In mid August we moved to a beautiful new space in historic Building 125 at the Charlestown Navy Yard.
For those of you who missed our open house, at the new shop, on November 15, please feel free to stop by anytime we are there with the kids, Monday-Thursday, 12:30-4:15, to see the 5th grade, Haley School, boat building apprentices at work. The first of 8 boats to be built this winter is finished and the second is well along. Lofting for the third boat starts Monday, December 7. Ten and Eleven year olds doing lofting is really a great event to watch. To see those young minds struggle to bring a 1" to the foot scale drawing to life, full sized, on the shop floor, is great fun. Come over and join in!
In mid August we were invited to participate in Atlantic Maritime Heritage Foundation's effort to establish a maritime education center at the Charlestown Navy Yard. It was such a great opportunity that we couldn't pass it up. It is a beautiful space, adjacent to the USS Constitution Museum and Visitor Center. We can see the USS Constitution out the shop windows. We worked day and night with volunteers and some paid help to complete the space in time for the start of boat building the first week of November.
THE KIDS FROM THE DENNIS HALEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
ARE THE BEST PART OF THE STORY
The 5th grades at the Haley are full inclusion classrooms. Special education students are part of the regular classroom and a regular part of the sailing, boat building and oral history teams. I have to relate one story from last week that is such a clear example of why this type of experiential learning is so important. Two of our "regular ed" students were struggling with how to fit a seat into the boat. The two students struggled with how to fit the seat into the space allowed while keeping the right side up. Our "special ed" student took a quick look and said "try it this way" and in it went into its space. We saw the same quick understanding when that student was given the task of inserting screws into the planking using a battery powered screw gun. Learning these skills often takes students many practice attempts. He had it on the first try. NOT AMAZING! JUST THE REALITY OF LEARNING IN A DIFFERENT WAY. This student is labeled as special needs. I see him as an exceptional student who needs to have his learning style better understood. All in all a great start to the year.
FUNDING UPDATE
We haven't yet met our fundraising goals for the year but are way ahead of last year. Our funders, listed below, have been more than generous given the economic conditions and the fact that we are a new, small organization working outside the box. Your tax deductible donation can be made on our web site or mailed to our fiscal sponsor, Third Sector New England. Checks should be made out to BFB/TSNE and mailed to TSNE, 89 South Street, Boston, MA 02111.
You can also purchase one of the student built boats to help support our program. It will surely attract attention on your dock while giving you a great story to tell about your support for the kids that built it. See details below.
DIRECTIONS TO THE SHOP
We are in historic Building 125 at the Charlestown Navy Yard. The easiest way to get there is to catch the T's inner harbor ferry at Long Wharf. It is a 10 minute ride to the Navy Yard. Building 125 is right at the top of the gangway when you leave the boat. If driving, enter the Navy Yard off Chelsea Street at 5th St. After the first stop sign go straight ahead onto Baxter Rd. Building 125 is at the end on the right. You are looking for the building in the drawing below
Boston Family Boat Building brings critical academic subjects and skills -- math, science, social studies, spatial thinking, reading and writing -- to life with experiential learning opportunities for school children. It is a unique program serving Boston Public Schools elementary school children that draws on the outstanding natural features of Boston and its rich history. Now in its third year, the program works with 4th and 5th graders to learn navigation skills in the Harbor, construct a seaworthy 10-foot wooden rowing vessel and learn about earlier Bostonians, particularly African Americans, who worked in the maritime trades. Check out all our programs to bring exciting experiential learning opportunities to students of the Boston Public Schools at
Boston Family Boat Building is supported by volunteers, individual donors and funding from The Jane B. Cook 1983 Charitable Trust, Lawrence and Lillian Solomon Fund,
Amelia Peabody Foundation, Cabot Family Charitable Trust and
George A Ramlose Foundation.
Thanks to Tim Mize for his work as our volunteer extrodinaire. He works with us four days a week in the boat shop. He brings great skills as a boat builder and a strong understanding of human development.
Development of Building 125 as a maritime education center is sponsored by
Atlantic Maritime Heritage Foundation and NPS
