The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce is pleased to shine a spotlight on Heather Harris of Black Hawk Sport Fishing in our Community Proud series. A lifelong resident of the Groton and Mystic area, Heather balances two callings that both center on caring for people. By day she is a special education teacher in Stonington. In the evenings, on weekends, and throughout the summer, she is the steady hand behind the scenes at her family’s business, the Black Hawk.

Heather’s roots here run deep. She grew up in Groton, attended Groton Public Schools, and graduated from Fitch High School before heading to Rhode Island College in Providence. She later spent a year in California for graduate school, studying education and child life, and completed an internship at Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital. Although she became a certified child life specialist, her path ultimately led her to the classroom. Today, she teaches special education in Stonington while raising three children with her husband, whom she first met back in middle school. Their family includes two sons and a daughter who joined their family through adoption from Bulgaria, a journey that further shaped Heather’s heart for children and families.

Her connection to the Black Hawk started with what sounded like a small favor. When her father first purchased the boat, he asked if she could “help write a few checks and pay a few bills.” That simple request grew into a second career. Heather now runs the Black Hawk office and has learned the full scope of small business operations. She manages employees, bookkeeping, permits, charters, group trips, and fishing reports, along with the website and social media. Most of that work happens after her kids are in bed or on weekends, but it is clear she would not have it any other way.

What Heather is most proud of is the Black Hawk and the community program. Month after month, the boat becomes a floating hub for giving. Each month they collect a specific item for a local organization, ranging from school supplies and pet food to diapers, cleaning products, books, socks, and underwear. The list is long, but the goal is simple: meet needs close to home. Some of her favorite efforts include an annual diaper drive during the Sailfest fireworks for organizations such as Riverfront Children’s Center and TVCCA, and a “Christmas in July” fireworks trip for Celebrate East Lyme. That trip is free for anyone who brings a new, unwrapped toy and a children’s book. The toys now primarily go to Groton Human Services, and the books are donated to the Whales Tales Book Bank in New London.

In the summer of 2025, the Black Hawk crew organized a large-scale food drive that even made it onto Channel 3 News. For five weeks, each day of the week featured a different requested item, such as “mac and cheese Monday.” Anyone who brought an item was entered for a chance to have their trip refunded. The result was a tremendous amount of food collected for local families. Beyond donations at the dock, the Black Hawk also gives back through the water itself. The business has donated countless trips over the years, including an annual outing with the Northeast Saltwater Fishing Club for veterans from the Rocky Hill Veterans Home, with support from partners like Peter Pan Bus Lines and other local businesses that contribute trophies, hats, shirts, and food. They also collaborate with The Fallen Outdoors on veterans trips and have provided free trips for military children, Make-A-Wish families, and other organizations that support kids.

Even their regular schedule has community woven into it. Every Saturday evening in the summer, the Black Hawk runs a sunset seal watch that doubles as a fundraiser. Each trip supports a different local organization, and groups can also charter the boat to host their own fundraisers. All proceeds from sunset cruises and seal watches are directed to charities, local nonprofits, and relief efforts for communities in need after events such as wildfires or hurricanes.

Heather’s life is rooted in service both through the boat and beyond it. Her children are active in scouts, and her family is involved with Noank Baptist Church, where she teaches Sunday School and takes part in a church community that is deeply engaged in helping neighbors. She also spent five years on the board of directors for Noank Village Preschool before it closed. With her children in two different schools and her own classroom in a third, Heather is connected to families across the region in many ways.

Trust is central to how the Black Hawk operates, and Heather helps set that tone. The team is honest about the fishing, whether it is an incredible day on the water or a tough one. They share daily reports on Facebook with photos, send a weekly email newsletter all year long, and regularly post live videos that show not only the excitement of trips but also the winter maintenance and behind-the-scenes work that keeps the boat running. A sign on board reads, “Welcome Aboard the Black Hawk... arrive as customers, leave as friends,” and Heather means it. Customers are treated like family, and over time, the boat has built what she calls the “Black Hawk family,” a community of people connected by shared time on the water.

For Heather, this corner of Connecticut is home in every sense. Her parents, brother, husband’s family, and now her own children are all here. Being close to the water feels essential, and she cannot imagine living far from it. She is inspired by the people around her who are doing extraordinary things for their communities and the wider world. Her personal goal is straightforward: to leave her little part of the world better than she found it. When she does find a rare pocket of free time, she loves simple moments with her family and the chance to sit and read.

Heather is quick to point out that the Black Hawk is truly a family business. Her parents, though divorced, still work together every day on the boat. Her brother, her husband, and even her children are woven into its daily life, and the crew feels like extended family. She is honored to be recognized by the Chamber’s Community Proud series and hopes this spotlight will open even more doors to support local organizations through the boat’s work. In a community filled with people who give so much, Heather is grateful to be counted among them.

The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce is proud to celebrate Heather and the entire Black Hawk Sport Fishing family for their dedication to education, service, and a community-first approach that reaches far beyond the dock.