have been working together for many years.
BoatBuilding
We began when we begat, together, and with Rob Dwelley [Rob, where are you?], Family BoatBuilding at the WoodenBoat Show then in St. Michaels, MD.. in.. 1998? Sixty families who came together, most without boatbuilding skills. Three days later, they launched their very own boats. Since that time, thousands of families throughout the world have participated in building and launching their own first boats.
The intention, from the beginning, was that grassroot organizations would take up this cause and produce their own events. So successful has this endeavor become that they no longer post their information on our Family BoatBuilding website, and that’s fine….
Joe is Joe Youcha, executive director of Alexandria (VA) Seaport Foundation (www.alexandriaseaport.org). We’ve given him a lot of ink in WoodenBoat, and he’s been a frequent contributor throughout the years, and deservedly so. He’s been the pioneer of this approach — Boatbuilding For Teaching and Learning, And Boatbuilding For Everyone.
My disclaimer: Joe is a great friend, so much that we’ve become brothers. I also believe in everything he produces. And this he does very much, and often. Check out this blog, which is beautiful. The opening lines: “What does community boat building have to offer?” If that doesn’t resonate with you, read no further. But you’ll be missing a lot.. and you’ll be missing our joint opportunity at the end of this post.
http://www.alexandriaseaport.org/blog/buildteach/2009/05/04/what-does-community-boat-building-have-to-offer/
So… What are we working on together right now? It’s a very important endeavor, and we are tentatively calling it “Small Boats As a Teaching Tool.” A gathering place for those of us who believe in teaching.. in the spring of 2010, at ASF.
We’ll invite all of you who have existing programs, and those of you who are interested in beginning your own programs.
I know there are some (many?) of you who don’t comment here because I make you register because we’re trying to reduce the ridiculous amount of spam. But I PROMISE you — we will never compromise your integrity, and we’ll never share your email addresses or other information.
If you care about the topic and mission of the “Small Boats As a Teaching Tool” Symposium and would like to be invited, please post your contact information here (at “Comments”) and we’ll add you to the list. If you’re a true anarchist and would prefer to do this at the WB Forum, we’ll try to capture your information there as well, but only with your permission, and we’ll let you know of our progress.
Wood On! Thanks, Carl
