing club at Camp Harbor View. The bluefish that are beginning to show up in Boston Harbor graced our rods with a few nibbles and one of the campers was lucky enough to hook up. While it was just a small one, the camper who caught it was still proud of his first fish. Hopefully we can get some bigger ones to bite before the summer closes out.

A fisherman with his catch.

Close up of a toothy maw.

Additionally, the small minnow trap that we have hanging off of the side of CHV's dock managed to capture the smallest flounder that I have ever seen. While both of our catches during club-time were diminutive in size, they both served to excite the kids in the club for the prospect of catching more fish and for the upcoming fishing trip that we will be taking with them. 

Flounder (reduced to reflect actual size)

- Hoping for good times and tight lines, Tom Rebula

The Whole Fish: Grill-out on Shell Beach

Yesterday the team and I stopped by the Boston Fish Pier processing facility of Portside Seafoods, a member of the Leading Seafoods group. There, Bill, provided us with a fresh pollock to fill our cooler. Special Plans were in store for the fishing club at Camp Harbor View.

When we arrived later in the day we told the campers in fishing club that instead of the normal routine we would be traveling to Shell Beach for something special. Once they saw the grill they knew that they were in store for a treat.

Campers gathered around as I explain the first cut

When I pulled the fish from the cooler the kids were immediately engaged and full of questions. What kind of fish is that? Where are its heart and brain? Can you cut out the eye so we can see it? The last in particular was asked repeatedly, so I quickly showed the kids how to properly fillet a fish and then set about to tackling the eye question. After removing the eye and letting the kids hold it, I set about removing the marble-like lens from its interior. The kids were fascinated to see such a cool organ.

A camper holding some Vitreous Humour

After this process we lightly seasoned the fish with Lawry's Seasoned Salt, pepper and fresh lemon juice and threw it on the grill.

While that was cooking I talked to the group about sustainable practices, in particular various things that can be done with what was left of the fish to help the effort to reduce, reuse and recycle. I explained that usable meat could still be taken off of certain areas in the frame and that the bones and head could be used to make soups. Additionally I baited our minnow and crab trap with a few chunks. While I had intended to compost the remainder of the frame to demonstrate another use for the leftovers, I was regrettably informed that CHV no longer puts meat in the compost after a number of incidents with Long Island's native raccoon population.

A tasty combination

By the time I had finished my discussion, the fish was ready, and the campers dug straight in, eating pieces directly from the grill. I no time the fish had been entirely devoured. So quickly in fact, that we had to be careful towards the end to make sure no one ate any foil.

- To a full stomach and shore lunch with good friends, Tom Rebula

FISHY FISHAY!

  

    Hey how's it going guys!! Today was pretty awesome, and my co workers and I had an awesome time on the Belle boat. Captain Charlie made my fishing experience really worth it! Also, seeing Camp Harbor View kids join us today was pretty touching! A lot of groups today caught Black Sea Bass fish! The children were so ampt when they got to accomplish catching baby Black Sea Bass. I love to kids having a blast and learning how to fish. I'm glad I got to teach children how to fish today! Take a look at some of the kids that caught some tasty treats!! 

-Juelle Benjamin

Camp Harbor View MADNESS!

      

      Wow, today was very interesting and fun at the same time at Camp Harbor View at Long Island! The kids were the best. They were so open to learn how to fish, learn about sea glass and crustaceans. They had positive energy and were so adventurous! Two kids that I met today were awesome and found a marble from playing a scavenger hunt game. Now they will be in a drawing for winning a free lobster dinner with their family which I find fantastic! I love children that love to learn and are open to learning new activities, because it gives me a good feeling. Here take a look at the two happy winners who found the hidden marbles! They enjoyed themselves and so did I! 

               -Juelle Benjamin

Slip n' Slide The Rain Away

Today, as expected, ended up being a particularly stormy day. While the weather kept many of the kids at Blacks Creek from coming out in the morning hours, the campers at Camp Harbor View were out in full force and ready to take on what the day had to offer.

It started out similar to most, with the weather holding off nicely, so we started our fishing club period on the pier. After only a short while however, a large thunderstorm could be heard in the distance. We immediately sent the kids to the great hall for safety, while the rest of the camp battened down for the coming downpour.  I regrettably found myself caught in the early minutes of the storm and, after being soaked clean through, had to seek shelter in the camp's boathouse along with the staff from Courageous Sailing.

After the worst had passed, the campers were released from the great hall to continue their regularly scheduled activities. Regrettably this period was also cut short by another storm band that rolled through the area.

As the thunder from this second onslaught faded into the distance and rain still fell, the camp re-released the campers. Instead of returning to their scheduled periods, much of the camp, without hesitation and as if planned in advanced, set up an impromptu slip and slide using the cover from the pool. It was awesome to see so many of the kids embrace what the day had given them, despite its relative unpleasantness.

Getting some distance on the lawn.

Fortunately the day ended with sun, as I am sure that the campers, as well as myself, thoroughly enjoyed the chance to dry off. The improvement in the weather also afforded my coworkers and I time to get a good start on the belated sign for shell beach.

Basking in the golden glory of the sun (and that of our almost completed sign)

Heres to not letting the weather get you down.

- Cheers, Tom Rebula

First week, First Impressions

The fishing club at Camp Harbor View is fantastic to say the least. The kids in the club are hilarious and certainly hand out their fair share of good-natured ribbing, but they also have a deep interest in the things that my team and I are able to teach them. Despite our short time together, a number of them have already learned the knots necessary to set up their own fishing equipment- the most difficult and important skill for any fisherman.

On Wednesday we found a dead skate that had washed up on the beach at the camp, a fortunate turn of events, as I was unable to obtain fresh bait that morning. I was surprised at how many of the kids were excited to poke and prod the spiny skin. 

 

Learning about an interesting find on the beach

After giving a brief discussion about the physical characteristics and behavioral traits of the skate we sliced off the fins, which had yet to be eaten by crabs, to use as bait for the remainder of the period. While we have yet to catch any fish, the kids still seem to be enjoying the time with the rods in their hands, and they still get excited when they lift their bait out of the water to find a large green crab jealously holding onto their bait.

Unfortunately the club members will be switched for next week- just I feel that I am just getting to know them on a more personal level. I am thrilled to say that a number of those currently in the club will be coming back, and I am sure that the new additions will be equally as fun and engaged.

My Final Harbor Adventure

Hey everyone!

This is Alyssa without Bridget! This is my last week at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. Lucky for me, I just found out about a final collaboration with SHSB staff member Karrisha Gillespie! Tomorrow, we will join Camp Harbor View's fishing club for a day out on the water. We will be taking notes, taking pictures, and maybe doing a little fishing ourselves... We will then write a post about our adventure and about fishing on the harbor!
I cannot think of a better way to finish off my summer here! Let's hope we catch a lot of fish!

Fishing club with their giant fish

-Alyssa