Drawing on Hampton Roads' rich maritime heritage, TWBW provides unique and exciting experiential learning opportunities. Students learn STEM and other critical life skills as they build wooden boats and are taught to row and sail them on local waters. While participating in these activities, their world expands and learning becomes relevant and fun. They not only learn about boats, they learn about themselves as they master new skills and discover new interests and talents.
Schedule: Students attend one day per week
Tuesday: 9:30am - 11:30am
Wednesday: 9:30am - 11:30am
Friday: 9:30am - 11:30am
Fall Trimester: September 29 - December 12, 2025
Winter Trimester: January 5 - March 13, 2026
Spring Trimester: March 23 - June 12, 2026
Target Participants: 12-18 y/o Middle and High School Students
Prerequisites: None
Cost: Free
Please include at least two session days as schedule options when registering.
Schedule: Students attend one day per week
Monday: 2:30pm-4:30pm (FULL)
Tuesday: 4:00-6:00 pm
Wednesday: 4:00-6:00 pm
Thursday: 4:00-6:00 pm
Fall Trimester: September 29 - December 12, 2025
Winter Trimester: January 5 - March 13, 2026
Spring Trimester: March 23 - June 12, 2026
Target Participants: 12-18 y/o Middle and High School Students
Prerequisites: None
Cost: Free
Please include at least two session days as schedule options when registering.
Our weekly summer camp programs include various woodworking and nautical activities such as building a model sail boat, leatherworking, steam-bending, learning nautical tools and practices, sewing, painting, an environmental science station, & more. Students are able to take their small projects home. Each session concludes with campers rowing and/or sailing one of our student-built wooden boats.
Our 2025 Summer Camps are full. Fill out a registration form to be added to the waitlist. Please include as many weeks as you are available to increase chances of placement
2026 Dates TBA
Camps are held 9:30am-12:30pm
Target Audience: Youth ages 10 -18
Class Size: Up to 12 students per weekly camp
Prerequisites: None
Cost: Free
Please include at least 2 weeks as schedule options when registering.
Our pre-apprentice program is focused on reaching out to disconnected youth ages 17-24. These are students who are no longer attending school and are looking to add experience to their resume to achieve gainful employment. The program follows a specified curriculum, and students receive an educational stipend while in attendance. Each session lasts approximately 20 weeks and concludes with a small graduation ceremony where participants receive completion certificates.
Schedule:
January 6, 2025 - June 12, 2025
Classes are held Monday and Thursday 9:30am-1:30pm. Students attend two days per week.
Class Size: Up to 10 students
Target Participants: 17-24 y/o not currently employed & not in another educational program.
Prerequisites: None
Cost: Free - We Pay You!
This beginner level course is typically 14 weeks long and intended for anyone with a desire to learn the basics of wooden boatbuilding. Prior woodworking experience is not necessary. Students will learn to properly use both traditional hand- and power- tools throughout the course. You may bring your own tools or use those we have on hand.
Schedule:
Next Session Beginning January 22, 2026
Day / Time: Thursdays 6:00-8:00pm
Target Audience: Adult men & women Class Size: Up to 12
Prerequisites: None
Learn the art of making a beautiful half hull model boat while building your own scaled replica of a Muscongus Bay Sloop. Half Hull models were used prior to the 20th century as a means of planning a ship's design and sheer to ensure that the ship would be symmetrical. Now they are built as decorative nautical art and constructed after a ship is complete.
Schedule:
January 22, 2026
Day / Time: Thursdays 6:00-8:00pm
Target Audience: Adult men & women
Class Size: Up to 12
Prerequisites: None
www.twbw.org
Tidewater Wooden Boat Workshop
910 Ballentine Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23504, US