This summer a group of South End youth and teens from from the Blackstone Academy Summer Enrichment Program set sail for a day of adventure, activity and learning in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park. Their excursion was one of 28 free trips to Georges, Spectacle and Peddocks Island organized by Save the Harbor/Save the Baythis summer as part of their free All Access Boston Harbor program.
"By summer's end our free youth environmental education programs will have connected more than 15,000 young people to Boston Harbor and the Boston Harbor Islands," said Save the Harbor President Patricia Foley. "We are proud to share these spectacular urban natural resources with the next generation of Boston Harbor stewards."
The trips begin at the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion in the South Boston Seaport, where the kids make fish prints and murals, haul lobster traps and learn about the history of Boston Harbor and the Boston Harbor cleanup from Save the Harbor's maritime historian David Coffin. The groups then board the Provincetown II and spend the day hiking, swimming, fishing, crabbing, creating art on the shore, engaging in healthy outdoor activities on the beach and actively exploring the Boston Harbor Islands National Park.
On Georges Island youth have a chance to tour historic Fort Warren and meet the infamous "Lady in Black". On Peddocks Island they can explore the remains of historic Fort Andrew, visit a classic New England chapel and enjoy the new visitor center and the Harbor Islands' only Frisbee Golf course. On Spectacle Island they can discover sea glass, pottery, and other historic artifacts on Treasure Beach that reveal the islands' history as a municipal landfill before it was transformed into one of the most popular destinations in the National Park.
Last summer Save the Harbor's youth and family programs connected 15,903 young people to Boston Harbor and the Boston Harbor Islands and they expect serve even more young people this summer. "Its great to see so many smiling new faces and so many familiar ones as well" said Save the Harbor's Bruce Berman, who directs the program. "Many of the 120 youth and community organizations who take part in this program join us for more than one trip, and they return year after year. They tell us that these free trips are one of the highlights of their summer."
Save the Harbor's free youth environmental education programs are made possible with Leadership Grants from Bay State Cruise Company, Distrigas/GDF SUEZ, The Coca-Cola Foundation, Ludke Foundation, and the Yawkey Foundation II.
Save the Harbor is grateful for Partnership Grants from Forrest Berkley & Marcie Tyre Berkley, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, The Chiofaro Company, The Fallon Company, Hampshire House Corporation - Cheers for Children, John Hancock Financial Services, Inc., Massachusetts Bay Lines, Massachusetts Port Authority, National Grid Foundation, P&G Gillette, William E & Bertha E. Schrafft Charitable Trust, and the Clinton H. & Wilma T. Shattuck Charitable Trust.
Save the Harbor also appreciates funding support from Lawrence J. & Anne Rubenstein Foundation, Arbella Insurance Group Charitable Foundation, Blue Hills Bank Foundation, Blue Hills Bank Pavilion, Boston Center for Youth and Families, Breckinridge Capital Advisors, Carnival Foundation, Circle Furniture, Clippership Foundation, Department of Conversation and Recreation, Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation, HYM Investment Group Inc., Lovett Woodsum Family Foundation, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, South Boston Community Development Foundation, Reebok Foundation, Santander Bank Foundation, Boston Bruins Foundation, Thomas & Lucinda Foley, Red Sox Foundation, TD Charitable Foundation, Goulston & Storrs, Rowan Murphy & Andus Baker, Matthew J. & Gilda F. Strazzula Foundation, BOMA, Community-Suffolk, Inc., Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation, and hundreds of individual donors.
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is a non-profit, public interest, environmental advocacy organization made up of thousands of citizens, scientists and civic, corporate, cultural and community leaders whose shared mission is to restore and protect Boston Harbor, Massachusetts Bay, the region's public beaches and the Boston Harbor Islands and share them with the public, for everyone to enjoy.
To find out more visit Save the Harbor's website at www.savetheharbor.org, read their youth blog "Sea, Sand and Sky" at www.blog.savetheharbor.org and follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/savetheharbor.