The weather held off and we had a great weekend for this long planned for event. Four great kids came Saturday morning and by Sunday afternoon they had built a wonderful 12' skiff which didn't leak a drop! Therefore they got in it...
This was Matt's first time leading the event and he did a great job with the help of a great team.
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| sides attach to stem and centre frame |
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| book-matching the sides is first job |
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| soon it looks like a boat |
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| one-on-one tool skills training is major part |
day one is tool skills development, measuring, marking and cutting to a compound beveled line with a hand saw. Difficult for anyone with some tool skills but a real challenge for these beginners. Very patient coaching and resisting the temptation to jump in and just do it make our volunteers very strong of character! Finally on day 2 come the rewards - a very real boat emerges from the boatshop but some of the kids are saying "no way I'm getting in that - it'll come apart and sink".
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| time for a team shot before heading to the water |
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| finished boat goes on the trailer |
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| "It doesn't leak a drop" |
Once it's in the water and doesn't leak a drop, the ones who "knew it would sink" will finally get in and go for a row. Then you can't get them out....
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| first time at the oars, Matt coaching |
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| soon, we're out of the boat - they're into it |
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| solo rower - first time |
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| thanks to Hill Top Quarry for the pool |
It's an amazing experience to be a volunteer in this event, to cause the transformation of lives in such a dramatic way and to hear life stories shift as you are just believing in these kids. We are always open to welcoming new volunteers to our boatshop community. Everyone who becomes a regular brings something new to enrich the experience of us all. Thank you all especially Matt, Jim, Ray, JJ, Bruce, Bernie and John.
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