As the ice melts and the waters begin to open across the Twin Cities, young people at Urban Boatbuilders are finding their footing, their confidence, and their direction.
Hayden, one of those young people, is a Youth Instructor who first came to us in the spring of 2024 after hearing about the program from a high school teacher. At the time, he was balancing life as a personal care assistant for his grandmother and searching for something more—something hands-on, something meaningful. He found it here.
Not long after he started, life brought profound challenges. He lost his mother, and his grandmother was hospitalized. He stepped away from Urban Boatbuilders. But what stayed with him was this:
“Milo, [a staff instructor], told me if I ever needed a job or needed to come back, just call him—and so I did.”
Hayden returned to the apprenticeship program, and today, he’s not only building boats—he’s mentoring young people just like him.
Ask Hayden what this community means to him, and he said without hesitation:
“The people—there’s some amazing people that come through Urban Boatbuilders.”
In a world that can feel uncertain, Hayden has found something steady here: a crew that shows up for one another, that works hard, and that laughs together—even at their mistakes.
He’ll tell you one of his favorite memories is a simple one—paddling out from Lake Phalen, going a little too far, and needing a staff member to chase them back. It’s the kind of moment that sticks—not because everything went perfectly, but because it didn’t. Because they were learning together.
That spirit carries into the workshop, too. Whether it’s carefully crafting a first cutting board—still his most treasured project—or hand-painting a canoe yoke alongside a fellow apprentice, incorporating Lakota and Dakota floral designs, ponies, a thunderbird, and medicine wheel, there is pride in every step.
“It was sick—it was awesome. Knowing someone is going to buy that boat…that’s an incredible feeling.”
Now, as a Youth Instructor, Hayden is thinking beyond himself while also thinking about what it means to lead:
“I want to make sure the next group coming into the workforce has a good example of a supervisor—so they know what right looks like.”
He’s finishing his GED. He’s exploring a future in the trades. He’s working towards stable housing. And every day, Hayden is showing younger apprentices what’s possible—not by being perfect, but by being present, patient, and real.
This is what your support makes possible.
At Urban Boatbuilders, young people don’t just learn how to build boats. They build resilience, relationships, and a vision for their future.
We invite you to help more young people step into that future. Your gift today will:
Provide materials like lumber and tools for hands-on learning.
Support paid apprenticeship and leadership opportunities for youth.
Create moments of connection—on the water, in the workshop, and beyond.
Because of you, a young person will leave with skills, confidence, and a community that stays with them long after they’ve left the shop. Click the button below to , and thank you for being part of this journey.
