Special to the Times-Free Press
This summer over 6,000 youth, teens and families joined Save the Harbor/Save the Bay for free harbor island cruises to Georges and Spectacle Islands, including 176 kids and teens from East Boston.
“We had some very hot and humid days this summer, which made a dip in the Harbor that much more refreshing,” said Save the Harbor Executive Director Chris Mancini. “Swimming in the clean waters off Spectacle Island and exploring the ‘Dark Tunnel’ in Fort Warren were two of the best places to be during the muggy heat this year.”
Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 300-500 kids from around the region met at the Leader Bank Pavilion or Fan Pier to join the free cruises. The excursion starts with Harbor Historian David Coffin explaining to groups how Spectacle Island went from a landfill on fire to the beautiful park it is today.
“The history of Spectacle Island is one of my favorite stories to share with the kids,” said Coffin, “And it emphasizes the importance of the park’s carry-in, carry-out policy. They experience that idea in real time, and then take that experience home with them, encouraging the next generation of environmental stewards.”
The trips are programmed by Boston Public School students in Save the Harbor’s Youth Jobs Program, who spend their summers gaining real-world leadership experience and expanding their education on ecological protection. Once on the island, they lead fun, STEAM-based education activities like Fishing 101, the Treasures of Spectacle Island archaeology exploration, and hikes through Fort Warren on Georges or to the top of Spectacle’s drumlins for a great view of the Boston Skyline and the outer harbor.
“We’re particularly proud that the program offers guided audio tours and information in six languages,” said Deputy Director Kristen Barry. “This way, native speakers in Mandarin, Spanish, Cape Verdean Creole, Vietnamese, and Haitian Creole can more easily participate in our programs. When we say All Access, we mean it!”
Mancini went on to emphasize how these free cruises are made possible with leadership support and partnership from key organizations like Bay State Cruise Company, Mass Bay Lines, .
“We are always eager to thank our partners and funders for their sustained support,” Mancini added, “Including the Healey/Driscoll Administration, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Champions Liberty Mutual Foundation, Coca-Cola Company, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Eastern Salt Company, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, JetBlue, John Hancock Financial Services, Massport, the Mass Cultural Council, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and the National Grid Foundation, as well as the hundreds of individual donors who support the organization.”
They also thanked Alexandria, Amazon, Bay State Cruise Company, BXP – Atlantic Wharf, City of Boston Department of Youth Engagement and Employment, Boston Consulting Group, the Comcast Foundation, Constellation Generation, the Cronin Group, Hood Park, HYM Investment Group, Income Research and Management Charitable Trust, Leader Bank Pavilion/Live Nation, Massachusetts Bay Lines, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, National Development, Nutter, P & G Gillette, Pembroke Real Estate, Rockland Trust, Lawrence J. and Anne Rubenstein Charitable Foundation, RWE Clean Energy, William E. Schrafft & Bertha E. Schrafft Charitable Trust, Clinton H. & Wilma T. Shattuck Charitable Trust, Copeland Family Foundation, Equinor, Lovett Woodsum Foundation, Mass Marine Trades Education Trust, Pabis Foundation, Rockland Trust, Ms. Wallace M. Leonard Foundation, and Vertex.
Save the Harbor’s free harbor cruises begin running every year in June and run until October. Upcoming cruises in 2024 include September 15, September 24, September 29, and October 6. These cruises are are free and open to all to join through Save the Harbor’s website, along with other evening and weekend Share the Harbor tours.
To learn more about Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s free All Access Boston Harbor excursions or upcoming free events on the waterfront or your favorite beach, visit their website at www.savetheharbor.org and follow @savetheharbor on social media.