And The Winners Are...

The Save the Harbor team is very pleased to announce the winners of BEST COSTUME in Revere, East Boston, South Boston, and Quincy last weekend, complete with pictures of their great outfits! Thanks so much to everyone who dressed up for helping to make our 1st Annual Cupid Splash so much fun, and such a success!

In Revere, our best dressed Cupids were Meghan Maguire and Emily Di Giulio! Meghan also raised the most money on Revere Beach, single-handedly collecting $1,250 to support Save the Harbor and our region's public beaches!

Samantha Jane took a completely different angle in Winthrop, dressing head to toe in animal print and sending out a message to Cupid!

In East Boston, Jamy Madeja abandoned the "original" Splash theme when it was postponed from February to April. Instead of going as a cupid for Valentine's day, she dressed up as an "April Fool," complete with a jester hat and shoes!
In South Boston, Mary Devlin took the cake as the most festive Cupid. Here she is on the right in her awesome red flapper dress. She only took her red high heels off to run into the the water-- now that's dedication!
Nancy Johnson came prepared to take the First Splash of Spring in Quincy in her cozy bathrobe and festive hat and footwear. Great job Nancy!

Aaaaaand in Lynn and Nahant, we're still looking for the names of our two festive cupids, pictured here in the center of Lynn and Nahant's group photo! Anyone out there who knows their names, please let us know so we can reward their awesome efforts!


Thank you to everyone who dressed up for bringing your bright colors, extra enthusiasm, and smiling faces to the beach last Saturday! We'll be in touch with you individually to get you your prizes! Thanks for everything, Cupids!

Wonderful Beach! Wonderful Cupid Splash!

Junyue “Fiona” Pang is an international student from Sichuan, China who is studying at Boston University this academic year. While Fiona recently began an internship at Save the Harbor / Save the Bay, the Cupid Splash was her first exposure to the work we do and the fun that we have doing it! Read on to find out more about her experience…

I was so excited on April 2nd. I couldn’t help getting up early that morning because the First Annual Cupid Splash was held on that day by Save the Harbor/Save the Bay!

I was in a hurry to go to Revere Beach with my friends because I heard that Bruce Berman, who has worked with Save the Harbor for 20 years but who is also my professor at Boston University, was going to jump into the water with more than a hundred other participants to raise funds for the organization and the beaches.

Thanks to the wonderful sunshine, I loved the big smile on everyone’s face on the beach. I felt that everybody was passionate and enthusiastic! There were adorable little children dressed up with big wings just like cupid, and many people wearing beautiful costumes. In particular, Ernie Garneau, who had a red face and a big red heart on his chest was really funny and outstanding!

Seeing so many people jumping into the cold sea on such a winter day was impressive and unforgettable. They were brave! Hundreds of people witnessed and enjoyed the big event on all the other beaches as well.

Promoting the ideas of protecting the beaches-- and raising funds for Save the Harbor and the beaches at the same time through this kind of activity-- was such a great win-win idea. I think it makes people realize the importance of beaches and the Harbor while having fun with them at the same time.

I’ve already been looking forward to the Cupid Splash for the next year and I’ll be a participant if I have the chance! What’s more, I would like to do even more now to protect the beautiful beaches with Save the Harbor/Save the Bay.

Junyue “Fiona” Pang
Intern
Save the Harbor / Save the Bay

JetBlue Airways to Honor Educator at Fenway Park

I thought you all might like to see this.

Stay tuned. 

Bruce

April 7, 2011

For Immediate Release                          


Environmental Educator Bruce Berman of Boston University and Save the Harbor / Save the Bay was chosen "Most Valuable Teacher" by JetBlue Airways and will throw out the first pitch at game two of the Boston Red Sox / New York Yankees homestand in Fenway Park on Saturday, April 9, 2011.

Berman teaches an undergraduate course in marine science as well as American management, business communication, and Boston Harbor history and policy in the Department of Administrative Science at Boston University's Metropolitan College where he has introduced hundreds of students from around the world to Boston's extraordinary harbor.

Bruce is also the lead architect of Save the Harbor / Save the Bay's free youth environmental education programs that have connected 50,000 youth and teens to Boston Harbor and the Boston Harbor Islands since 2002.

He and his wife Save the Harbor / Save the Bay's President Patricia Foley are avid Red Sox fans and live for most of the year on their boat "Verandah" at Constitution Marina on Boston Harbor.

"Actually, it is quite and honor - and a big responsibility" said Berman, 55, who watches nearly every Red Sox game but acknowledges that he hasn't played much baseball since 1971. "I have much more experience casting for big striped bass on Boston Harbor than I do pitching at Fenway Park. But I have been practicing since I got the news last week, and promise to try to my best for my team."

"Maybe they will play "Love That Cleaner Water" quipped Berman who has been the spokesman for Save the Harbor / Save the Bay for 20 years.

For more information contact Matt Wolfe at 617-451-2860

Cupid's Visit to Revere Beach

I woke up early Saturday morning to find my father with red face paint on his face and a red heart on his chest. Yep, this is how I started the day off... only be followed by more craziness. Revere Beach hosted Save the Harbor / Save the Bay's first annual Cupid Splash on Saturday, April 2nd. The sun was shinning, the birds were out, the wind was blowing, and the water… was cold. Despite the temperature it did not stop the brave volunteers, who ran with open arms into the water. I have never seen so many people happy to run into freezing cold water! Despite my father’s attempts at black mailing me; I refused to go in. The event itself was wonderful even as a spectator; there was music, plenty of people-- many dressed in their best cupid themed attire-- hot clam chowder from Summer Shack, and Kelly’s Roast Beef. There was a even film crew from the local news channel and plenty of cameras going off.



The reason that this splash was so special was because it is the only splash that is for the beaches, the beach communities, and the environment. Everyone raised money to aid in keeping our local beaches clean and providing free events and activities-- and that was definitely the reason that everyone came out of the water with a big smile on their faces. I cannot wait for next year’s splash to see it get bigger and even crazier!

Ariel Garneau
Revere Beach Partnership
Save the Harbor / Save the Bay

Winthrop's First Splash of Spring

This past Saturday, April 2nd, I got to not only participate in but represent Save the Harbor/Save the Bay at our First Splash of Spring on Winthrop Beach! Winthrop Beach was one of eight beaches that partook in the simultaneous cold-water pledge and plunge, spanning from Nahant to Nantasket. Originally named the “Cupid Splash,” the First Splash of Spring turned out to be a huge success, raising over $21,000 for Save the Harbor / Save the Bay and our region's public beaches. Our communities exceeded our original goal of raising $15,000 by over $5,000!

Although Winthrop was considered one of the smaller Splashes, the shore was booming with spectators as me and ten other Splashers embraced the cool waters. Evidently the water wasn’t cold enough for some Splashers, as a few dare devils decided to trample into the ocean for a second splash! We all rejoined to collect Cupid Splash gift bags as well as enjoy some pizza that had been donated by Winthrop’s Parks and Recreation Department. Winthrop Beach Splashers managed to raise $1,215, a great triumph, if I do say so myself!

We all gathered at Kelley’s Square Pub after the beach to celebrate not catching hypothermia as well as the First Splash of Spring itself. Kelley’s staff and our friends at Harpoon Brewery did a wonderful job making sure that the over-21 crowd enjoyed their refreshing Harpoon beers and that the under-21 crowd felt welcome in the family-friendly establishment.

April 2^nd turned out to be a great day for not only Splashers on Winthrop Beach but on all the beaches! Not only was it a great and fun way to raise money for such a wonderful cause, but Jet Blue Airways tickets were provided for whoever raised the most money on each beach. Prizes also included a $1,000 grant from Save the Harbor’s Better Beaches Program to the beach that raised the most money and the beach that had the largest turn out.

As a communications intern here at Save the Harbor, it was a great opportunity to watch this event unfold so successfully!

Thanks to everyone who was a part of the great day!

Courtney Hickey

Communications and Event Planning Intern

Save the Harbor / Save the Bay

Splashing Our Way Into Spring

This April 2nd was a gorgeous day, not just because of the amazing weather-- with the lovely sunshine and the pure blue sky-- but it was also our First Splash of Spring at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. Me and two other interns were assigned to help the Cupid Splash event at Revere Beach, which is the biggest fundraiser out of all the eight beaches that day.

There were so many people on the Revere Beach for the event including community members, reporters, Save the Harbor staff, and all our proud and brave splashers who made this extraordinary event possible. We set up our table and tent next to the beach and gathered all the splashers to take group pictures. Although the weather was great, it was still windy on the beach, which made running into the water with cupid costumes on still a little bit cold. However, all our brave splashers ran into the water, and the event was exciting! Free tasty hot clam chowder and hot chocolate were served to warm all the splashers up.

After the event we drove to 338 Grill pub for the warm-up party and enjoyed the free Harpoon beer provided by our sponsor, Harpoon Brewery. We celebrated the great success of our event and had lots of fun together.


Everybody enjoyed the day so much on the beach. As an intern at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, I'm so happy that our 1st Cupid Splash ended up with huge success and happiness. Thanks to all our participants, sponsors and donors, we have proudly raised more than $20,000 for our local pubic beaches and our communities. We will keep doing this and I believe it's going to be even more fun in the future with more new ideas and even more splashers!

Fred Zhao
Intern
Save the Harbor / Save the Bay

"Out of Office" Work

As an intern with SHSB since January, I haven’t had a whole lot of out-of-the-office work given the winter we’ve had here in Boston. In fact, today was my first venture out of SHSB’s office, right into the chaotic throngs of children on February vacation in one of the most popular places for kids in the city – the Boston Children’s Museum. But first, we had to stop by the James Hook and Company’s building to borrow two lobsters, two clams, and an oyster for the day. Then it was off to the museum where for two hours we used the lobsters to entertain scores of eager and energetic kids. We also taught them about the basic anatomy and adaptations of the sea creatures.

While many of the young vacationers were eager to pick up and hold the animals and pose for photographs, there were quite a few who preferred to lightly touch a lobster’s tail or hold an oyster, while there were even still a few who were completely shocked by the sight of a real live lobster. The questions were plentiful: “Are they real?” “Will it hurt if I pick it up?” “Is it friendly?” “Where did it come from?” And the observations and comments were noteworthy too: “I’m holding a lobster! I’m holding a lobster!” “This lobster doesn’t scare me because he’s friendly!” “Dude! There’s no way I’m touching that thing!”

After a couple hours, when the crowds had dissipated, we packed up the lobsters, clams, and oyster, and said goodbye. While my time here as an intern will end before the summer education programs begin, I appreciated having the opportunity to see SHSB in action spreading knowledge and appreciation of sea creatures and helping kids receive the most out of their vacation from school

.

John Gioia

Policy Intern

Save the Harbor / Save the Bay

Diving Right In

What an exciting Thursday! I had a lot of new experiences today, first getting to experience a small aspect of SHSB’s many youth programs. Although the majority of the youth programs occur during the summer, today we got the chance to share two of our lobster friends with the Boston Children’s Museum. The museum was bustling with kids enjoying the exciting exhibits during their school vacation and our lobsters were no exception to their curiosity.

They all gathered around in awe of the sea creatures we had to share, asking a variety of questions like what they eat, if they bite, how to tell if it is a boy or a girl. All questions that I would soon learn the answers to, as this was also my first up close and personal experience with a lobster. Despite my inexperience with these creatures, I found myself jumping right in to the action answering questions and showing the children how to hold them. It was great to see the other side of SHSB, and I was so happy to see the enthusiasm that these children had for the ocean’s creatures that SHSB works so hard to protect.

Courtney Hickey

Communications and Events Intern

Save the Harbor / Save the Bay

Cupid Splash Postponed!

Hello everyone!

We've been having some crazy weather in Boston-- and over at Save the Harbor, this meant a big change for our Cupid Splash. With several feet of crusty snow and ice on all our region's public beaches, another round of snow on the way, surface water temperature of just 33 degrees, and a hard freeze forecast for later this week we have decided to POSTPONE the Cupid Splash and the Harpoon Warm-Up Parties until Saturday, April 2.

I know just how much you were all looking forward to donning your Cupid costumes, dashing across your beach, splashing into the icy Atlantic, enjoying some hot Summer Shack chowder and a refreshing Harpoon beer - all to help Save the Harbor / Save the Bay kick-off our 25th Anniversary.

However, with so much ice and snow still on the beach, we are concerned about the safety of the participants and spectators. Though we know you are a tough bunch, we are confident that the event will be just as much fun a little later in the year when the weather should be a bit warmer - though I hear the water's going to be just as cold!

Despite the postponement, the 1st Annual Cupid Splash has already been a terrific success so far. We have nearly 150 registered participants who have raised more than $13,000 to support Save the Harbor and free events and programs on our beaches during 2011. Thanks to all the participants for your enthusiasm, hard work, and support so far. And donors, don't think we're letting your swimmers off the hook!

We are going to keep registration website open and continue the contests for best Cupid costume, biggest fundraiser and best beach turnout until April 2. We hope you will continue to help us recruit more participants and raise additional funds to support this great cause.

All of us at Save the Harbor / Save the Bay are looking forward to seeing you at the rescheduled Cupid Splash on Saturday, April 2.

Thanks again,

Michelle

Hello all!

We’re very excited over at Save the Harbor / Save the Bay these days. We’re preparing for our First Annual “Cupid Splash” on February 12^th, 2011! Yes, we’re kicking off our 25^th Anniversary by splashing into Boston Harbor in the middle of the winter… and we’re inviting you to join us!

THE EVENT

The Cupid Splash is a traditional cold-weather plunge and pledge fundraiser - with a delicious twist. At noon on Saturday, February 12^th, we are holding NINE simultaneous splashes, eight of which will take place on our region’s public beaches from Nahant to Nantasket. We are delighted to have recently added a ninth splash location in Provincetown, extending our efforts even beyond the Harbor!

Each Cupid will be collecting pledges to splash into the Harbor to support Save the Harbor / Save the Bay and free events and programs on our region's great public beaches. As of Thursday, January 20, our Cupids across the Harbor have raised more than $5,000 towards our goal of $25,000. That number is growing every day, but we still need your help!

Does this sound like an event you’d like to be a part of? To register, please visit the event website at www.cupidsplash.com. It’s free and simple to sign up, and in the end, you will have the unforgettable memory of jumping into the freezing cold water and doing your part for the future of Boston Harbor.

If you’re worried about the cold, you shouldn’t be! Each splash will be followed by “warm-up” activities that include hot Summer Shack chowder and a cool pint of Harpoon beer at a toasty local pub in each community. Please refer to www.cupidsplash.com for more information, including a full list of beaches, specific splash locations, and “warm up” party pubs. The water will be cold, but we’ll get you warm again in no time.

If you can’t join us on February 12^th, or don’t think you’ll be able to muster the courage to jump in the water, you can use the Cupid Spash website to make a donation to your favorite beach or to an individual Cupid in your community!

PRIZES AND GIVEAWAYS

We have some great prizes and giveaways from our sponsors to reward our participants’ hard work. Thanks to the generosity of our great partners at JetBlue, each participant who raises $100 or more will be entered into a drawing to win a PAIR of round-trip JetBlue tickets.* And the top fundraiser on each beach will win round-trip JetBlue Airways tickets to any non-stop destination. What a great way to warm up after a cool plunge than to take a free trip to somewhere warm! Sign up to splash today!

The beach with the biggest turnout AND the beach that raises the most money will be big winners as well. Each will receive a $1,000 grant from Save the Harbor's "Better Beaches" small grants program to support free events and activities on their beach in 2011.

So please, sign up today to take the plunge, donate to support a loved one, or help us promote the event to your friends, family, and community. You can convince a friend to sign up with you, send an email to your address book, or post a link to www.cupidsplash.com on your facebook page or twitter! If you have any questions, or would like to find out more, please don’t hesitate to contact me at any time.

We can’t wait to see you in the water on February 12^th!

Best,

Michelle Palermino

Save the Harbor / Save the Bay

617-451-2860 x1008

* A passenger using the Travel Certificate is solely responsible for any applicable fees taxes, surcharges, and/or service charges, including but not limited to Passenger Facility Charges of up to $9.00 each way, September 11th Security Fees of up to $2.50 each way and a Federal Segment Tax of $3.70 per domestic segment (a segment is a takeoff and landing) and, in the case of international travel, government fees and taxes of up to $127.60 each way.

Sea, Sand and Sky

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay (SH/SB) is a non-profit public-interest environmental advocacy organization whose mission is to restore and protect Boston Harbor, Massachusetts Bay, and the marine environment for everyone to enjoy.

Each year we run two free summer youth programs that combine recreation and hands-on education to bring the Harbor alive for thousands of Boston area young people.
Our "Boston Harbor Explorers" program serves nearly three thousand young people on the docks (and in the boats!) of our city's youth sailing centers in Charlestown, East Boston, South Boston and Dorchester, at Constitution Beach in East Boston, at Wollaston Beach in Quincy,and at Camp Harbor View on Long Island.


Our "All Access Boston Harbor" program departs weekdays from the Bank of America Pavilion in South Boston, and brings 200 kids a day to George's or Spectacle Island in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park. This summer AABH will bring nearly 5,000 young people from 100 community groups to the islands, many for the very first time.

For more information on Save the Harbor/Save the Bay or any of our programs, please visit us at www.savetheharbor.org

If you would like to share the harbor with thousands of deserving kids this summer,
Click Here to Support our Summer Youth Programs!

Kids Festival at Wollaston Beach

On Saturday, October 23, some of the Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay staff and I went to the Wollaston Beach Kids Festival. We could have not asked for more beautiful weather! We were instantly greeted by friends of Wollaston beach staff and lots of excited children. We sat up our table and touch tank which held Lucy the Lobster. All of the kids and parents loved looking and learning about the lobster. Michelle and John showed me how to tell the difference between a male/female lobsters. I also learned that lobsters can grow back their limbs!

What I loved most about the event was watching how much the children loved seeing and touching the lobster. Though some were scared at first they all were so excited to see a lobster so close! Having never really seen a lobster so close I was surprised at how big they are…especially their claws! At the festival there was, music, pumpkin painting, cooking decorating and of course pizza! All of us had so much fun and was happy that we had such beautiful weather.

Ariel

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay at the Boston Local Food Festival

On Saturday, October 2, 2010, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay tabled at the first-ever Boston Local Food Festival, presented by the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston.

The brisk but sunny autumn day gave families, tourists, students, and locals the perfect opportunity to enjoy an afternoon at the harbor. The Fort Point Channel was lined with white tents filled with representatives from various organizations who reached out to visitors with new information about sustainability and some even offered delicious, organic food. Save the Harbor had a special guest at its tent – a locally caught, pound-and-a-half lobster!

Save the Harbor went all out for the kids to have a fun, hands-on experience with a member of the Harbor’s marine life. Kids looked on with fascination as Michelle Palermino, Senior Marine Coordinator, picked the lobster up from its temporary home, a plastic tank filled with water, and stroked its tail. Some kids were scared of the crustacean, while others were eager to carry the lobster right from the get-go.

Save the Harbor also took advantage of its position along the channel and set up a fishing station right along the channel, directly across from its tent. At the fishing posts, interns from this past summer fished and crabbed with kids. It was a great day for crabbing. The kids caught three crabs in less than an hour!

All in all, it was a great day for people from all walks of life to get together to enjoy a beautiful day at the harbor! The Boston Local Food Festival was the perfect way to usher in the autumn season with a mix of education, food, and a lot of fun!

- Catalina Tresky

The Treasures of Spectacle Island

Starting off as a cloudy morning, Saturday turned into a beautiful day! On Saturday, 25^th 2010 me and other friends of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay went on an adventure to Spectacle Island. We started the day off gathering around the dock where Bruce Berman, one of the original founders of Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay gave an brief speech about the trip and soon after we were off!

With the help of AC cruise lines we reached our destination in no time and all the families were off exploring! I was surprised at how much there was to do at the Island. While I was on the beach I met one family who were keeping themselves entertained by burying each other! As I walked around I met another family, The Bee’s that were enjoying running around and playing ball. It was also a perfect day to fly kites which many families were doing. It was so nice to see families and especially the kids enjoy themselves and just having fun

This was my very first time at Spectacle Island and I fell in love with it! The island is so beautiful and well maintained. After taking time to grab a quick snack from the summer shack, me and some of the Save the Harbor crew went on a hike to the top of the island. No being an avid hiker, I was worried I would not make it to the top! To my surprise the hike was not difficult but very relaxing. On the way to the top, it was fascinating to learn about the history and facts about the island. The view of the city line from the top of the island was AMAZING! Can you believe that this island was once a trash dump?

Despite only being less then a 20 minute boat ride from BostonSpectacle Island is truly a hidden gem. For those who do not know any thing about Spectacle Island here is a brief history: It is believed that Native Americans used the island for fishing starting around 600 A.D. In the 1600s Europeans used the island as a source for firewood along with making it a smallpox quarantine. In 1857 a horse rendering plant was built which was followed by a city trash incinerator that was active till 1935. The island then became a trash dumb till the 1990s. It was when the infamous big dig started that things started to change for this smelly island. The dirt that was excavated from the dig was shipped off to Spectacle Island which was used to resurface the island. With thousands of trees planted and paths created the island opened up to the public in 2006. You can find all sorts of treasures on the two beaches located on the island left over from its days of being a trash dump. I found all this information on the island from the national park service's website so check it out!

Now that it is starting to get cold I am not sure I will get out toSpectacle Island until next spring but am so thankful I had the opportunity to explore the island on what can only be described as a perfect fall day. Spectacle Island was truly captivating and I cannot wait to get a chance to explore all the Boston Harbor Islands! To find out about other great events like this check out our Boston Harbor events and activities facebook page!

-Ariel

SUMMER ISN'T OVER AT NANTASKET BEACH

The Endless Summer Waterfront Festival Down in Hull we try our hardest to keep summer rolling along on Nantasket Beach until our big festival Saturday September 25th from noon-6pm. With help from SHSB we were able to produce our tv commercial with hopes that it will bring you all to Nantasket for a final summer party

The End of a Summer...

So this is my farewell post to everyone that I've worked with this summer. All my coworkers, bosses, and the children that came out to the Islands with me have made this one of the best jobs I've ever had. From work outings to Cirque du Soleil and giant capture the flag games on Georges Island, I feel lucky to have gotten to work with a bunch of exceptionally nice, helpful, and funny people. It's a lot easier to get up and go to work in the morning if you know that you're going to be surrounded by people who love what they do, and at STH/STB, everyone is 100% committed to teaching children about how awesome the Boston Harbor is.

I also feel very fortunate to have spent time with so many great kids this summer. They could always put a smile on my face because they were so eager to ask questions and go exploring, never complaining if it was hot or if they had to follow instructions. Working with kids has been a great experience for me; I now know that I really enjoy working with children and want to continue to do so in the future.

So although this is my last post of the summer, I hope it won't be my last post ever. Next summer I hope to be back on the Virginia C II, heading out to fly kites and look for sea glass on Spectacle Island with a whole new group of excited Bostonians. Til next summer!

-Carolyn

Wonderful Summer

My grandfather has always said that do what you love, and if you're good at it, you'll just happen to get paid. That was his advice for pursuing things in the professional world. He is the epitome of that phrase: at 83, he still gets up every day and heads to a local brokerage firm in downtown Worcester where he works with two of his grandchildren. This summer was my version of that philosophy. There was no dread or negative involved in my summer employment. I was working outside on the water providing inner city kids with opportunities that they had never had. You can not put a price tag on such an experience-- one that I am proud to have in my rear-view mirror as I begin my sophomore year in college. I applaud SHSB and the people who collectively make it possible.

Thanks for a great summer!
Dan Kenary

My Boston Harbor Love Story

The lobster traps have all been pulled up, the fishing rods are all de-hooked, the sailing centers are empty, and the incredible co-workers that surrounded me all summer are heading back to school. It's bittersweet, for sure, as all goodbyes tend to be. But my overwhelming feelings, even as I said goodbye to BJ before he left for his first year of college, and even as Conor and I painstakingly organized all of our equipment for its winter hibernation, are of contentment and joy.

Why? Because with the end of the youth programs comes the end of my first summer as a Bostonian, which is actually not an ending at all, but a joyful beginning. I consider this summer my own personal success story of setting out on my own and finding a place where I belong. It's such an amazing feeling to know for certain that this was what I was supposed to do, and where I was meant to be, for the last 9 weeks. And while you might even argue that no one who has lived here less than three months is allowed to refer to herself as a Bostonian, I'm going to have to disagree. Try moving here in the gorgeous summer weather and immersing yourself in everything the city has to offer. Eat new types of food, see Shakespeare on the Common, watch the 4th of July fireworks against the city skyline. Try working in the Seaport district, Charlestown, Quincy, East Boston, Dorchester, South Boston, and on the Harbor Islands-- and learning the bus, train, car, and boat routes between them all. But most importantly, try being in touch with the city's natural environment, and sharing it with the city's next generation, every single day. Then tell me you're not in love with this city. Tell me you wouldn't feel like a true Bostonian, too.

Thank you to everyone who welcomed me to this new home: Lindsay and Jen, thank you for your constant support and guidance. Bruce and Patty, thank you for the opportunity to be a part of our organization's amazing efforts and of this amazing group of people specifically. To my coworkers-- I've said this before, I've learned so much from you this summer -- not only about things like music and movies and frisbee, but about strength and selflessness and passion. Thank you for that. And to the children of Boston that crowded the beaches, docks, sailing centers, and boats this summer-- thank you for reminding me of the wonder only a child can possess, and for helping me discover that I want to make education a part of my life for many years to come. You were the reason we got up so early, sweated through the hot days, and shivered through the downpours... so that you could be the next generation of Harbor stewards. Thank you for exploring the Harbor with us.

I am sad to see the seasons changing and the youth programs ending, but I am grateful for the gifts this summer has given me. Surrounded by a network of both old and new friends, anxiously awaiting my move into my new Cambridge apartment on September 1st, and guided by a phenomenal summer's memories, I see a long love affair with Boston, and its Harbor, stretched out before me. Hope to see you all again along the way.

Lots of Harbor Love,
Michelle Palermino

Experimental Success!

Continuing with my recent science theme, I’m going to liken my summer to a scientific experiment. It all began with an observation that I made while considering places to move to after graduation: Boston is a vibrant and diverse city, full of passionate people, with unparalleled access to nature and outdoor recreation. My hypothesis? That Boston must contain excellent opportunities to foster connections between citizens and their environment. Results: success greater than I could have ever imagined! This summer, my great post-graduation experiment with “real life,” has been an incredible experience—and I couldn’t possibly thank everyone who made this possible enough.

During our first week of training, I set some lofty goals for myself. I wanted to, for instance, learn how to catch a fish—something I had never done before. Moreover, I wanted to teach someone else how to catch their first fish, and witness the surprise and excitement on his or her face as they pulled their prized catch up from the deep. I had no idea, at the beginning of the summer, that helping Boston youths catch their first fish would almost become routine by mid-summer (which isn’t to say that it became any less enjoyable to see). After weeks of driving in tangled circles, I’ve learned how to navigate the communities that surround Boston Harbor, an achievement in and of itself for a non-native Bostonian. More important, however, are the conversations I’ve had with the kids, and adults, who make this city’s neighborhoods the lively centers that I’ve come to know and love.

Boston grew up around its harbor, from its early days as a remote colony to its ascendance as a commercial and creative capital. I’m glad to see this city turning its gaze back towards the waters that sustain it, and I’m confident that programs like Boston Harbor Explorers will continue to strengthen the relationship Bostonians share with this natural wonder.

Best Wishes,

Aaron Becker

Project NaGISA: Global Citizen Science at Camp Harbor View

Citizen Science is a concept that repeatedly comes up in the posts on this blog—whether we’re making ecological observations by counting crabs or testing water quality with Secchi disks, we Boston Harbor Explorers use our firsthand contact with the Harbor to gather important data. While we do provide the data we collect to Dr. Judy Pederson and her colleagues at MIT’s Sea Grant Program, there are some even larger and more ambitious programs out there that aim to collect and compare data collected by Citizen Scientists across the nation and around the world. Project NaGISA, which stands for Natural Geography In Shore Areas, is a worldwide research collaboration that takes a census of life along the coastline at 240 sampling sites in 28 different countries. Camp Harbor View is one of those 240 locations, and last Tuesday I had the pleasure of participating in their data collection firsthand.

In order to compare data collected at sites scattered across the globe, Project NaGISA has a rigorous set of standardized procedures. Greg Stoddard, Camp Harbor View’s Director of Operations, oversaw a group of Counselors-In-Training as they undertook this scientific survey to fulfill their project requirements. Staff from the New England Aquarium provided the CITs with GPS units, to record precise latitude and longitude measurements for each one-meter-square quadrat, and sections of PVC piping to mark off the habitat areas where we collected data. After assembling our equipment, we headed to the rocky coast to see what living and non-living features we could identify. Racing against the rising tides, we collected data from low, medium, and high tidal zones—providing a detailed, multi-faceted description of life along Long Island’s shoreline. Counselors and CITs alike wore expressions of intense concentration as they scrutinized each quadrat, carefully recording their observations.

Project NaGISA provided scientists around the world with detailed data on the coastal geography of our very own Boston Harbor, from the perspective of Long Island. In addition, the research process gave the young adults working at Camp Harbor View a glimpse of the rigors of field ecology, introducing them to a field that’s becoming increasingly important in our changing world. Science is all about collaboration, and I’m thrilled to have been a part of this endeavor.

Cheers,

Aaron Becker

Big Trouble from Microscopic Algae

For the two weeks I worked there, Piers Park Sailing Center in East Boston was beset by a plague—hordes of microscopic plants and animals swarmed so thickly through the water column that they noticeably reduced the water’s clarity. Emily told me that the previous week’s Secchi depth reading, a measure of water clarity, had been 3.5 to 4 meters; during the weeks I was at Piers Park, Secchi depth never exceeded 3.5 meters, and most often hovered around 3.0 meters. Half a meter might not seem like such a drastic reduction in visibility, but many algae blooms occur in the few meters below the water’s surface. The drop in Secchi depth that we observed could indicate increased concentrations of algae in the Harbor. While happy to have been able to observe such a far-reaching process in the Boston Harbor, neither our HarborExplorers nor I were happy about our hypothetical algae bloom.

Algae blooms, however, do more than just make it more difficult to see into the Harbor’s depths. Depending on the species of algae, algae blooms impart water with a slimy green or sickly, reddish-brown tinge. Blooms are unattractive and gross, even to an untrained observer. Some species of dinoflagellate algae produce toxic compounds, poisoning fish and making shellfish unsafe to eat. Fortunately, we have no evidence to suggest that the algae we observed were toxic enough to kill fish; they did, however, make the water unappealing enough to keep the fish from venturing close to our dock. Fishing in algae-infested water is pretty frustrating! Even using sea worms as bait, we only caught tiny butterfish.

Algal blooms occur when large amounts of nutrients enter the Boston Harbor, usually following a large storm. Nitrogen and phosphorous, two essential nutrients that allow algae to proliferate, wash into the harbor when rainwater dissolves fertilizers and other compounds. During extreme storms, some nutrient-containing waste enters the harbor through leaky sewer lines and combined sewage overflow pipes. Nutrient pollution in the harbor isn’t nearly as severe a problem as it was before the harbor was cleaned up, but there are still measures we can take to ensure that nutrient contamination in the harbor is kept to a minimum. Lawn fertilizers, for instance, contain exactly the mix of elements that algae need to bloom—keeping their use to a minimum, or stopping their use altogether, reduces the risk that they’ll end up polluting our harbor.

The Boston Harbor is a delicate system that human activity can easily disturb. Without human intervention, nitrogen and phosphorous move through living things in a complex and interconnected cycle. Even unintentional actions that humans undertake on land can have far-reaching consequences for marine ecosystems, and algal blooms are just one of the unpleasant side effects of our careless mistakes. I can only hope that in every year to come Boston Harbor Explorers experience a harbor that’s even cleaner than it was the year before.

-Aaron

Endless Summer Commercial for Nantasket Beach

Thank you to Save the Harbor Save the Bay for helping support our television commercial for the Endless Summer Waterfront Festival on Sat Sept 25th.

not goodbye...just see you later

im sad to say that this summer has come to a stop, i wouldnt say an end because theres still next summer, but as of right now the summer is over. this was my first year working with Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay, and this was the best summer honestly. this summer i did a lot of things that i could never even imagine doing. not only was this a summer of first but it was also a summer where i set goals and actually achieved them in a timely manner. when i first started this job me co workers and i all set goals. my three goals were to have fun, develope relationships with my co workers, learne new ways to interact with children, and to learn something new each day. all my goals i was able to achieve.

everyday day at work was full of fun, and everyday i learned something new even if it was just a little fact about the marine life or if it was the story of one of the kids life that i taught, either way everyday for me was very eventful, and knowlegable. everyday at this job was a new adventure.this summer was a summer that i will always remember even when im old and gray. this summer has set a high bar for the next summers to come.

catch you on the docks

~shaunae smith

treasures of Spectacle Island

staff day i must say was one the most memorable days. during staff day my co workers and i had a day to really just bond. staff day gave us a chance to talk and be our self off the field. during staff day we played an intense game of capture the flag. we also had a nice cookout on Bruce and Pattie's boat. after the cookout we got down to business i should say. we explored the treasures of spectacle island. we walked along the beach exploring and looking at everything we could find. we actually found some cool glass and other things i couldnt even image we would find like sea glass mables. staff day would be a day that i remember forever.

see you on the docks

~shaunae smith

See You Next Summer

Unfortunately, now that summer is coming to a close so is Save the Harbor's youth program. After working the program last summer, I did not think that it could be improved but I had too good a summer this year to compare to any other. The addition of the beaches events was great; I played (and won) my first ever game of volleyball in Quincy at Wollaston Beach. I also caught my first fish (a cunner) of my Save the Harbor career this summer at the Children's Museum. I will never forget the day we caught 18 fish there, one of which we miraculously pulled up with the crab trap. The best piece of the summer pie was all the people though. Boston seems to be filled with the most enthusiastic and interesting kids. I barely had to do any work; they did the job for me. It was not only the kids who enhanced my summer work; I was lucky enough to be with some fantastic co-workers. By the end of the summer I was able to work with everyone, including some of our office staff and I can vouch for all of them, no matter what I happen to be attesting to. Just like the kids, they just made my job easier. I really appreciate everything you all did for and with me this summer.

-Alex

End of The Road

Just for this summer I hope. This past Friday was our last day of work for summer 2010, and I was sad to see everyone go. I had a blast working with everyone at Save the Harbor, from the senior marine educators to the interns. I made some great new friends and gained a lot of valuable experience this summer.

I wis everyone from Save the Harbor a fun and successful rest of the year. Hope to see you all again next summer.

Cesc

Thanks

It's that time--seven weeks flew by so fast, I'm writing this from my desk up at school, taking a quick break from outdoor leadership training, which I jumped right into--the day after I finished Harbor Explorers. I'm falling back into my island routine here, waking up early to jump off the dock into the Atlantic! But I have to say I miss the bustle of the Boston Harbor: the days at castle island where we were among hundreds, if not thousands of harbor-enthusiasts, walking, biking, swimming, crabbing--all enjoying the resource together, getting refreshed by the water, and building on the collective excitement of hundreds of people sharing one special place. I am happy to be back, among my marine bio-cohorts--but I'm returning with a renewed sense of wonder that I think I contracted from the kids we worked with this summer. After I finish this post I need to sit down and try to hammer out a senior project proposal--which of course has me thinking about all the issues I've worked on these past three years: climate change, hunger--the list goes on... It's a little overwhelming to think about tackling any one of these. But having spent a summer working on and in a success story like the Boston Harbor--a place where communities really came together, employed national legislation and local passion to protect our planet and support our neighborhoods--has reminded me again of Margaret Mead's truism: "never doubt that a small group of thoughtful and committed citizens can change the word; indeed, it is the only thing that ever had," and inspired me to keep on working, even when it looks like the odds are against us.

I want to thank everyone who made this possible: Jen, Lindsay, Bruce, Patty, everyone else in the office, our tremendous staff, all our partners, and most of all the kids I got to spend my summer with. I have learned so much from all of you.

In parting, I'd like to offering you a few images of my summer--pictures of what the natural world really has to offer us, if only we'll do our best to pick up after ourselves, and teach our children to do the same.

~Emily

Marveling at tunicats ("una familia grande")

youngest angler of the day

Science is serious business: crab measurements in Charlestown

"Hey, we found a really big snail!"

(I was thinking periwinkle when I strolled over to these Harbor View campers, at the end of a very hot day--only to be presented with a full-out 3" carnivorous MOON SNAIL)

LaToya's first fish!

Rockstar CIT and starlet camper with our first lobster

"FREEEEEDOMMMMMM!!!"

(that's what the kids at black's creek liked to shout as they released our daily catch from the bucket)