Boatbuilding · Youth
Friends around the world
In the United States, Ireland and elsewhere, organisations like ours use wooden boatbuilding to teach. We admire their work and want more people to know about it.
Please note: these organisations are not partners or allies of Bote al Agua, and we have no agreement with them. We list them because we admire their work. The descriptions are based on their own official websites, which we visited on 11 October 2026.
Alexandria Seaport Foundation
Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Since 1993, its Apprentice Program has used woodworking and traditional boatbuilding, along with on-the-water instruction, to help young adults aged 18 to 23 find pathways to jobs, trade schools or further education. It publishes the Bevin’s Skiff manual, a boat designed for teaching.
Visit the website of Alexandria Seaport Foundation (opens in a new tab)
Rocking the Boat
The Bronx, New York, United States (also in San Francisco)
Youth development through wooden boatbuilding, environmental science and sailing in the South Bronx. Its motto says it all: “Kids don’t just build boats, boats build kids.”
Brooklyn Boatworks
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Works inside New York City middle schools. In each class, 15 students spend the whole school year building an Optimist pram, a small sailing dinghy, working from blueprints with marine tools and materials.
Visit the website of Brooklyn Boatworks (opens in a new tab)
All Hands Boatworks
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Since 2013 it has taught the craft, science and art of wooden boatbuilding and led on-water activities to inspire, educate and empower youth. It also runs community programmes, such as free community rowing.
Visit the website of All Hands Boatworks (opens in a new tab)
Wind & Oar Boat School
Portland, Oregon, United States
Engages young people and inspires learning through the art, science and craft of building wooden boats, with a STEAM approach and programmes for elementary, middle and high school students and summer.
Visit the website of Wind & Oar Boat School (opens in a new tab)
Meitheal Mara
Cork, Ireland
Founded in 1993, it is a maritime cultural organisation and community boatyard on the River Lee. It works above all with currachs and other traditional Irish boats, and runs a youth programme, Bádóireacht. Its name roughly translates as “workers of the sea”.
Teaching With Small Boats Alliance
International network based in the United States
Brings together educators and programmes that teach maths, science and other essential skills through boat building. According to its website, organisations from 24 US states, Canada, Europe and South America have attended its conferences.
Visit the website of Teaching With Small Boats Alliance (opens in a new tab)
Why this list?
Bote al Agua, in Tigre, Argentina, was inspired by more than twenty years of experience in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, where boatbuilding is used to educate. Learning from others helps us improve, and anyone looking for a programme like this in their own country may find a starting point here.
If you want to start a similar project, read our guides how to build a wooden boat with students and project-based learning through boat building.
Know another programme that should be here? Message us on Instagram or Facebook.