The Carpenters Boat Shop 2019-2020 apprentices: (front row from left) Nolen Michael, Lulu Scherman, Justin Barker, and Koala Largess; and (back row from left) Austin Reynolds, Griffin Louis, Paige Lockard, Brad Kerr, Devin Aldrich, and Jake Boudreau.
Currently celebrating its 40th anniversary, The Carpenter’s Boat Shop in Pemaquid (Bristol) welcomed its 2019-2020 class of 10 apprentices on Sept. 8 as they began their 9-month stay.
Three participants are from Maine, three from New York, and there is one each from New Jersey, Maryland, Louisiana, and Tennessee. The average age is 27 and they bring with them varied backgrounds and aspirations.
After being warmly welcomed by Nat Shed, the boat shop’s interim executive director, staff members, board members, and volunteers, the apprentices quickly settled in to their new surroundings and enjoyed getting to know one another.
The next morning, they began orientation, including learning the goals of The Carpenter’s Boat Shop, guidelines for living in community, and tool and machinery safety. In their first two weeks, the apprentices experienced power tool practice and training, learned water craft safety, completed a shop project of building a step stool and a personal tool box, volunteered at the local elementary school, took the chore tour, and for some rest and relaxation visited the Common Ground Country Fair in Unity. All in all, it was a busy two weeks.
The public is invited to meet these apprentices at tea time, weekdays from 10-10:25 a.m. Several of them will also be volunteering at Pumpkinfest at The Carpenter’s Boat Shop table in the InfoZone. Stop by and learn more about the boat shop, its latest class of apprentices, and its mission: building boats, nurturing lives, helping others.
