Youth Boatbuilding Programs

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.

Pre-Apprentice Program

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.

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.

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.

Adult Half Hull Model Boat Classes

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.