A NEW CHAPTER

Please join Brooklyn Boatworks' Board of Directors as we welcome Margaretmary (Maggie) McNicholas as BKBW’s next Executive Director.

Marjorie Schulman’s leadership over the past 8 years has supported Brooklyn Boatworks’ growth as a well-respected youth development organization. We receive local and national press coverage, have grown our budget and board, enhancing and broadening our programs to the benefit of the young people we serve, a number that has grown 9-fold in that time. Marjorie led the BKBW team to develop new, impactful programs for our students, both distanced and in-person. Her creation of BKBW alumni programming and an Alumni Council retains the engagement of our students, strengthening the trust and community that we strive to build along with the boats. Furthering BKBW’s role as a community participant, Marjorie and the team increased outreach through family boat builds in public parks.

Integrating BKBW’s commitment to best practices in STEM education, experiential & social-emotional learning, restorative justice, and cultural competency BKBW has attracted ever-growing support and partnerships from the educational community, institutional funders, government, and individuals.

Marjorie Schulman has prepared BKBW well for its next chapter of growth.

To fulfill the promise of BKBW’s current standing a thoughtful, thorough recruitment process brought Maggie McNichols to BKBW. Maggie is a mission-driven, non-profit leader with 15+ years of experience working in community development. She comes to BKBW after serving 4 years at The Osborne Association, where she was the Director of Social Enterprise. In this role, Maggie designed and launched a successful social enterprise program that emphasized upward mobility for persons involved with the criminal justice system.

BKBW will be ever grateful to Marjorie Schulman for her dedication, expertise, vision, and leadership.

We look forward with great confidence and excitement to continue our mission of inspiring young people to uncover the confidence, skills, and courage to chart pathways to success in and outside the classroom.

BKBW wishes Marjorie Schulman every success and welcomes Maggie to the Brooklyn Boatworks team.

1.COMMUNITY Programming:

We offer community programming opportunities for NYC’s young people and their families including boat-building, on-water experiences, and waterfront adventures. Visit our community programming page to learn more and sign up.

2. Programming:

Schools & Community Based Organizations: Participants in Brooklyn Boatworks’ programming this fall will work together to explore self-identity and their connection to community & the waterfront, create & design through personal and team projects (digital and analog), and strengthen problem-solving and teamwork skills through hands-on activities.

3. Boat Building:

A class of 12 students must work together throughout the school-year to build one Optimist pram.  This requires sustained cooperation, often learned over time through multiple class sessions.  Students see the completed result of their hard work at the end of the school year: a sea-worthy Optimist- now that takes perseverance!  Our focus on hands-on activities and reinforcement of best practices means that our students gain a real understanding of the meaning of craftsmanship. 

Founded by Brooklyn-based naval architects Carl Persak and Jeremy Wurmfeld our program is designed to replicate boat building techniques used in shipyards throughout the world. Students learn to work from blueprints, and use marine tools and materials. Students are also responsible for every aspect of the boat building process, ensuring that they learn from their mistakes and take ownership and pride in the successful completion of each phase of the boat build.

Brooklyn Boatworks volunteers, instructors, and teachers are motivated by a desire to see young people thrive and grow through the process of building an Optimist pram.  Using a wide variety of hands-on activities and teaching methods our instructors ensure that all students, regardless of their differing learning styles, leave our classrooms with more confidence, knowledge of STEM subjects, and tools for future success.

Working inside New York City middle schools and educational organizations, Brooklyn Boatworks offers a unique boat building program that builds students' skills and encourages positive behavior development.

There are many ways to get involved!