New Hudson River Maritime Museum’s Wooden Boat School & Place Corps Partnership

​Kerry Gallagher
Director of Education, Hudson River Maritime Museum
[email protected]

Dawn Breeze
Executive Director, Place Corps
[email protected]

Place Corps Fellows to Learn Traditional Wooden Boat Building & More! 

KINGSTON, N.Y. (16, August, 2023) – Hudson River Maritime Museum and Place Corps are delighted to announce that they will be partnering to offer Place Corps Fellows the opportunity to learn about the rich maritime history and natural sciences of the Hudson River, as well as the traditional craft of wood-working and wooden boatbuilding.

Beginning in September, 2023, the Place Corps program will welcome 18-21 year olds from diverse backgrounds to the Museum’s campus. Fellows will interact with multiple facets of the Museum’s programming, covering topics from maritime and industrial history of the Kingston Rondout and Hudson River, to on-water activities like sailing and rowing, as well as learning the boat building process at the Wooden Boat School. Designed to empower youth, build character and foster teamwork, these programs will put STEM skills into practice as students follow building plans, use specialized tools and materials, and solve problems, culminating in rowing a boat that they helped to build on the Hudson River.

“At Place Corps we create the opportunity to learn through doing, this feels really important to create meaningful change,” said Place Corps ’ Executive Director, Dawn Breeze. “We empower youth to discover possibilities in the process of trying new things, in real life, and in this way we help build skills that equip youth to be courageous lifelong learners and changemakers in their places.”
 
“Participants will spend more than 900 hours on Campus taking a really deep dive into a myriad of associated Maritime activities.”  said Kerry Gallagher, Hudson River Maritime Museum’s Director of Education.  “ We hope this intimate, hands-on learning environment will give Place Corps’ Fellows a new appreciation of the River and its associated industries, instilling in students the ethics of environmental stewardship, and the skills associated with careers on the water.”

Place Corps is a progressive educational institute based in the Hudson Valley offering a 10 month fellowship program in Kingston, NY for 18-21 year olds who are curious about alternatives to immediately enrolling in college, or entering the workforce full-time after high school. Their “bridge year” program is designed to help participants understand and explore individual interests while developing personal, professional, and practical skills that build the framework for a joyful, and empowered adult life.

During Place Corps, fellows participate in project-based learning, with curriculum focused on economics, regenerative agriculture, design/build, arts & craft, entrepreneurship, mindfulness, nutrition, community engagement, history of place, storytelling, and more. Participants graduate from Place Corps with an action plan outlining next steps towards a rewarding career path, a college or trade school education, or further mentorship opportunities within the established Place Corps network.

“This experience was a huge step out of bounds for me…being able to learn about and explore new opportunities has allowed me to expand my perception of the future” said 2022 Place Corps Fellow, Shayla Valentine. Adding, “I feel more confident to step out of my comfort zone to try something new.”

The Place Corps program provides all fellows a monthly stipend of $500 to support their learning experience, plus an award of $4,000 upon program completion. Tuition is calculated on a sliding scale and all accepted applicants are eligible for full scholarship: no one is turned away based on financial means. There’s still time to apply—this year’s fellowship will begin August 27th, applications are open until August 18th. Visit www.placecorps.org, or email [email protected] for more information.

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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 inspire skills in woodworking, boat building, and maritime craft.
 
The school offers adult and youth courses in woodworking, boatbuilding, and hand crafts. We are constantly adding new classes and working to meet the interests of the community while maintaining a focus on the crafts and traditions of the Hudson Valley.
 
Our opportunities for youth students include woodworking basics as well as the YouthBoat initiative. YouthBoat, empowers students by building character and fostering teamwork through the traditional craft of wooden boatbuilding and on-the-water activities. Students from diverse backgrounds work alongside skilled shipwrights and craftspeople to put STEM skills to work, follow building plans, and use specialized tools and materials.
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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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