East Boston High School visits Living Seawalls

In early June the shoreline at Condor Street Urban Wild came alive with curiosity and discovery as the entire 8th grade class from East Boston High School joined the Stone Living Lab team for a day of urban shoreline exploration. Just a six minute walk away from their school, students were excited to step into the intertidal world located right in their neighbourhood. Students learned about the park, helped monitor the panels for intertidal creatures, and designed their own version of this city park.

Students climbed down to the waterline where they turned over boulders to find crabs scuttling beneath, and investigated the many nooks and crannies of the Living Seawalls habitat panels that were green with seaweed and alive with tiny crustaceans and mussels. Guided by SLL staff and researchers, students used our Lab monitoring protocol to help measure biodiversity on the panels and discussed why the different shapes and designs of the panels might be good homes for different marine species.

Students also walked the trails of the park, including the unique spiral path to the top of the park’s 30 foot hill. At the top, they encountered a panoramic view of Chelsea and East Boston – as well as hot temperatures with no shade or access to water. Students then worked together to identify the features they would like to see in a neighborhood park, and discussed how different audiences might need or want different things. Shade, water fountains, picnic tables, and more direct paths were some of the most common suggestions!

The day was a joyful reminder of the power of place-based learning, and how a shore walk can lead to a whole new world of scientific discovery. Boston students and teachers are now enjoying a well-deserved summer break, and the Lab is working with East Boston High School to find more ways to bring students out of the classroom and directly into the field alongside our scientists.