build your own canoe

Our boatbuilding program allows students to construct a beautiful skin-on-frame canoe from start to finish. Builds can take place in almost any outdoor area or spacious classroom. The process typically takes 5 to 6 days to complete, leaving your school with a sturdy boat that can be used for years to come.

woodcraft

STEAM BENDING | Wood burning | CARVING | Chiseling

Students learn about the properties, types, and fundamental behaviors of wood. They will study lignin, an organic polymer found in wood and bark, and the process of heating it to increase its plasticity. They will also learn hand skills such as planing, sawing, and sanding wood, all with a tangible application—a canoe. Our staff members, trained by master craftsmen from Minneapolis-based Urban Boatbuilders, ensure that every student has a hands-on role in the process and can take pride in the finished product.

Stem-based Learning

Designing | Measuring | Calculating | Constructing

Students have a unique opportunity to apply STEM concepts in a real-world setting. By working hands-on to construct a canoe with their team, they will use classroom concepts in practical ways—whether it’s adding or subtracting fractions to measure materials, using geometry to make precise cuts, or understanding the physics of buoyancy to ensure their boat performs on the water. Without even realizing it, they are expanding their knowledge of math, engineering, and physics.

Construction Techniques

Drilling | Lashing | Lacing | Riveting

Students use a complete array of construction techniques, including riveting, lacing, drilling, and skinning, to name a few. They will become familiar and comfortable using manual tools, power tools, or simply their own two hands. Learning about construction, especially with elementary students, can be a daunting task, but we believe these challenges foster self-confidence and resilience through the process of acquiring new skills.