A meeting of the MBC minds

The Metropolitan Beaches Commission at the State House

On January 30th, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s staff and interns were on hand to witness policy in action at the Massachusetts State House for the meeting of the The Metropolitan Beaches Commission (MBC). This Commission collaborates with the state legislature to recommend improvements for our urban beaches and works with the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) on many beach conservation projects.

A recent budget cut for DCR has called into question the future of the beach conservation projects by the DCR as well as the programs held by Save the Harbor/Save the Bay on our urban beaches.

Over the years since the Commission was formed, its members have been able to see the improvements made with DCR take shape in the communities. Senator McGee, Co-Chair of the MBC, recalled the algae problem in Nahant. The smell of the algae became so unbearable that it actually deterred people from visiting the beach. Through the DCR’s hard work, the algae was removed and people were able to enjoy the beach again. DCR was also able to provide better landscaping, increased staffing, and facility updates that made the beach even more enjoyable.

Along with the potential for algae problems to make for an unpleasant beach day, the decreased budget may force DCR to reduce staffing and cut maintenance projects that could improve the beaches as a whole. A decrease in budget means that the funding for Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s Better Beaches Program has been decimated as well. These programs are not only a great opportunity for children and families in nearby communities to take advantage of Boston’s great beach resources, but they also showcase these urban beaches.

Representative RoseLee Vincent, Co-Chair of the Commission, said, “it’s a shame we’ve come so far and now we seem to be going backwards,” noting that Revere Beach is lacking in the cleanliness and staffing that it once had.  The Commissioners’ shared goal has always been the improvement of Boston’s beaches for both their recreational and their environmental values. Our metropolitan beaches are an important resource, and as some of the cleanest urban beaches in the country, they are truly beaches we can be proud of. With the recent budget cuts it is unclear whether we will be able to maintain the beach quality that we have seen, but the MBC will continue to work to make this possible. 

Soon, the MBC will hold a hearing and work to publicize what this budget cut means to the future of the beaches and how it will affect the quality of life for the thousands that call these beaches home. This hearing will gather supporters to advocate for the importance of restoring the budget in maintaining and improving the quality of our urban beaches.

Click here to read more about the MBC and learn more about what the Commission has done with the help of DCR to improve our beaches in their 2014 report, Waves of Change. For even more updates, like Save the Harbor/Save the Bay on Facebook!

New Intern- Kara Fadden

Hey everyone, my name is Kara Fadden and I am an Environmental Policy Intern at Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay! I’m currently a senior at Boston University, and am majoring in Ecology and Conservation Biology. I spent my fall in Ecuador focusing on field work in tropical ecology, and can’t wait to get involved here this semester. From before I could even remember I knew I wanted to do something that would help animals in one way or another. After writing a report on the green sea turtle in high school, I turned my passion towards them and then eventually environmental conservation.

I have many memories of beach days, fishing and spending hours observing tide pool ecosystems as a kid; and would love to be able to continue to have clean and healthy beaches and oceans so that kids today can make memories for themselves. I am excited about all of the youth programs that Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay does, as well as the events that get people excited about the beach. Another aspect of Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay I am so passionate about is the cleanup, restoration and protection of the Massachusetts beaches. On top of that, I am excited to get involved in the water quality projects. Water quality is important, so not only we can enjoy the water on a hot summer day, but everything that calls the harbor home can thrive and live happily as well.

I can’t wait to get more involved with all that is going on here at Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay, and I am looking forward to my next couple months here!

Save the Harbor - Year in Review

Here are just a few of the many stories, about Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and our work to restore, protect and share Boston Harbor, the harbor islands, and our region’s great public beaches, which you can find in the community newspapers and regional media or on our blog Sea, Sand & Sky at www.blog.savetheharbor.org

You can find out more at www.savetheharbor.org

Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/savetheharbor 

and follow us on twitter @savetheharbor

STEAMING INTO 2017 - Save the Harbor's Annual Youth Report

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s free Youth Environmental Education Programs are the cornerstones of our work to connect the region’s underserved young people and their families to Boston Harbor and the Boston Harbor Islands.

http://savetheharbor.org/Content/2016YouthReport.pdf

Life’s a Beach! 2016 Better Beaches Program Update

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) awarded more than $215,000 in Better Beaches Program Grants to support over 80 free beach events and activities on the Boston Harbor region’s public beaches in a ceremony on Boston’s Fish Pier on Saturday, June 11th, 2016.

http://www.blog.savetheharbor.org/2016/06/another-spectacular-summer-on-your-beach.html

Let’s clean up the stink at King’s Beach – by Yvonne Abraham

Thursday morning, I was at one of my favorite places: King’s Beach, straddling Lynn and Swampscott. King’s speaks to much that is great about this country. It’s a gorgeous, well-maintained public space, with a handsome promenade.

http://savetheharbor.org/Content/cleanupkingsbeach.pdf

Beating the Heat at the Beach Bash & Splash @ DCR’s Carson Beach

Three-hundred and fifty kids from across the city and around the region, including groups from South Boston, Dorchester, the South End, Jamaica Plain and Lynn made a very big splash on the beach Aug. 5 at Save the Harbor’s 6th Annual Beach Bash and Splash at DCR’s Carson Beach.

http://savetheharbor.org/Content/beatingtheheat.pdf

Metropolitan Beaches Commission Update: Missing The Boat in Lynn – by Thomas Grillo
U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton piled on Tuesday and joined the Lynn delegation in criticizing the Baker administration’s failure to fund the Lynn ferry that serves the North Shore.http://savetheharbor.org/Content/missingtheboat.pdf

What’s she doing on the beach with that weird thing on her back? By Johanna Seltz

Christina Balzotti is spending her summer striding along the water’s edge of nearly 20 miles of state-owned beaches in Boston Harbor with a 50-pound pack on her back connected to a helmet-like ball towering over her head — and looking more than a little like an alien as she takes 360-degree photos of the shoreline for Google Maps.

http://savetheharbor.org/Content/trekker.pdf

Sharing the Harbor Like Never Before: A Letter from Our President

We began our 30th Anniversary Year with a sunset cruise to Boston Light in the spring and ended it with a free fall trip to Spectacle Island in late October. As we looked back toward the city with our community  partners and our friends and supporters, we couldn’t help but think back on all we have accomplished together since 1986.

http://www.blog.savetheharbor.org/2016/11/sharing-harbor-like-never-before-letter.html

Thanks to all of our foundation funders, corporate sponsors, and the more than 1,000 individual donors who help make our work possible. You can find a full list at

www.blog.savetheharbor.org/2016/06/our-funders.html. 

Make a donation to support our work.

Hi from Kelly - Intern Extraordinaire

Kelly fueling her seaweed obsession on Cape Cod

Hi everyone! My name is Kelly Tobin and I'm the new Environmental Policy intern here at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. I am a senior at Boston University and originally from Connecticut, so I have always loved New England's beaches and all of the unique life here. I study Marine Science, which has been a lifelong passion for me, starting with the rocky shores of Connecticut all the way down to the warm waters of the Gulf Stream in North Carolina.

My parents would take me down to the coast as often as they could during the summer, which was a treat because we live over an hour away from the coast.  When we were there, we spent the whole day looking under rocks for little crabs, walking along the shoreline and staring at the sand in search of sea glass or unique shells, and I would brave the chilly New England water to play with the fish and hermit crabs that I could see in the shallow water. When we went down to North Carolina, I was in heaven.  The hot southern sun gave me an excuse to spend hours in the water, catching minnows and crabs, and searching for any treasures I could find on the sand. These experiences fueled my curiosity and fascination with the natural world around me, and I can't imagine going through life without that. I want everyone to have equal access to the beaches like I did and am thrilled to be part of a team with the same vision for the world. It is already so uplifting.

Kelly looking for seals and enjoying the sun on the Fish Pier

At BU, I have worked in a biogeochemistry lab, been a teaching assistant for an Introduction to Oceanography class, and am Co-President of the Marine Science Association. I've taken many ocean-centered courses as well as a STEM education course throughout my time as an undergrad, and wish I had more time to take more courses! I love teaching people about something I know and care about, and getting to work with people who also get excited about the ocean and our environment. I want to focus on the communications and education side of Marine Science, which is why I started with Save the Harbor.

Kelly with a preserved viperfish at Harvard's
Museum of Natural History

I have a special love for seaweed and sustainable food systems, and Save the Harbor is a perfect place to share that love with more people! In my first week, I have already dove into (pun intended) some of the projects I will be working on. I have started with some of the other amazing people here on curriculum development for our summer programs. They were so impressive-I wish I could be a kid again! Right now my main project is creating a cookbook featuring foods you can find right here in Boston Harbor, ranging from invasive species like green crabs to my personal favorites; (native) species of seaweed. I love the idea of eating invasives to create a more sustainable food system AND teaching kids and families where their food comes from. It has been a super fun project and I'm only on day 3, so I am very excited to see what this semester brings.

Cheers,
Kelly

Sea, Seals & Sky

The difference between a good and bad seal photo: time and effort

Have you ever made eye-contact with a seal?

An early attempt

One beautiful fall morning, I spotted a dog-like creature with big, curious eyes paddling around the fishing boats. In one slick arc, it dove quickly out of view, but I was sure: I had seen a seal in the wild, and I was overjoyed.

I called Bruce Berman immediately. "One seal? There will be more" he promised. For the first time in my life, I couldn't wait for it to get colder!

The seal made me inexplicably happy. Each day I looked forward to spotting the dark eyes and slippery fur peering up from the surface of the water. Save the Harbor taught me to share the treasures of the Harbor, which I decided was possible with a great photograph of a seal.

Dark spotted seal and light grey seal, diving out of view at the same time

I had a mission- get a good photo of a seal. Easy, right? Not quite- I spent weeks catching blurry, distant photos from the office window. I always seemed to miss the seal just as it dove under the water. I got the team involved: Diana Acosta, an intern at the time, explained that seals can hold their breath for more than twenty minutes, so once they dive, there's no telling when they will pop back up.

For the rest of 2016, I would only see one seal in the morning. I cajoled Trevor Etheridge, also a busy intern, into accompanying me as a lookout. Teamwork really does pay off: armed with a sensible camera, we were able to get a decent shot- but we were determined to do better.

Seal that Trevor spotted

Far away seal, looking up

January arrived with opportunity. One busy Friday, four seals were swimming around the pier, looking for scraps from the fishing boats. "FOUR seals!" I exclaimed, calling my coworkers to the conference room- but as they do, the seals dove out of sight, and nobody else saw them. Some may have worried that I was losing my mind.


By 2:00 that Friday, I began to lose hope. The day had gone by in a blur- I ran out at lunch: no seals. I saw the seals from the window: no time to run out. I saw seals, ran downstairs, had my camera ready: no luck.

Bashful-looking seal

Max Iwuala, a summer staff member who is re-joining the team, arrived for a meeting at 3:00. Max is one of the most charismatic, hard-working people I have ever met; he asks poignant questions, he makes everyone laugh, and he plays a mean game of chess. This particular Friday, Max was coming in to join our curriculum review project.

By 4:00, daylight was running out. As soon as we wrapped up a meeting, I told Bruce that there were four seals in the harbor. I didn't need to explain further; he pointed to Max and said "well go get a photo, and take him with you!"

We nearly ran out the door.

One of Max's seal photos

I am half-convinced that Max has superpowers. He could hardly believe his eyes when he first saw the seals, but within minutes, he could spot them faster than I could. I passed him the camera, and just like that, he did what I had been trying to do for months: he captured incredible photos of the seals. Despite the gusty winds and 18-degree weather, we took photos until it grew too dark.

 We hope you enjoy these photos. Keep an eye out for seals this winter, and remember to share the joy that the Harbor brings you!

Whiskers on display

Take care, friends!

Carolyn

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

Sharing the Harbor Like Never Before: A Letter from Our President

I would like to thank you for helping Save the Harbor “share the harbor” like never before.

With your support, this year our free Youth Environmental Education Programs connected 30,375 youth and teens from 42 communities to Boston Harbor and the Boston Harbor Islands State and National Park.

We would love your support again this year. Your contribution of $25, $50, $100 or whatever you can afford to give will make a real difference. Make a donation here.

In the past three years these free programs have doubled in size and impact, helping to make Save the Harbor the Boston Harbor Connection for the region’s kids and families, serving more than 160,000 young people since 2002. Together we have created a new generation of environmental stewards who understand the value of Boston’s spectacular harbor, beaches and islands to them and their communities.

2016 was also a terrific year for our Better Beaches Program partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, awarding more than $200,000 in small grants to 43 groups in 9 beachfront communities and waterfront neighborhoods. These groups in turn leveraged our funds with nearly $500,000 in cash and in-kind support from local government and businesses and more than 8,800 volunteer hours to support over 100 free concerts, , beach festivals, sand raking exhibitions and sand sculpting competitions from Nahant to Nantasket.

We also won important victories in the policy arena, though recent developments put many of the gains we have made at serious risk.

On the bright side, this summer Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matt Beaton asked Save the Harbor/Save the Bay to quarterback an initiative to create a consensus on next steps to finally resolve the ongoing pollution problems that still close beaches in Lynn, Swampscott and Dorchester. Working together with state and local officials, our Beaches Science Advisory Committee will issue a report next summer which will pave the way for capital investment by the Commonwealth to help these communities.

In June, the Metropolitan Beaches Commission which we lead and manage for the Legislature, held a hearing at the State House. At that hearing the Commission called on the Baker Administration to jumpstart their efforts to develop a regional water transportation plan to connect the region’s coastal communities with each other and with the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park, which they have agreed to do.

However, despite these successes, there are real causes for concern.

Several weeks ago, in response to projected declining tax revenue forecasts, the press reported that the Baker/Polito Administration was considering $294 million in budget cuts that we believe would put many of the gains we have made in recent years at risk. Since then, increased tax revenues have resulted in a postponement of the decision to cut these programs.  However, we are still concerned about the possibility of revenue declines and imposition of these cuts on DCR, which is considering cutting funds for full time and seasonal staff, maintenance and free events and programs on the region's public beaches in 2017. The Commonwealth's 13 public beaches are critical civic, economic and recreational assets for the region's low income and underserved youth and families. Rather than further cuts, we believe that we should be making additional modest investments to protect the nearly $5 billion we have already invested in the Boston Harbor cleanup.

We began our 30th Anniversary Year with a sunset cruise to Boston Light in the spring and ended it with a free fall trip to Spectacle Island in late October. As we looked back toward the city with our community partners and our friends and supporters, we couldn’t help but think back on all we have accomplished together since 1986.

We are proud of our role as the region’s leading voice for clean water and continued public investment in Boston Harbor, our public beaches, and beachfront communities and waterfront neighborhoods from Nahant to Nantasket. Working together we have transformed Boston Harbor from a liability into a source of opportunity and pride for Bostonians and the region’s residents.

I know that you understand the value of Boston Harbor, the islands and our public beaches to all the region’s residents, especially underserved young people and low income families.

I also know that we can count on you.

Your contribution of $25, $50, $100 or whatever you can afford to give will make a real difference as we continue our work to restore protect these spectacular urban natural resources and share them with the public for everyone to enjoy.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the staff at Save the Harbor, I want to thank you for your support and wish you a very happy holiday season.

All the best,
  

Patricia A. Foley
President

P.S. It’s easy to make a contribution today on our website, or, if you prefer you can mail your check to:

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay
Boston Fish Pier
212 Northern Avenue, Suite 304 West
Boston MA 02210 United States

The View From the Top of the Mountain

Hey guys, it feels good to be back. Ever since the school year started, I've been waking up around 11 am or 12 pm on Saturdays, therefore it was kind of hard to wake up at 7 to be at the World Trade Centre at 9. The last time I went to Spectacle Island was in August, it was really hot and now that it is October it got really cold. I remember that I used to stay in one place in order to stay cool, but now I was moving around because I was trying to be warm. Although it was cold, people still had fun and enjoyed the island. I remember over the summer seeing the boat full of kids and a very few adults, but now there were more adults than kids.

Kids looking for marbles in the dry seaweed

After meeting up with the SHSB staff and all the people that were going with us to the island, I noticed the smiles on the faces on the kids and especially the adults. The adults asked more questions than the kids, the kids were more excited about the marbles. When we got to the island, the first thing people asked was about the marbles, "where can I find them?", "how big are they?", "can you give me any hints?", were the commons questions people asked me. I never thought that people were going to pay more attention to the marbles than to the things in the island. There was a time when about 20 people were looking for the marbles on one side of the beach.

View of Boston from the boat

Everyone that was looking for the marbles, looked everywhere under the rocks, they were making holes in the sand, going into the bushes, etc. After the people found all the marbles they wanted to walk to the top of the island. I've never been there so it was about to be my first time as well, I was somehow excited about it because I knew that the view was going to be amazing and it sure was. I had a great Saturday morning/afternoon. Seeing some old faces and the island that I enjoyoed the most out of the two island that I went to over the summer was the best thing that could have happened to me on a Saturday.

- Cristian Berlioz

A 'Simply Marble-ous' Winner!

Raquel Cunha of Dorchester wins the “Simply Marble-ous” Treasure Hunt!

In November, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay selected the JetBlue ticket winner in our “Simply Marble-ous” Treasure Hunt, Raquel Cunha of Dorchester!! She found her blue marble on Spectacle Island and throughly enjoyed the day's activities. On top of the marble treasure hunt, Raquel loved hearing stories by Nora Dooley, also known as Mary Read the Pirate. "I believe the initiative to promote awareness and educate people about [Boston's] Harbor islands and their preservation are very important and will allow for future generations to enjoy the area as much as I did," said Raquel.

Raquel can use her round-trip JetBlue ticket to go to ANY of JetBlue’s domestic locations leaving from Boston Logan Airport! Raquel plans on using her round trip going to either San Diego or Miami. Either way she will enjoy a beautiful beachy destination.

“The ‘Simply Marble-ous’ Treasure Hunt is a favorite among JetBlue’s more than 2,500 crew members in Boston, many of whom volunteer locally for a variety of worthy causes including Save the Harbor/Save the Bay” said Ronda Ivy McLeod, Director of Regional Marketing, Northeast at JetBlue Airways. “The treasure hunt exemplifies our fun value, while also highlighting our commitment to the city of Boston.”

"Simply Marble-ous" began in 2012 on the beaches of South Boston with a beach cleanup sponsored by JetBlue in partnership with Save the Harbor. Bruce Berman, Director of Communications at Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay said, “At Save the Harbor we’re always looking for ways to get people to take a fresh look at the Boston Harbor. JetBlue’s support helps to make that possible. One of the reasons this event is such a success is because JetBlue is such a great partner. Fun is one of their core values, which you can see that in the way they treat their community partners, employees and customers.”

While this year’s contest is over, Save the Harbor has already begun to plan for next year’s ‘Simply Marble-ous’ Treasure Hunt, which begins on Memorial Day weekend, so stay tuned!

A Warm (Cold rather) Welcome from Spectacle Island

Map of Trails

Hi everyone!

Shivering was my first reaction to docking at Spectacle Island on Saturday, October 29, 2016. What really shocked me was how green the entire island appeared to be! I have never seen that much green grass throughout the summer, considering how hot and dry it was. It was a regular, cold Boston day around 50 degrees in the city and 40 on the island with a little drizzle in the forecast. This was the first day I had ever been to the top of the island and came back around and it was also my first hike. The trail was very long and winding but I was excited that I got the chance to go around to the top and see everything from up there. It gave us the perfect view of the city. We also saw a woman flying a kite and children looking for marbles.

Mission Accomplished

As one of the dedicated and special-picked marble holders, I made sure to hide them in obvious but secret places that anyone could find. Before my hike up the island, I placed one inside a hole of a rock at the end of the dock, and when I returned about 45 minutes later it was gone! Lucky person, whoever they are. We took a small family of three with us to go hiking up the mountain and the two children enjoyed finding marbles on our hike. We took the North Drumlin trail to the top and the South Drumlin all the way back down. For some reason the way back felt much quicker than the way there. I was bundled up in layers to keep warm and hiking created some heat for me too. I felt accomplished when we finally reached the top and took a rest for about 15 minutes, gazing in the distance and soaking up the view.

View from the top

Kharliyah Ortiz

All Fall 16

The view from here

Khar, Preston, and I

The last time I was here it was a bright summer day where I was comfortably in my flip flops waiting to jump right into the water. Last time I could remember it was about 90 degrees and nothing felt better than being in my blue shirt and my comfortable shorts. All I did was complain about the heat now it's October and it's freezing! Oh man how I wish it was that warm again. It was a pleasure to be with my co-workers once again but this time it was a completely different day. Instead of doing our normal routine we took groups on wonderful trails to see the beautiful views and to enjoy nature. We also had the pleasure of showing around a wonderful group from the Boys and Girls Club who were taking pictures of items they had on their list.  They had so much to take pictures of from the landscape to the rocks, the sea glass, just everything. We also had a marble hunt and the kids just went.... M A R B L E S, hahaha. Get it because they were looking for marbles. HAHAHA!! I can not wait to be back in the summer and being able to connect with families all over again.  The view was breathtaking I could definitely see that beauty in the city skyline. Everything about this day went by smoothly and everyone was pleased which warmed my heart up little by little before we got off the boat.

                                                                                       -Isabella Perez

Back at Spectacle Island

Hi everyone!

My first day back at Spectacle Island since the summer was filled with excitement, new discoveries, and fun. I learned many new things and met new and interesting people while also enjoying some perks of the island I have never gotten to experience. Spectacle Island has always been very enjoyable, and Saturday was not any different.

The day started with our staff meeting up at the World Trade Center, near the spot where the boat takes off. It was nice to catch up with friends from the summer, and I really enjoyed being able to talk to my co-workers for the first time in months. Once we got onto the boat it was interesting to see how much the boat and the Boston Harbor have changed in the last couple of months. As we got closer to Spectacle Island, I could notice how much greener the island has gotten. During the summer Boston was in a drought and Spectacle Island was suffering. This month Boston received a lot of rain and now Spectacle Island is looking as beautiful as ever.

Once we arrived to the island, we planted blue marbles all around the island as part of our Jet Blue scavenger hunt. If a visitor finds a blue marble they can enter a lottery, the winner of this lottery receives two free Jet Blue tickets to anywhere in America. Giving people the opportunity to win this amazing prize was truly wonderful, and it was incredible to see people's reaction after finding a marble. We also took some groups out on walks around the island, and even though it was freezing we enjoyed the view on the island. After this the day came to a close, and we all said our goodbyes to the amazing guests who came out to visit the island with us.

Until next time, Abel Yohannes

As I was walking along the beach, I saw these birds sitting on the rocks, and decided to take a picture of this interesting scene.

One Last group photo.

Fall day on Spectacle Island

Last time I was on Spectacle Island it was in August and its was a hot beautiful day, I remember looking for shade to stay cool due to the heat. Last week was my first time at Spectacle since the summer and it was really cold. It felt like winter and Spectacle is surrounded by water, which made it even colder. The cold did not stop us from having fun. We got on the boat around 9:30 and we had a lot of people on board. Some people told me this was there first time going to Spectacle Island and they were really excited. When we got off the boat, people separated and went on their own to explore the island. Some went hiking on the top of the island and the others were busy looking for the blue marbles. If you find the blue marble , you take a picture and it enters you in a raffle to win 2 Jet Blue  tickets. Many people were really excited and took the challenge of finding the marble.

Amazing view of Boston

After the marble hunting, we all went for a hike on the top of the island, and it was really long walk. We stopped a lot to take pictures of the amazing view the island displays. You can see the whole city and its beautiful skyline from the top of the island. After we got back to the boat, we took one big staff picture and it reminded me of how amazing summer was and I'm glad I had the opportunity to work with such amazing people.

Fun group of people

Until next time,
Abdi

Back to Spectacle Island

Hey everyone,                                   

                                                          It’s Edward- it has been a while since I have written a blog post about our wonderful staff events with Save the Harbor Save the Bay. Today on October 29th, 2016 staff members, including me, were invited back for an event with Save the Harbor Save the Bay. We were all invited for a trip back to one of the well-known island called Spectacle, known for all its historical impacts. Before we got on the boat to Spectacle Island, me and a couple of the Save the Harbor Save the Bay members stayed behind to help people find the boat we were getting on. On the boat you can see a view of the Boston islands along the way. Every island along the way has its own history to be told. The children and their parents were enjoying the boat ride to Spectacle Island. They learned new things they never knew about the islands.  

View of Boston from Spectacle

Others enjoyed the ride to Spectacle Island because it reminded them of how much they really enjoyed Boston. When we got to the island the families and the children were searching all over the place for a blue marble that would enter you in a raffle to earn a ticket for a trip. Any blue marble the kids would find was only counted as one chance. The children would go to hear pirate stories from the pirate her self named Norah. She is an incredible pirate and an incredible story teller who would catch anybody’s attention. We were separated in groups, my group started off along the beach shore looking for blue marbles and viewing sea glass while taking pictures as well. The sea glass my group collected was soft and  one of a kind. 









I got a chance to walk around Spectacle Island and was able  to view the whole island and the view of other islands. The children liked looking for four-leafed clovers that represented something we all wish for called good luck. The children would ask questions on how the community from Boston and others would usually use the islands. A few seconds into the question we answered by saying people usually get in the water or go fishing, and others do fun activities. At the end of the day people wanted to know about any upcoming events that could bring them back to the island. Some just couldn’t wait for next summer to come along. This was the first time I got  invited to a Save the Harbor Save the Bay  event where it was really cold out on the island and we could barely see any birds on the island. When we got on the boat I was having so much fun on the island I didn’t want the boat to arrive back on the dock of the World Trade Center. This trip back to Spectacle Island is going to be as memorable as the summer trip was.

                                                                                                          Sincerely: Edward Calderon

Fall Cruise

The last time I took a trip out to Spectacle island was in the summer with All Access. But going on the cruise this weekend it had a different feel to it. As always I had an amazing seeing the familiar faces at Save the Harbor. But seeing all of the families that came out to the island is probably what made my day the most. Although it was a chilly day, the amount of people that came out for a day on the island was remarkable. We had people who have never been to Spectacle before, and people coming from different countries to study abroad, just to spend a day with us. I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my Saturday afternoon.

The last time I was at Spectacle, it was about 80 degrees and nearly 350 children running around with footballs and water bottles. Now, it was about 30 degrees cooler and not as many children. If its one thing that didn't change were the smiles on everyone's faces. From people searching for marbles or just simply taking a walk to the top of the island. I had an amazing time, and more importantly, everyone did as well. It was actually my first time walking all the way to the top of the island and it was pretty fun. The grass is even greener! Took a look over and I think I could see my house from here! I had an amazing time sharing my experiences and memories with everyone that came out on Saturday. See you next time, Preston.

Fun in the Fall!

Hey Everyone,

                

Its been awhile since I’ve written a blog which feels kind of weird but I missed it. Yesterday was overwhelming because I didn’t know who was going to work or what I was going to do. Well I was waiting in front of the Dunkin’ Donuts in the cold weather then when I saw all of the Save the Harbor, Save the Bay crew members which brought back so many memories of enjoying fishing, visiting Spectacle Island, and the Fishing Tournament.

The Crew

Then we got there and Carolyn split us up into groups and in my mind I’m like wow, it’s freezing! Then we were just walking around waiting when Bruce came up to Carolyn and I and said we should adopt the Photography Club of the Boys and Girls Club, which was pretty cool. A lot of the kids were just focused on the blue marbles and finding them throughout the beach. Then I took a nice walk on the beach looking at the different colored shells, going to the beach in the fall is absolutely amazing. A little while later we went on a nature hike with the kids and they were just looking at different objects to take pictures of which was cool because I remember when I used to be a part of that club and we visited different places.

Views of Boston in the Fall

At the end of the day I just enjoyed and had many laughs with the kids because that’s the purpose of Save the Harbor, Save the Bay, making it the best experience any child could have and knowing they made the best of it.

Can’t wait 'til next summer,

-Nieomi 

Spectacle Island In October!

Hi everyone! It's Rusenny! It's been so many weeks since my very last blog post on the last day of summer, and making this one brings back so many of the wonderful memories that I made this summer! Yesterday, October 29th, I got the chance to visit Spectacle island after weeks of saying goodbye. I was really surprised at how many people began to show up with their kids all bundled up, not letting the cold October weather stop them from exploring Spectacle. As we were all getting on the boat we took a huge group picture which made it feel like summer all over again (with the non-stop photos)! It was cold, but it was worth it. It wasn't until we got on the boat and started passing each Boston Harbor island, that I realized how much I had missed these wonderful views. Everything looked a bit different from the summer, some of the trees were almost leafless, and the grass looked much greener rather than the yellow color it usually had from the harsh summer sun. 

When we got to Spectacle, for many it was their very first time and they began to explore the island right away. Many of the kids, and even parents were very excited in looking for the blue marbles that were hidden all around the island with there being a prize of a free plane ticket to almost anywhere. We also took walks up to the top of Spectacle with small groups and talked about the island and the things that we most loved about it. Norah Dooley was also there telling some of her pirate stories to the kids. I could tell everyone was having a blast and it felt nice to be back. I can't wait to see what awesome memories this upcoming summer will bring. 

Till next time, 

Rusenny :)