Lugging boulders and clearing debris are among the activities that helped kick off the Live Blue Ambassador program on Saturday, April 3. 17 teens from the Greater Boston area, including towns on the South Shore, Weston, Boston and Dedham, participated in a herring run clean up in Weymouth.


All smiles during the clean-up

Joined by Aquarium staff Scott Dowd, Jenna Sigman, Liz Whitlinger and Heather Deschenes, the group removed debris and created natural fish ladders within one of the most productive herring runs in New England. In addition to the clean-up effort, participants learned about the challenges fish face each year as they make the journey to spawn. The teens also got to see first-hand the many human impacts affecting this very important migration.


Surveying the scene

"Wet shoes and pants were totally worth helping out the fishies," says participants Jen and Carly F. "The clean-up did change our thoughts, and also made us think of re-doing that whole area to make people aware of what happens each year."


The Live Blue Ambassadors at the herring run clean-up in Weymouth

"The clean up did impact my thoughts on the ocean because we actually saw how much trash and stuff helped make the herring struggle much more than they need to," adds Emily N.


Trash pick-up

The Live Blue Ambassadors are pioneering the way teens interact with the Aquarium well beyond the confines of Central Wharf. Similar activities are planned throughout the year. This exciting program is open to teens interested in a robust field and community-based conservation program with an education component.



For more information on the Live Blue Ambassador program, contact Heather Deschenes at hdeschenes@neaq.org or by calling 617-973-0253.