Youth Boatbuilding Programs

Drawing on Hampton Roads' rich maritime heritage, Tidewater Wooden Boat Workshop provides area youth with unique and exciting experiential learning opportunities. Students learn math, science 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 talents and interests they didn't know they had.

Summer Camp Programs

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.

Pre-Apprentice Program

Our pre-apprentice program is focused on reaching out to disconnected youth ages 17-24. These are students who may or may not have graduated high 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 12-14 weeks and concludes with a small graduation ceremony where participants receive completion certificates.

Adult Boatbuilding Classes

This beginner-level course is typically 14 weeks long and intended for any man or woman with a desire to learn the basics of wooden boatbuilding. Prior woodworking experience is helpful but not necessary. Students will learn to properly use both traditional hand tools and power tools throughout the course. We will construct a handsome 12-foot rowboat called a Bevin's Skiff along with oars. You may bring your own tools or utilize those we have on hand.