The Boston Harbor Association (TBHA) has a comprehensive education program designed to foster a greater public understanding and appreciation of Boston Harbor, its beaches, islands, and water. All of TBHA’s educational programs are free of charge, and include harbor cruises and walking tours; luncheon lecture series; educational materials; TBHA member newsletters and two Boston Harbor websites with links to two free audio tours of Boston Harbor. TBHA's specially designed programs offer a unique perspective on the Harbor, behind-the-scenes glimpses of port related activities, insights into new waterfront planning and development, and background and information on water quality, the Port of Boston, and the Boston Harbor Islands.

The Boston Harbor Association's free youth education programs serve as the foundation of TBHA's education activities. Offered throughout the year, these programs present young people with the opportunity for innovative and hands-on learning experiences on topics about Boston Harbor and the Harbor Islands.

Information about specific upcoming educational program activities and events can be found on our Events page.

• Luncheon Series
• Walking Tours
• Educational Cruises
• TBHA Publications
• Banker & Tradesman Columns
• HarborBound
• Summer Youth Programs

TBHA’s Luncheon Lecture series is open to the public and features speakers discussing timely subjects. Recent luncheons have included “Public Art Along the HarborWalk” and "Boston Harbor Beaches and Water Quality: Is it Safe to Swim in Boston Harbor?" All TBHA lunches are free and open to all.

Walking tours of the Boston Waterfront offer a look at public art, architecture, historic sites and new public amenities on Boston's HarborWalk and waterfront.

TBHA's free cruises of Boston Harbor provide participants with an exclusive view of the Harbor. Speakers discuss water quality issues, highlight harbor islands, and provide the most up-to-date information about Boston’s waterfront. TBHA Harbor cruises are provided free of charge and take participants to Chelsea Creek and the Mystic River, Boston's Inner Harbor, and the Boston Harbor Islands.

The Boston Harbor Association’s publications are available by contacting us at 617-482-1722 or by email at mail@tbha.org.

Boston Harbor Environmental Trail & Nature Walk Guide
Thanks to support from the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, The Boston Harbor Association’s Boston Harbor Environmental Trail Guide highlights the diversity of fauna and flora as a result of the improved water quality on Boston Harbor. This guide, available in English and Spanish, is a wonderful resource for families.

Boston Harbor Curriculum Guide
The Boston Harbor Curriculum Guide, created by The Boston Harbor Association, is available to Boston-area middle school science teachers free of charge. This guide contains a unique variety of hands-on and creative lessons about Boston Harbor and the Harbor Islands and links to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.

Rumney Marshes: Area of Environmental Concern
Developed in conjunction with the Saugus River Watershed Council and funded in part by the Coastal ACEC Stewardship Grant Program. TBHA’s Rumney Marshes: Area of Environmental Concern highlights the value of the Rumney Marshes ACEC. The marsh provides valuable habitat and feeding grounds for a wide variety of fish, shellfish, birds, and mammals.

Chelsea Creek Activity Guide
This bilingual activity guide provides a fun-filled means for youth and families to learn about Chelsea Creek. Written in both English and Spanish, the guide discusses water dependent uses and the Urban Wild located on the Creek in East Boston. The Guide, which includes puzzles and games, informs youths about Chelsea Creek’s history, natural environment, and role in providing the region with vital imports, such as oil and road salt.

The Boston Harbor Activity Guide
This TBHA publication is a useful resource for young people learning about Boston Harbor and the Harbor Islands. The Guide is distributed free of charge to participants in TBHA’s youth education programs.

Initiative on Safe Shellfishing in Boston Harbor
This publication educates the public about the hazards of consuming contaminated shellfish from Boston Harbor and provides information on safe shellfishing alternatives. Funded by a grant from the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, this publication is available in English, Vietnamese, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Laotian, and Khmer. Copies have also been provided to the state environmental police in an effort to inform at-risk populations about the danger of consumption of shellfish directly out of the Harbor.

As part of TBHA's on-going public information effort, The Boston Harbor Association writes quarterly columns for Banker & Tradesman, the weekly publication of the real estate and banking communities, on issues affecting Boston Harbor.

The Boston Harbor Association's "Harbor Bound" education program, done in conjunction with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, introduces inner city high school students to environmental and water quality issues in Boston Harbor as well as related employment opportunities. This innovative, free program allows high school students to learn first-hand about Boston Harbor from Harbor professionals.

Each academic year, TBHA educates over 1,200 high school students about the Boston Harbor Project and related career opportunities through our Harbor Bound program. Students from schools such as East Boston High School, Dorchester High School, McKinley Vocational High School, Chelsea High School, South Boston High School, Charlestown High School, Boston Latin Academy, and many others, supplement traditional classroom learning with a Boston Harbor field trip.

Each Harbor Bound trip is preceded by a classroom visit from a Massachusetts Water Resources Authority staff member who explains water quality in Boston Harbor and the process used to treat wastewater. The field trip to Deer Island includes a tour of the Deer Island wastewater treatment plant, hands-on water quality testing for dissolved oxygen, and presentations about environmental and maritime related career opportunities. The program involves a wide variety of speakers who highlight their career experiences at governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, and the private sector.

The Harbor Bound program, free to schools, has been lauded by teachers as a unique opportunity for students to learn first-hand about the Boston Harbor Project, hear from positive adult role models, and learn about the preparation needed for specific career opportunities in the maritime and environmental fields.

* * *

Special thanks to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority and Massachusetts Bay Lines whose generosity enables us to offer the Harbor Bound education program at no cost to students, teachers and schools.

To schedule a trip or participate in TBHA's Harbor Bound Program, please contact The Boston Harbor Association at 617-482-1722.

The Boston Harbor Association provides unique opportunities for inner city youths to learn about Boston Harbor during the summer months. TBHA introduces inner city youths to the natural resources and recreational opportunities that Boston Harbor and the Harbor Islands have to offer. These trips broaden youths' understanding of the Boston Harbor Project, the natural resources of the Harbor, and merchant marine issues related to Boston Harbor through experiential, hands-on education.

Every summer, The Boston Harbor Association provides free trips for youth to George's Island. These unique trips includes a discussion of the Boston Harbor Project, an introduction to the diverse marine species living in and around the Harbor, and a discussion about the environmental issues that are affecting the local region. Participants explore the islands with TBHA staff, and go on guided tours by state rangers, who described the historical and sociological past of the Island, as well as its natural history.

Some of the many local organizations which participated in the summer programs include: Blue Hills Boys and Girls Club in Dorchester, Eagle Eye Institute in Somerville, Orient Heights Youth on the Rise in East Boston, the Boys and Girls Club of South Boston, Patriot Trails Girl Scouts Council of Boston, Project Life in Roxbury, Hyde Park YMCA, Walter Denny Youth Center in Dorchester, Roxbury Boys and Girls Club, Shelburne Community Center in Roxbury, Mission Pride of Roxbury, Malden YWCA Girls in Action, Chelsea Boys and Girls Clubs, and the YMCA of Greater Boston.

Since the opening of Spectacle Island in summer 2006, TBHA has organized free cruises to the island for urban youth groups. During the inaugural season of the new Camp Harbor View on Long Island in 2007, TBHA provided unique workshops on the history and the environmental aspects of the islands. Participation is free of charge and available to youth groups on a first come, first serve basis.

TBHA teaches young people to respect Boston Harbor and instills a sense of long-term stewardship of the Harbor, the Islands, and local natural resources through a combination of educational and recreational activities. For more information about summer programs, please contact TBHA at 617-482-1722.
   

The Boston Harbor Association   -   374 Congress Street, Suite 307   -   Boston, MA 02210   -   617-482-1722 (P)   -   617-482-9750 (F)   -   mail@tbha.org