Beginning in summer 2007, the Spaulding Wooden Boat Center, the Marin City Community Services District, the Larson Family Foundation and the Cultural Conservancy launched a summer recreation program for Marin City young people between the ages of 13 and 18. These students have been meeting four evenings per week at the Spaulding Center to learn woodworking under the guidance of master carver Shane Eagleton and two volunteer adult leaders. The final product is a four foot square wooden sign to be displayed at Marin City's Manzanita Recreation Center. This sign is made up of hand-carved panels designed by the students.

In addition, many of the students have never been on the water, but will go sailing on the Spaulding Center's 1906 gaff-sloop Polaris, a 34 foot historic wooden vessel. The boat will be sailed by volunteers: one Coast Guard licensed skipper and two crew. Polaris will carry six students at a time, each of whom will learn to raise sails, handle lines and work with the team under expert guidance and wind power.

Woodworking teaches young people an artistic and creative skill using their hands, attention to detail, pride of accomplishment and a possible trade skill. Added to this, sailing teaches life skills, teamwork and confidence. The program is currently funded for only three weeks with the option of extending to six or eight weeks if funding becomes available. A total of twenty young people are currently participating.

All of these students are learning to use hand tools against the backdrop of beautifully crafted classic wooden boats. We expect that a few of them will acquire an interest in woodwork that will lead to future employment. And exceptional students may be eligible for hiring at the Spaulding Boatworks, which is often hiring hard-working young people who want to learn.

For information, or to support the program, please contact the Spaulding Center at 415-332-3179.

  Comments from the Students

Following are quotations from seven of the twenty students who participated part or full time—Chanetta, Whitney, Maurince, Khaydijah, Ramana, Janay and Monique.

“My piece is Butterfly. I learned that making a piece (of art) with a team can be easier than doing it by yourself.”

“I completed two pieces, Abstract and Whale. What I learned was how to work with different woods and tools.”

“My art piece is Sun. What I learned is how to make a Sun out of wood.”

“My piece says I Love You. I learned how to use a chisel better than Maurice.”

“I made Dolphin in the Waves. I learned how to carve wood.”

“My piece is Tree in the Fall. I learned how to use a chisel.”

“My piece is Sun with Attitude. It represents light, power, love and creativity. I learned how to hold tools properly and to express myself with wood. Awesome!”