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The Salem YMCA ran an "Island Camp" at Coney Island for several decades until the mid 1960s. The camp's director was Albert R. Sirois, Boys Work Secretarty, Salem YMCA. Seamanship, knots, and safe use of knives and other camping skills were a big part of the curriculum. An open runabout called the "Seahorse" was the primary boat for shuttling boys out to the island and back. A 2-story cement structure (that no longer exists) was the shelter for the day camp program. Around 2005 the two sons of Albert R. Sirois, Albert C. Sirois (N1MHC) and Ronald Sirois (N1OPF) and a grandson Ray Sirois (N1RY), all ham radio operators landed on Coney Island to operate their radio equipment and to recall their childhood days at "Island Camp". Several Ham Radio contacts where made that day. The island is now dominated by nests of Herring Gulls, and is no longer an island of choice to go ashore for a picnic in Salem Harbor.
Several USCG licensed Captains have come from the generations following "graduates" from the Coney "Island Camp" and at least three known graduates of Mass Maritime Academy and Maine Maritime Academy, who are children or grandchildren of Albert R. Sirois: Albert C. Sirois, Russell J. Sirois (his son), and Scott A Sirois (son of Ronald Sirois). Licensed captains include: Ray Sirois, Russ Sirois, Scott Sirois, Lori Charette, Rich Charette all descendants or family members of the camp's director Albert R. Sirois. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.21.192.134 (talk) 23:36, 21 June 2022 (UTC)Reply