About Us: In 1995 a small group of community leaders saw an increased lack of hands on woodworking and experiential education opportunities for youth, and thus formed the nonprofit Urban Boatbuilders. Our mission since then has been to empower youth to succeed in work and life through woodworking and experiential learning. In the past 25 years, we have developed technical hands-on learning opportunities that combine Career and Future Readiness skills, Social-Emotional Learning skill that have been used to prepare youth to pursue their own success in the modern world. We envision a world in which all youth have access to an education that empowers them to use their hands, heart, and mind to be engaged community members and environmental stewards. “When youth have access to expanded learning opportunities at school, in the community, and at home, they are more likely to gain the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to lead and succeed.” – Executive Director Marc Hosmer Our Programs: Urban Boatbuilders' youth with barriers to employment by providing a work-training program combined with a research-founded curriculum that contributes to success in life, school, and future workplaces.. We work with various programs that engage teens from within the juvenile justice system, charter schools, public schools and community programs. Youth participants from partner agencies gain skills, knowledge, confidence, responsibility while learning woodworking and boat building skills in a mentored environment. Older youth participants, working as apprentices, also develop advanced woodworking and boat building skills as well as mentoring, job readiness support and workforce orientation. To learn more about our organization, visit www.urbanboatbuilders.org.