THE Boatbuilding Program
Build something real.
In our flagship program, middle school students spend an entire school year designing and building an 8-foot Optimist sailboat. Over 30 weekly sessions, students learn to use hand tools, apply STEM concepts, solve real problems together, and develop teamwork and perseverance.
The experience culminates at our annual Boat Launch, when students put their boats in the water and sail them in New York Harbor.
A continuum of growth
A pathway that goes further.
Boatbuilding is just the beginning. Students can continue with Brooklyn Boatworks for up to three more years through our Explorers Program, with career exploration experiences woven throughout.
THE EXPLORERS PROGRAM
Keep building. Keep exploring.
Graduates of the Boatbuilding Program can continue their journey through The Explorers Program, a three-year, year-round program that builds on their foundation in woodworking, sailing, and STEM.
This program includes advanced hands-on projects, new tools and technologies, five weeks of free summer sailing, field experiences, mentorship, and leadership opportunities.
Career Exploration Initiative
Connecting skills to opportunities.
Career exploration is woven throughout the Brooklyn Boatworks experience. Students meet professionals, visit workplaces, participate in hands-on experiences, and learn about educational and career pathways they may never have encountered before.
From maritime careers and skilled trades to engineering, design, and STEM, students begin to connect what they're learning today with what they could do tomorrow.