This spring, on Friday afternoons, Kirk Cusik, the Education Program and Waterfront Director from Herreshoff Marine Museum can be found teaching a group of Paul Cuffee Middle and Upper School students how to build their own wooden sailboat models. Every week, the students are acquiring woodworking skills to help their projects take shape. They hope to celebrate their completion at the end of May with a pond regatta of sorts.
Funding for this 12-week program was secured by the RI Marine Trades Association and Herreshoff through the Governor’s Workforce Board’s Real Skills for Youth Grant. In addition to learning how to make their own wooden boat models, students will get to visit the Herreshoff Marine Museum and take one or two field trips to explore career opportunities in the marine industry.