BOSTON — Save the Harbor, Save the Bay has set its sails toward the sea this summer, offering free day cruises to youth, family, and community groups around the area.
Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday until Aug. 23, the nonprofit organization is offering its All Access Boston Harbor cruise, allowing participants to depart from the harbor and spend the day exploring on Georges and Spectacle islands.
“The economy is in a really tight state, everyone is worried about ecology, and the intersection of those factors are exactly where Save the Harbor lives,” Christian Matyi, the creative director and communications manager for the organization, said. “So, I think that our ability to mobilize the awareness of the free-cruise program has been boosted by the political climate and the environment around Massachusetts.”
Last month, Girls Inc. of Lynn brought 100 young people to the free cruise, and 130 people from Lynn went in total.
“Lynn represented, on the highest end of participation,” Matyi said. “I mean, they filled half the boat.”
The cruise welcomes 200 to 500 kids and family members daily.
Participants arrive at the pier at 9 a.m., get oriented from 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., board at 10 a.m., experience the islands from 10:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., board again from 1:45 p.m. to 2 p.m., and arrive back at the pier at 2:30 p.m.
“It’s easy for those of us deeply connected on Boston Harbor to forget that there are often locals who rarely get to spend a day of fun and sunshine out on the harbor, beaches, the islands,” Save the Harbor, Save the Bay Executive Director Chris Mancini said. “But they are here for everyone, and what better way to beat the heat than a swim in the clear waters at the beach on Spectacle Island or exploring the ghost stories in the ‘dark tunnel’ of Fort Warren?”
Once on the island, cruisers participate in activities such as Fishing 101, a Treasures of Spectacle Island archaeology exploration, coastline eco-hunts, and hikes to view the Boston skyline.
Matyi said that Boston Harbor Historian David Coffin attends the cruise as well, providing upbeat and interesting history about the islands being explored.
“If we give more people those core memories, the investment in the beach goes up and the investment in the islands go up, so that’s the ethos behind it. It’s wildly effective, apparently,” Matyi said.
So far, Matyi said there have been around 4,500 participants.
To participate in the all-access cruise, people can sign up at https://www.savetheharbor.org/all-access-boston-harbor .
