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Community Corner

Idiil Learning Center Takes to Georges Island with Save the Harbor/Save the Bay

On July 9th, close to 200 children from the Idiil Learning Center, including kids from Newton, spent a great summer day on Georges Island, in Boston Harbor, as part of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s freeAll Access Boston Harbor program.

This voyage was one of 21 scheduled free trips on Boston Harbor for area youth and teens. Last summer, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay brought over 6,000 youth and teens from area community organizations and youth groups on these free day trips to explore the Boston Harbor Islands. Since 2002, the group has connected more than 75,000 youth and teens to Boston Harbor, the Boston Harbor Islands, our region’s public beaches, and Boston’s waterfront.

“We think it’s important to share our great harbor with as many young people as possible,” said Save the Harbor President Patricia Foley. “Thanks to the generosity of our donors, this year we will share the harbor with even more youth and teens.”

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The day starts at Boston’s Bank of America Pavilion, where kids learn more about Boston Harbor, the islands and the marine environment before taking off on the Provincetown II for a day of recreation, education, and exploration in the Boston Harbor Islands.

The trip to Georges Island allows kids to not only enjoy the beautiful view of Boston Harbor, but also gives everyone there a chance to tour the historic Fort Warren and meet the infamous Lady in Black, They also can learn how to fish, catch crabs, explore, play sports with the youth staff, or just relax on the beach and beat the heat. 

For many of the children on these All Access trips it is their first time on Boston Harbor and sometimes their first time on a boat. "These island adventures are a wonderful way for young people to learn about Boston Harbor's unique history and our marine environment," said Bruce Berman, Director of Strategy, Communications and Programs for Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. "They are also loads of fun." 

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These youth environmental education programs are made possible with Leadership Grants from Bay State Cruise Company, Distrigas/GDF SUEZ, P.I. Garden Fund, The Coca-Cola Foundation, The Ludeke Foundation, and Yawkey Foundation II.

Save the Harbor is grateful for the contributions from our Partnership Grants from Forrest Berkley and Marcie Tyre Berkley, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, John Hancock Financial Services, Inc., Massachusetts Port Authority, P&G Gillette, William E. and Bertha E. Schrafft Charitable Trust, The Dolphin Trust, The Fallon Company, Jay Cashman Inc., Massachusetts Bay Lines, National Grid Foundation, The Clinton H. and Wilma T. Shattuck Charitable Trust.

Save the Harbor also appreciates funding support from Arabella Insurance Group Charitable Foundation, Inc., Bank of America Pavilion, Boston Centers for Youth Families, Breckinridge Capital Advisors, Carnival Foundation, Department of Conservation and Recreation, Lovett-Woodsum Family Charitable Foundation, Inc., The Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation, BOMA, Boston Bruins Foundation, Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Community-Suffolk Inc., DeMarco Produce, Thomas & Lucinda Foley, Goulston & Storrs, Matthew J. & Gilda F. Strazzula Foundation, Mobile Beacon, Reebok Foundation, South Boston Community Development Foundation, Sovereign Bank Foundation, and hundreds of individual donors.

To find out more about Save the Harbor/Save the Bay's All Access Boston Harbor trips, visit their website at www.savetheharbor.org, their youth blog, “Sea, Sand and Sky” atwww.blog.savetheharbor.org, and their Facebook page atwww.facebook.com/savetheharbor

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