Volunteer with the ‘Boats by Kids’ Program

We are looking for volunteers to help us build boats this winter! We currently have programs planned in a number of schools and organizations, building both full size and model boats. The more adults we have in the room helping the kids, the more direct help we can give them and the better off their boats, and their learning experience, will be.

Community Boating Center (CBC) started our Boats by Kids program in 2015 at Dennison Memorial Community Center in the south end of New Bedford. Forty-five “Dennison Kids” between the ages of 6 and 15 years old spent an hour a week building model boats and a 12’ rowboat. Four years later, we now have a fleet of a dozen rowboats that have been built by local kids and are used in our on-the-water programs.

The boat building curriculum uses a hands-on building process to help students improve not only their math skills, but also much more: they learn planning, communication, and responsibility in addition to measuring, fractions, and practical geometry. They discover abilities they didn’t know they had and gain confidence.

Volunteers will work alongside trained staff and use the hands-on building process to help students improve their skills, learn to use basic hand tools and much more. As a Boats by Kids volunteer you help students to develop teamwork, focus, confidence, and perseverance. Volunteers and staff help emphasize planning, communication, literacy, and responsibility. No experience is necessary, but an open mind and commitment to helping others are required.

We will work with your schedule and your assignment can be on a regular schedule or you can volunteer just once.