The Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding is back in business after a year-long break from full classes due to COVID safety concerns.
Back to a full capacity of 53 students, classes started Oct. …
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The Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding is back in business after a year-long break from full classes due to COVID safety concerns.
Back to a full capacity of 53 students, classes started Oct. 4 with essential COVID protocols in place to keep students, faculty, and staff safe. Staff and instructors worked vigorously to develop safety procedures to make sure all attendees of the boat school can learn in a safe environment.
The diverse student body is made up of 35 boatbuilding students and 18 marine systems students representing 17 states from Hawaii to Delaware, with ages ranging from 19 to 68.
Even more impressive, school officials noted, is the varied background of the student body.
From river guides to air traffic controllers, former circus workers to teachers, people in the tech world along with eight military veterans, the students are sure to have a lot to talk about as they get to know one another.
“Damn, it feels good to have the shops full of students again,” said Sean Koomen, the school’s chief instructor.
“Over the past year-and-a-half the boat school has been reconfiguring and preparing our programs and facilities for this new cohort of students. And as they’ve now finally arrived on campus, their energy is a welcomed boost to the new school year,” Koomen added.
An additional learning center, located in the Nomura Building at the Port of Port Townsend, will allow off-site learning for students.
It was put to use during the first week of school as the new class of marine systems students took a “boatyard safari” through the boatyard to identify various systems that they’ll be learning about throughout the course.
“The skills we teach at the boat school, whether it be boatbuilding or marine systems, are not skills that can be taught virtually,” said Betsy Davis, executive director of the boat school. “These are hands-on skills, which require hands-on training and experience. And despite all of the obstacles we have faced, we are happy and proud to be back to full capacity.”
Back at the main 7-acre campus in Lower Hadlock, the expanded McPherson Shop, dedicated marine systems building, and new Veterans’ Resource Student Center are primed to help the school give students the best learning environment possible.
“We are so proud these students have chosen to come to our community, and we are so looking forward to getting back to the regular business of teaching,” Davis said
