She's a Beauty

Were putting on the Kevlar roving and Dacron skin today. Here's her
last potrait as bare bones. Buy a raffle ticket and she could be
yours. At 20$, you really can't afford not to.

Day One Done

Check out these photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ajoyravenhill/IslesfordBoatworks09TheClassic10?pli=1#

We got the strong back up, leveled and plumb and learned a bunch of new words. We traced and cut out eight oar blanks, put up the stations and even had time to plane the inwales! We also made up our own rules for the shop, like Always Smile, No Running, Work Hard, Don't wear fancy dresses or suits, Treat others as you want to be treated, and Singing is OK.

Wow, what a day. Thanks to a friend who just built this boat last month, we had the stations already made and ready to go this morning and as you can see from the pics, she's already starting to look like a boat. Fancy!

HERE WE GO AGAIN!

Welcome to Summer 09! (and Welcome Sun, bye-bye June gloom)

Classes start on Tuesday July 14th and we will be building a drop dead gorgeous skin-on-frame rowing dingy, you can see a picture of the Geodesic Aerolite design here.

We will be holding classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the next five weeks, and then raffling and launching her on the 15th of August in a grand pirate-themed gala.

The class schedule is as follows:

Tuesdays Thursdays
8:30-Noon 8:30-Noon
Cedars (Ages 7-11) Oaks (Ages 11-111)

1:00-4:30 1:00-4:30
Oaks (Ages 11-111) Cedars (Ages 7-11)

Come on by and check us out, and check back here for updates.

BUY A RAFFLE TICKET AND WIN THIS YEARS BOAT!!
Just call us at 207-244-9906 OR shoot us an email at islesfordboatworks@gmail.com OR stop on by the Barn and see her for yourself.
(We're in the process of re-building our site, excuse us for the confusion of posting everything here for now)

PICTURES!!!!

Check out the online photo album below to see our beautiful boat and smart students!!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/Emily02138/Boatworks0802

Only two more weeks to go...giddy up.

Wer'e in Session!

Welcome Summer!

Classes started today and we have oh so much fun. We are building a skin-on-frame open kayak this summer. Today we started work on the paddle blanks and station molds, went over shop safety and conduct rules, learned how to use planes, files, saws and spokeshaves and most importantly smiled and laughed a whole lot. If we keep up at this pace, we may have to build a second boat! If you are around the island, stop on by and see the magic for yourself.

-The Boatworks Team

Evalute us!

Please share your thoughts and comments with us. Copy and paste the questions below and send us any answers or suggestions at islesfordboatworks@gmail.com. Thank you for your time, we greatly appreciate any and all feedback from our community.

Community Evaluation Form

In an effort to help Islesford Boatworks better its summer boatbuilding program and stay in tune with our community’s needs and wants, we have put together this Program Evaluation Form for all to fill out. In addition to concentrating on the boatbuilding program we also would like critical feedback to help guide IB and its role in our community towards a more sustainable future. Your feedback is appreciated and essential in improving our organization and community. Thank you for all of your thoughts.

Summer Boatbuilding Program

Through the summer youth boatbuilding program, IB builds opportunity, community, and a future for Maine’s working waterfront.

Have you seen or experienced something that you think IB should strengthen more?

IB is a community program; do you feel ownership of it? How can IB increase the feeling of ownership throughout our community?

Interpreting IB’s Mission

Islesford Boatworks is an organization dedicated to enhancing marine trades on the Cranberry Isles, while engaging residents to consider new ways to live with the sea.

What thoughts, dreams, ideas, or other suggestions does the IB mission statement conjure up?

What more could IB be doing to fulfill its mission statement, or your interpretation of it?

What are your primary concerns in regards to our community’s waterfront? And what suggestions do you have for addressing these concerns?

(Please feel free to write any additional comments on the back of this form­)

"IB '08" Coming Soon to an Island Near You

We are pleased to announce that Islesford Boatworks will once again hold its six-week summer program. The classes will start on Monday July 7th and run through Friday August 15th. The finished boat will be RAFFLED! on Saturday August 16th, and launched on Sunday the 17th. More information coming soon on the design of boat.
The schedule will stay the same as last summer and can be found on this site under, you guessed it, "schedule". Please note, that Adult Prep hours will be held in the afternoon from 2 to 5 for all interested in giving a hand and sharing in this beautiful process.
Thank You to all for participating in our winter newsletter appeal. You have made great things possible with your contributions.

GIVING TREES!!!

This summer Islesford Boatworks will introduce a new tree-planting complement to the program, and we couldn't be more excited about it. We're aiming to reduce IB's environmental impact and teach the kids about their environment and the valuable skills of horticulture.

With financial support from the community, IB will procure and plant the types of trees used in boatbuilding, such as Cedar, Locust, White Oak and Tamarack. The trees will be purchased by the property owner with a written understanding that IB reserves the right to the tree when chopped down.

In this way we can ensure that lumber to build boats can be procured locally in the future as well as help the kids get to know the species used in our boats. Tree planting also provides our students with a tangible link to their environment, forging a bond with individual trees as they mature.

If you'd like to have a tree planted on your property, please contact islesfordboatworks@gmail.com.

SUMMER'S COMING!!!

Summer is around the corner and IB has been BUSY!

This winter we received official non-profit status from the IRS!!!!
A big THANK YOU to the Island Institute for being our sponsor last year.

This summer's boatbuilding program starts on July 9th, and will follow the same schedule as last year, Juniors on Tuesday and Thursdays and Seniors on Mondays and Fridays. So get ready, Young Boatbuilders!

We will be building another beautiful Harry Bryan 'Daisy' this summer. And we're planning to launch it on Sunday, the 19th of August.

We're super excited for the summer to come.
See you soon!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

We at Islesford Boatworks are very happy this year as it's our first opportunity to consider all that got done last year, and to plan all that's going to happen this year! We can't wait to get back into the barn and get back to work...
Many of you will receive our first annual newsletter by actual mail (thanks, Joy!), but for those of you who can't wait, you can read our first annual newsletter, online!

2006 Annual Report is out!

Well, we just released the 2006 Annual Report, and it is pretty impressive (if we do say so ourselves!!!). It sounded a little lofty and corporate at first, but ended up being a great way to take stock of all that's been accomplished this year at IB. We're proud of it. Click here for the online version, or email us to request one in the mail...

OH MY GOODNESS... WE LAUNCHED THE BOAT!!!

Well, all you Islesford Boatworkers...

It was an epic and historic weekend over here at the IB:
WE LAUNCHED THE BOAT!!!

We can't even believe it.

Check out these pics, for now, and we'll add more after the holiday weekend.

Congratulations and thanks to all the kids who built this boat.

And thanks to everyone who came out to support us.

Hooray!

ARRR!!! WE'RE LAUNCHING THE BOAT!!!

That's right, ya 'Lubbers...

This Sunday, August 27th, at 1pm
We are LAUNCHING THE BOAT!!!

Not only do we encourage you to come,
but we also encourage you to dress like a pirate!

It's a BBQ Boat Launch on Sand Beach.
Bring Salad and Side Dishes.
We'll provide meats, condiments, and drinks.

Arrrrre you kidding?! Sounds great!

The Open House and Auction were a HUGE success!

Thank you to all who attended!

We will give a more complete update with all the details later, but we're so thrilled with the way last night went that we just had to say something! Over a hundred people came to support Islesford Boatworks (probably the largest group to ever convene in the barn!) last night, and a lot of money was raised for the program. Most importantly, the community was able to see what the kids have been up to, and we found a new home for our Daisy!

We'll tell you all about it soon!

In the meantime please enjoy these selects from the webcam...

OPEN HOUSE AND AUCTION - TONIGHT!!!

We are very excited for the open house gala and auction tonight. Not only is it a chance for parents, members of the community, and anyone else(!) to see the incredible work the kids have done so far, but it is also the night when our first IB boat will find a new home! That's right, we are AUCTIONING THE BOAT. All proceeds will go back into the program, to allow more kids to enjoy the same exciting journey next year.

We are also auctioning off some other exciting items, such as:

• A very-limited edition print by Ashley Bryan
• 10 Lobsters from local fisherman Steve Philbrook
  
• Local tile serving tray
• Oars

There will be wine and food and t-shirts for sale, and the shop will be cleaner than it has probably ever been... Come join us and see for yourself!

MARTHA STEWART RADIO -- ARE YOU SIRIUS?!?

Well, whodathunkit! Millions of people all over the world-- and apparenly truckdrivers galore*-- got to hear our own Brendan and Amanda Ravenhill on the Martha Stewart Living Radio Show this morning on Sirius radio, in an interview with Lauren Pressley. It was a great opportunity to let people know about what we're doing. Big thanks to Hannah Milman for setting it up.

*Hannah informed us that truck drivers are enormous fans of the Martha Stewart Living Radio Show. Weird, right?

WE'RE SELLING THE BOAT!!!

Don't get us wrong... it's nothing personal (we love the boat!), but on August 16th, at 5pm, we're auctioning the boat(!) at the inaugural Islesford Boatworks Open House (Open Barn) Gala and Auction! We'll also auction off other items like oars, bat houses, and much more! We'll serve drinks and snacks, and it should be a great time. So come on by... All proceeds will go back into Islesford Boatworks' boatbuilding program. Click here to read more.

Thank you to the Maine Community Foundation!

Another generous grant has been awarded to Islesford Boatworks. The program would not be possible without the the support of people and organizations. We are very grateful to the Maine Community Foundation.

Otherwise, things are just cracking in the workshop. We have nearly finished planking, and soon we 'll flip the boat and start finishing off the hull! Check out the boat cam to see our progress, or stop by...

FOUR ALARM HOT NEW T-SHIRTS!!!

"Wow, how can I get one of those new fire-department T-shirts?"

Hmm... we'd recommend a visit to our friends over at Islesford.com for more info. And you DON'T want to miss the Islesford Fair next Thursday, August 3rd!

Enrollment is Flooding in...

The last two weeks have been great over here... If you check out the pictures section you'll be sure to see some new faces, as our enrollment has more than doubled! We're thrilled that it seems like the island communities are nearly as excited as we are about Islesford Boatworks. Thanks to all the kids and parents for all your energy and support!

The Neighborhood House Masquerade Ball...

This past weekend was the annual Masquerade Ball. Boatloads of IB students and all of the instructors were out in force.

How many Islesford Boatworkers do you spot in this picture?

Another Great Article about IB...

This one appeared on the front page of the Maritime section of the Mount Desert Islander. It gave Adam Wriggens and Hannah Folsom the public voices they've always deserved, and made Coleman Fernald an island celebrity.

Read it here.

AND THE CLASSES BEGIN!

Classes started last week and things are really cooking! The youth are wonderful, smart, engaged, learning lots, and having tons of fun. We have already put the first pieces of the boat onto the molds, built several bat houses, and have nearly completed our first set of oars. Stop by and see what we are up to if you are on the island.

IN THE NEWS...

Here are links to two articles in which we have been featured. Watch for an article in this week's MDIslander, which comes out on Thursday.

• Bangor Daily News
• Bar Harbor Times

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

We have recieved a generous grant from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, as well as support from MAS Epoxy and EBS in building materials. Thank You.

KICKBALL KICKOFF IS A HUGE SUCCESS

Happy Summer to Everyone!
Here are the pictures from our Kickball Kickoff event last week. We had over 30 people playing Kickball and 20 people helped shape our first set of oars to be sold soon. Thank You for all the kind support!

AND WE'RE OFF...

Hello everyone, and WELCOME!

Islesford Boatworks is well on its way to making a difference (and a boat), and as you can see, we now have a WEBSITE! So please feel free to look around, see what's going on and what we're up to, and find out what Islesford Boatworks is all about...and by all means feel free to support our wonderful program (we need the help).

And now for some updates:

• We have just secured full insurance coverage for the program, the workshop, and most importantly the students, volunteers and instructors. SAFETY FIRST!
  
• There is a Rooftop BBQ Fundraiser planned for May 13th in Brooklyn, NY. Contact us for more details.
• We are also planning a KickBall Kickoff Fundraiser for late June on the island (we'll keep you posted).
• We have received emails and calls from 20 students thus far, all expressing an interest or intent to enroll.
• We're working to finalize the summer class schedule (soon to be posted on this site)
• We are currently working towards obtaining Non-Profit status and have graciously secured sponsorship from the Island Institute. (Please check them out)

There is much more to come and we are very excited at the prospect of a summer spent working together with you to build traditional wooden boats, opportunity, community, and a future for Maine’s working waterfront.

Please stop by often, and read about our latest endeavors, and if you happen to walk by the workshop at 13 Sand Beach rd. please feel free to stop on in and give a hand.