Building the Next Generation of Young Stewards
Since 2000, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay has brought over 15,000 children to the Harbor and the Harbor Islands for free.

We work with 230 community groups, serving youth from ages 8-17 from every neighborhood in Boston as well as from cities like Chelsea, Revere, Everett, and Quincy.

We target young people as our foundation for building communities who care about the Harbor. We operate youth environmental education programs because opening young people’s eyes to the bountiful resources of Boston Harbor is one of the best ways to establish a constituency that will preserve and protect the Harbor in the long term.

Also, we believe that it is important to give young people – from all of our neighborhoods – a chance to take pride in and ownership of their Harbor through hands-on environmental education and recreational opportunities that many of them would not otherwise have.

Click here [470 KB] to download our Youth Program fact sheet.

Click here to go to our Newsroom and see some of our recent press.

Click Here to visit the Kids' Section of our website, with photos and tours of our programs.

Click here [904 KB] to download a Map of Long Island

Click here [59 KB] to download a Fact Sheet on Long Island

Click here [521 KB] to download Save the Harbor/Save the Bay's Field Guide

Click here to download [877 KB] an All Access Boston Harbor RESERVATION FORM

Click here to download [901 KB] an All Access Boston Harbor TRIP SCHEDULE

Click here to download [1,597 KB] All Access Boston Harbor DIRECTIONS

This summer Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is running our fifth annual "All Access Boston Harbor" summer youth program. This fun (and totally free!) program provides over 4,000 of our city's youth with an introduction to the ecological and cultural history of Boston Harbor and its Islands.

In many cases All Access is a maiden voyage to a destination that we hope will soon become as familiar to these youth as their own back yard!

Each trip begins dockside at Bank of America Pavilion, where Boston story teller David Coffin tells stories and sings songs that bring to life patriots and pirates from the Harbor's past. Armed with a little knowledge and a sense of adventure, the children board the vessel Virginia C. II with A.C. Cruise Line's Captain Al and crew and set out on a half-day voyage to George's Island. Once on the Island, the children enjoy a picnic lunch and spectacular views of their city as they explore Fort Warren and search for traces of the fabled Lady in Black.

Back in the city at the end of the day, the children are given a tour of the Bank of America Pavilion, which often includes a raffle for concert tickets and a chance to have fun on the Pavilion's stage.

For more information email Jen Smith or call her at (617) 451-2860 x1007

Our Harbor Explorers program teaches young people about "what they can’t see under the sea".

The program combines the excitement of catching a fish, crab, or lobster, with angling instruction and Harbor ecology. The program runs summer-long at the city’s 3 youth sailing centers: Courageous Sailing Center in Charlestown, Piers Park Sailing Center in East Boston and Harry McDonough Sailing Center in South Boston, and beginning this summer at Camp Harborview on Long Island.

Working with a trained naturalist at each location, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay educates the sailing instructors about the natural history and ecology of Boston Harbor. Working directly with our summer staff, this summer these instructors will pass the lessons on to more than 2,000 young people, creating the next generation of Harbor stewards.

In conjunction with this program, we have created the Boston Harbor lending library of fishing tackle and reference materials.

Marine Mammal Safari 2007!

Over 500 kids and their families joined us on Saturday April 21 for our annual Marine Mammal Safari. Both cruises leave from the Massachusetts Bay Lines dock at Rowes Wharf, behind the Boston Harbor Hotel.

Our annual Marine Mammal Safaris introduce hundreds of children each spring to the seasonal migration of seals and porpoises in Boston Harbor. We set sail on a 3 hour cruise around Boston Harbor looking for harbor seals and porpoises - and other marine life! It's a great trip for the entire family - and it's FREE to everyone! Thanks to Massachusetts Bay Lines for providing the transportation!

To reserve your seats or for more information, call Save the Harbor/Save the Bay at (617) 451-2860 x1001.

Things to bring with you on the Marine Mammal Safari:

Warm Clothes: Even though it may be warm onshore, it can get windy and cool out on the Harbor!
Bag Lunch: There will be beverages and chips for sale on board the boat, so bring a lunch along so you don’t get hungry!
Binoculars: Help us spot the marine mammals – and get an even closer look at them in their natural habitat!

Leadership grants from Bank of America Pavilion/Live Nation and John Hancock Financial Services support All Access Boston Harbor.

Leadership grants from State Street Foundation, the Yawkey Foundations, and Suez LNG NA support All Access Boston Harbor and Boston Harbor Explorers.

Additional support from the Citizens Bank Foundation, City Water Taxi, Inc. and Massachusetts Bay Lines.