Wooden Boat Building is the thin red line that runs through the core of Hands On Deck. We started building boats with youth in the central library on the third floor in 2016, and since then have constructed and restored over 300 feet of boats with students and volunteers.

This fall and summer, we will continue that tradition with two 16’ skin-on-frame canoes. This class introduces students to the fundamentals of green woodworking along with Native American traditions through the lens of boat building. Each class focuses on key skills like measuring, cutting, joining, and shaping, while exploring how boats are built, how they function, and their connection to history, design, and life on the water.