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March 31, 2010
BOAT SHOP OPEN FOR VOLUNTEERS
On March 16 we received a grant from the Lawrence & Lillian Solomon Fund to build two new boats for our summer boat rental program. This funding is part of a new collaboration with Courageous Sailing Center and the Boston Parks & Recreation Dept. Our student built boats will be available for rental on Jamaica Pond this summer. The student boat builders and their families get to use the boats for free while the general public will pay a modest fee to take a row in their beautiful boats. The new funding and the Jamaica Pond program require building two larger boats for use by groups of adults. Our Periwinkle Jr. is fine for a crew of 5th graders or 2 adults but for 3 to 4 adults we need something larger.
Nat Benjamin, of Gannon & Benjamin, is designing a new boat for us. He was also the inspiration behind the Periwinkle Jr. that we have been building with kids and families for the past 3 years. We expect to have the lines and offsets soon and be able to start work. We hope to launch them, with the past winter's student built boats, in June.
To accomplish this we are opening the shop for volunteers to help us complete the two new boats. Starting April 1 on Thursdays from 4-8PM and Saturdays from 10AM-2PM we will be there to organize whoever wants to stop by to work. We will start with building a strong back and expanding our lofting floor. Then we will loft the new boat to be able to create the building form. The real building starts once the building form is complete. We hope to have two boats complete, painted and ready to launch by June 5.
This is a great opportunity for all of you who have often fantasized about building a boat but the project always seemed to big or you didn't have the space. Having others to work with, our experienced staff to teach you what you need to know and our beautiful shop space in Building 125 at the Charlestown Navy Yard to work in will make it seem easy.
COME ON DOWN AND JOIN IN THE FUN!!!
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. He will be at the shop many Thursdays and Saturdays to help out.
Development of Building 125 as a maritime education center is sponsored by
Atlantic Maritime Heritage Foundation and NPS
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