Since 1996, we have worked with more than 1,700 youth who have completed 140 boats. More than 375 youth have been introduced to an on-the-water experience in a boat built with their own hands.   Urban Boatbuilders has built relationships with community based organizations and schools working with at-risk youth. Working alongside adult mentors and volunteers from their neighborhoods, young people develop technical and problem-solving skills and more often than not increase their self-esteem, sense of responsibility, and their respect and appreciation of others.

We have two primary programs. The first is project partnership, wherein a school or youth service agency contacts us to arrange for a boatbuilding project, either at their location or in our shop. We also have an apprenticeship program, now in its fourth year. Apprentices are recruited from our project partners. They are students who demonstrate proficiency with woodworking tools and techniques, and are willing to make a commitment to the continued development of these skills. This is an after school program designed to provide workplace experience to youth considering the trades.

As we expand UBB's apprenticeship program and on-the-water programs, we are rapidly outgrowing our current space. We are presently looking to develop a larger, permanent boat building workshop with waterfront access. A small boat livery could be maintained for on-water programming and use by the general public.

Urban Boatbuilders relies on energetic volunteers and generous donors to keep the shop going. We always can use more energy and generosity! Give us a call or drop by if you would like to help.

Generous Support Provided by:

McKnight Foundation
Jay and Rose Phillips Foundation
St. Paul Foundation
Individual Donors
Volunteers

H.B. Fuller
Grotto Foundation
St.Paul Companies
St. Paul Travelers

Bush Foundation
Midway Shopping Center
Minneapolis Foundation
Rathmann Family Foundation
Trillium Family Foundation

UBB Staff

Dave Gagne, Executive Director
Dave helped found Urban Boatbuilders in 1995 and served on the Board of Directors from April, 1999, to January, 2007, when he was welcomed aboard as Executive Director. Dave has worked in the nonprofit world since 1967, doing community development work, small business development and social work.  He believes strongly in the teens that UBB works with. He points out that the experiential learning of wooden boat building provides a unique opportunity to gain work experience, craft skills, self-confidence and independence. Dave has built a few small wood boats in Minnesota as well as in New England at Mystic Seaport with the legendary boatbuilder John Gardner. In his spare time Dave jogs, enjoys camping and is rumored to periodically pick up and play his accordion accompanied by the dogs in his neighborhood.

Brian Thorkildson, Boatbuilding Instructor
Brian is a master electrician and works at Urban Boatbuilders part time as an instructor. He believes that getting youth involved with woodworking and working with their hands can expose them to skills they may not know they had. He enjoys woodworking with traditional tools and techniques. In his spare time he and his wife are restoring their 1927 Four Square house in St. Paul.

Phil Winger, Boat Building Instructor/Program Manager
During Phil's eight years at UBB, he has enjoyed being able to share the experiences of wooden boatbuilding with hundreds of students and apprentices.  He has seen this process time and again instill in young people an appreciation for craftsmanship, perseverance, responsibility and teamwork.  His experience has taught him that young people must be given an opportunity to excel, and he believes that boatbuilding is the perfect medium for this.

His extranautical landlubbing activities are mostly outdoors: backpacking, cross-country skiing, and generally trying to get lost in the wilderness.  Chocolate is his drug of choice.

2009 Board of Directors

Bob Anderson, President
Jun-Li Wang, Vice President
Kristen Poppleton, Secretary
Bill Yaeger
Jeff Olson
Bill Smith
Cecelia Frederick
Pete Giancola
Greg Lindberg

Past and Current Partner Organizations