AN IMMERSIVE HUDSON VALLEY EXPERIENCE FOR AGES 5-17

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


CONTACT:
Media Contact: Kirsty Gaukel, Press & Marketing Manager
Wooden Boat School: Dan Nelson, Wooden Boat School Manager
Sailing School: Jody Sterling, Sailing School Director

Registration for June-August Sailing & Woodworking Classes at Hudson River Maritime Museum is now open

KINGSTON, N.Y. (January 30, 2024) –  Hudson River Maritime Museum invites you to spend your summer on the water or in the wood shop. Our youth sailing and woodworking programs are now open for registration. Every summer, the Hudson River Maritime Museum offers kids and teens a chance to experience the magic and history of the Hudson Valley’s rich maritime traditions with on-land and on-water programs running June through August. The Museum's Wooden Boat and Sailing Schools, located on the banks of the Rondout Creek in Kingston, host immersive multi-day courses that teach practical skills in sailing and woodworking which build self-confidence and forge new friendships. For more information and to register visit, www.hrmm.org/youth-summer-programs  A full summer line-up with descriptions of the classes is available below.
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All HRMM members receive a discount on registration. Additional discounts are available for registering for multiple weeks of programs, or if signing up multiple siblings. Scholarships for the Sailing School are available. The deadline for applications is May, 2024.


The Sailing School at Hudson River Maritime Museum is the only US Sailing Accredited sailing school in the Hudson Valley. Founded in 2017, the School seeks to inspire a new generation of enthusiasts to get out on the water and become more confident sailors by offering accessible programming for youth and adult beginners. For students seeking to advance their skills, US Sailing instructor certification classes are also available.


The Wooden Boat School was founded by the Hudson River Maritime Museum in 2015 to preserve the maritime craft traditions of the Hudson Valley and to teach a hands-on interpretation of the living history of the Hudson River. We offer diverse curriculum and opportunities which provide skills in woodworking, boat building, and maritime craft. The school offers adult and youth courses.

Details of the Youth Summer Programs are listed below:

PARENT & CHILD SAILING CLASS
(A child with an accompanying adult)
Dates: June 26 - 28, 1:00-4:00pm; July 1 - 3, 1:00-4:00pm
Level: Beginner/Ages 5-9
Tuition: $250 (HRMM members $230-240)
Perfect for the young, aspiring sailor, this class consists of three 3-hour sessions and will introduce children ages 5-9 to the basics of sailing. The sessions are designed for an adult and accompanying child to sail and learn together, with the goal of getting the child comfortable aboard a sailboat while they learn some basic sailing concepts, and most importantly, have fun and gain new experiences. We are offering this course twice this summer. 

INTRODUCTION TO YOUTH SAILING
Dates: June 26 - 28, 9:00 am to noon; July 1 - 3, 9:00 am to noon.
Level: Beginner/Ages 7-9
Tuition: $250 (HRMM members $230-$240)
This is a three-day class (nine hours in total) that introduces children ages 7 to 9 to the basics of sailing. Each session is three hours long and is designed to ensure each student feels comfortable aboard sailboats, is safe, and has fun learning some basic sailing concepts. We are offering this class twice this summer.

YOUTH SAILING PROGRAM
Dates: We are offering this class six times. Each session runs 9:00am-4:00pm on the following dates,
July 8 - 12
July 15 - 19
July 22 - 26
August 5 - 9
August 12 - 16
August. 19 - 23
Level: Beginner-intermediate/Ages 10-17
​Tuition: $575 (HRMM members $529-$552)
This five-day sailing course teaches students ages 10-17 sailing on 8' Optimist Prams, 14' & 16' Capri sailboats, 14' High Performance 420 sailboats, and other sailboats. Each day will feature Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) workshops, short chalk talks, and learning activities on land and on-the-water with games, drills, and informal races on the Rondout Creek and the Hudson River. Beginners are welcome. Additionally, students with prior sailing experience will benefit by expanding and building on their current skill set.

BUILDING AND SAILING BOATS
Dates: This four-day class is being offered four times this summer at the following times,
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Tuesday-Friday, July 30-August 2
Morning Session: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Afternoon Session: 11:00am - 5:00pm

​​Tuesday-Friday, August 27-30
Morning Session: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Afternoon Session: 11:00am - 5:00pm

Level: Beginner/Ages 12-16
Tuition: $440 (HRMM Members $380-$400)

This 4-day class involves woodworking, boat building, and sailing encompassing a range of STEM focused skills and activities. Students will have the opportunity to work with experienced boatwright, Wayne Ford, in the wood shop and US Sailing Certified instructors on the water. Students will spend part of the session at the Wooden Boat School learning basic woodworking skills such as measuring, sawing, planing, and sanding. They spend the other part out on the water learning the basics of sailing, the functions of various parts of a sailboat, steering the vessel, tacking and gybing safely, and capsize practice. This course will teach students about the parts of a sailboat and allow them to put their new skill into practice building an Optimist Pram sailboat. They will also have the opportunity to practice skipper and crew skills, and will sail independently when they are ready to do so. 

WOODWORKING
Dates: we are offering four different courses that will run Monday through Friday, 10:00am -  2:00pm each day, on the following dates,

Week 1: July 8 - 12: Build a Toolbox
Week 2: July 22 - 26: Make a Stool & Bandsaw Spoon
Week 3, August 5 - 9: Build a Bandsaw Box & Do Nothing Machine
Week 4, August 19 - 23: Make a Half Hull Boat Model

Level: Beginner/Ages 12-16
Tuition: $395 (HRMM Members $340-$360)

Students can register separately for each one-week session, and can register for one or more sessions.
The Wooden Boat School is offering a hands-on introduction to woodworking and carpentry in this series of week-long classes. Designed for youth ages 12 - 16, students will take on a project or projects, giving them practical application for basic woodworking and carpentry skills. Woodworker and HRMM’s boatwright Wayne Ford will teach the fundamentals of shop safety, measuring, layout, joinery, and the use and care of basic hand woodworking tools and some power tools. At the end of the week, students get to take home a finished project that they made themselves.  

For more information and to register visit, www.hrmm.org/youth-summer-programs  

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​The Hudson River Maritime Museum is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the maritime history of the Hudson River, its tributaries and related industries. In addition to extensive collections documenting maritime transportation, industry, recreation, and natural science, the museum offers classes and programs at its Wooden Boat School, Sailing and Rowing School, and aboard Solaris, the 100% solar powered tour boat and floating classroom. The museum is located along the historic Rondout waterfront in downtown Kingston. Visit www.hrmm.org for more information.
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