Park Alert: Phone Line Disruption

We are working to resolve an issue with our main office phone line. Please call our Welcome Center number at (617) 819-3587 during operating hours: Friday – Sunday, 9:30am – 4:00pm. You may also contact us via our email address: boha_information@nps.gov

Kids and Families

In search of an unforgettable adventure with the family? Boston Harbor Islands offer plenty of kid-friendly programs daily, as well as grab-and-go self-guided materials.

Are you passionate about nature and seeking adventure? Become a Junior Ranger and share the lessons of the Boston Harbor Islands with your community!

By becoming a Junior Ranger, kids learn about the Boston Harbor Islands through free hands-on experiences, and can even earn an official Junior Ranger badge! Pick up a Junior Ranger booklet from any park visitor center, complete the activities, and return it to a park ranger to collect your badge. Booklets are available for Georges, Spectacle, Peddocks, and the camping islands. Visit islands and collect them all!

The Islands are also perfect places to immerse your family in the great outdoors. Go discover hidden worlds tidepooling, take a swim along the shore, or sail a colorful kite through the sea breeze on Spectacle Island. Kids can enjoy even more Island adventure on Georges Island. Travel back in time during the Civil War and explore dark tunnels, play on the playground, or march in the parade ground!

The fun continues with self-guided materials for Spectacle and Georges Islands. Explore the natural world, or help the Lady in Black reunite with the love of her life on Georges Island — adventure awaits!

 

 

Find Your Park Anywhere

Document Title Description Download
A Cleaner Harbor Let’s learn how the work of environmentalists helped Boston Harbor become clean enough to swim in! Download
Create: An Island For All If you had the chance to create your own island park for everyone to enjoy, what would it be like? Download
Explore: Contribution Resolution Discover how your unique skills and interests can help others in your community today. Download
Create: Flotation Innovation All aboard! Design a ship using household materials and discover how workers in the Charlestown Navy Yard innovated during WWII. Download
Explore: Mapping Memories Time to tell your story and consider how listening to the stories of others demonstrates compassion. Download
Learn: Votes for Women! Explore and discuss how you can advocate for something you care about. Download
Play: Facts with Friends Learn more about the people around you – you might have more in common than you know! Download
Learn: Why We Tell Stories Learn why we tell stories and find our how to create your own oral history Download
The Comeback Bird Learn about the return of the American Oystercatcher to the Boston Harbor Islands Download
Be a Climate Science Explorer Learn how climate change is transforming the Boston Harbor Islands. In this activity, you can also imagine how you would protect your city from changing tides and sea level rise with this accompanying worksheet. Download

Junior Ranger Booklets

Document Title Description Download
Spectacle Island Junior Ranger Booklet Explore Spectacle Island, complete activities and earn an official Junior Ranger badge! Download
Georges Island Junior Ranger Booklet Explore Georges Island, complete activities and earn an official Junior Ranger badge! Download
Peddocks Island Junior Ranger Booklet Explore Peddocks Island, complete activities and earn an official Junior Ranger badge! Download
Camping Islands Junior Ranger Booklet Explore Lovells, Grape, or Bumpkin Island, complete activities and earn an official Junior Ranger badge! Download
Boston Harbor Islands Junior Ranger Booklet: Spanish Islas de la bahía de Boston: Folleto del Programa de Junior Ranger Download
Boston Harbor Islands Junior Ranger Booklet: Chinese 波士顿港群岛: 少年守护者计划手册 Download
Boston Harbor Islands Junior Ranger Booklet: Portuguese Ilhas do Porto de Boston: Livreto do Programa Junior Ranger (Guarda Florestal) Download
Boston Harbor Islands Junior Ranger Booklet: Vietnamese Các Quần Đảo Cảng Boston: Cuốn Sách Nhỏ cho Chương Trình Kiểm Lâm Thiếu Niên Download
Boston Harbor Islands Junior Ranger Booklet: Haitian Creole Zile Pò Boston: Tiliv Pwogram Junior Ranger Download

Other Self-Guided Activities

Document Title Description Download
Pick Your Path: Spectacle Island – Tina the Turkey Follow the turkey tracks of Tina the Turkey, a legendary resident of Spectacle, as she leaves her brood to explore the island. Download
Grab & Go: Spectacle Island - iNaturalist Use the iNaturalist app to explore nature and support citizen science on Spectacle Island. Recommended for ages 10 and up. Download
Grab & Go: Spectacle Island - Seek Explore and document the biodiversity of Spectacle Island with Seek app while earning badges! Recommended for ages 7 and up. Download
Pick Your Path: Georges Island - The Lady in Black Help the Lady in Black, Melanie Lanier, on her quest to be reunited with the love of her life. Download
Pick Your Path: Georges Island - Escape the Fort Follow in the footsteps of a Civil War prisoner. Try to escape Fort Warren, while learning about the defensive structure. Download

Upcoming Events

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Oct14

$5 Ferry Weekend

Visit Spectacle Island for just $5 to help us close out the Boston Harbor Islands National & State Park 2024 season!

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Oct19

Autumn Adventure on Peddocks Island

Celebrate the season with a special fall exploration of Peddocks – the last chance to visit Peddocks Island until next year!

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Nov09

Veterans Cruise

Honor veterans and active service members with a special cruise and excursion to Peddocks Island.

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