By Tim Badgley
South Bristol School students complete the inaugural outing of one of two boats their class built at the Maine Maritime Museum boat shop. Shown left to right, Corey Blanc, Ayla Liss, Abby Brewer, and Cassidy Colby. (Tim Badgley photo) |
Buy this photo |
 Abby Brewer, left and Tahlia Mullen christen Ohana at the South Bristol School boat launch June 13. (Tim Badgley photo) |
Buy this photo |
Nine South Bristol School eighth-grade students stood in pouring rain to launch two skiffs they built before a crowded dock at Bittersweet Landing Boatyard June 13.
Each year for the past 18 years, the eighth-grade class has spent one day a week building wooden boats at the Maine Maritime Museum boat shop.
South Bristol School Principal Scott White recognized Betsy Graves and Ann McFarland, who, through the Nancy and Herbert Burns Foundation, fund the entire program. “We thank them for that,” White said.
Museum staff and boat shop volunteers, members of the community and the entire faculty and student body looked on and cheered the eighth-graders for their accomplishment in building the two boats.
White introduced Maine Maritime Museum Executive Director Amy Lent who pointed to the kindergarten class on the overlooking dock and said, “Ten years from now, some of you guys are going to building these boats.”
Lent said building the boats is hard. “I’ve done what you guys did and know how difficult it is,” she said.
Lent told the eighth-graders that if they apply the same effort, skill, and perseverance they put into the boats to the rest of their lives, “you guys are set.”
White then introduced eighth-grader Julie Dinsmore, who spoke about the students’ experience working in the boat shop.
“The reason I like the boat shop so much is that everyone is so nice and helpful to us and because it felt so good to get a break from our regular school routine,” Dinsmore said.
Maine Maritime Museum boat shop manager Kurt Spiridakis introduced the adults who assisted in the shop with the students.
“The special volunteers that worked with the South Bristol program all year were Kate Beaudette, Lynn Rider, Richard Spear, and John Hall,” Spiridakis said.
White introduced Beth Hood as a guest speaker.
“You may be passing beyond where you have been comfortable,” Hood said. “But you can rest assured that you will have the wind of love of your parents and teachers supporting you.”
A pair of eighth-graders then christened each of the boats, named Iliad and Ohana and launched them on their maiden voyage.
White concluded the program and proclaimed, “Now the real moment we’ve all be waiting for – the launching of the boats!”
