fbpx
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Print Edition
    • Get Home Delivery
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Submit Your Event
    • Customer Support
    • Submit A News Tip
    • Send Letter to the Editor
    • Where’s My Paper?
  • Our Newsletters
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Free HV1 Trial
Hudson Valley One
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s UP
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Subscribe to the What’s UP newsletter
  • Opinion
    • Letters
    • Columns
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Log Out
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s UP
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Subscribe to the What’s UP newsletter
  • Opinion
    • Letters
    • Columns
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Log Out
No Result
View All Result
Hudson Valley One
No Result
View All Result

Maritime craft classes at Riverport Wooden Boat School in Kingston

by Sharyn Flanagan
March 5, 2018
in Art & Music
0
Maritime craft classes at Riverport Wooden Boat School in Kingston

A Riverport Wooden Boat School class in Old World Carving at the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston.

A Riverport Wooden Boat School class in Old World Carving at the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston.

The Hudson River Maritime Museum (HRMM) in Kingston was established nearly 40 years ago to preserve and interpret historical artifacts related to the maritime heritage of the Hudson River and its tributaries. In the years since, the nonprofit has greatly expanded upon its mission, with recent times seeing an increase in new memberships, more visiting vessels and the founding of the Riverport Wooden Boat School in 2015.

The educational programs offered through HRMM include a variety of adult and family programs that promote maritime crafts and disciplines not often taught elsewhere. Most are multi-day workshops, with nautical themes that include boatbuilding, canoe paddle-carving, wooden boat restoration and scrimshaw art, with some offerings teaching related woodworking skills to create a handmade guitar or a Shaker table.

Educational programs are held in the Kingston Home Port and Education Center. According to Sarah Wassberg Johnson, education director of the Riverport Wooden Boat School, the idea for the classes was that of dedicated board members who wanted to take maritime heritage preservation to the next level by preserving craft traditions: “We have a number of board members who are very passionate about woodworking and boatbuilding, and it was the next logical step in our mission of preserving and interpreting the history of the Hudson River.”

Build-your-own guitar class

Classes are organized on a trimester schedule for the most part, with a late-summer/fall session, winter/spring offerings and a late-spring/summer session. But there is always the possibility of last-minute additions to the schedule, says Wassberg Johnson, as instructors occasionally make themselves available at the last minute and a class is organized. “We’re always on the lookout for new instructors and new classes,” she says, “and people are welcome to make requests for classes they’d like us to offer, too.”

The scrimshaw art class offered last year for the first time was so well-received that the Riverport Wooden Boat School will be offering a series of different scrimshaw workshops this season with instructor Anna Landewe, Saugerties Lighthouse-keeper and artist who has been doing scrimshaw work on a variety of surfaces for years. She was tapped as an instructor after taking one of the woodworking classes at the site, says Wassberg Johnson, and it turned out that she had this rare nautical skill to offer others.

One of the core instructors at HRMM is Michael Puryear, a furniture-maker, studio designer and experienced teacher who has built a number of small wooden craft. In addition to his courses teaching foundational woodworking skills, he’ll offer a unique family-oriented class later this year in which up to four members of a family will be guided in working together to build their own Echo Bay Dory: a lightweight, car-toppable skiff, easy to row or sail, that can be built from a kit within a week. (The minimum age for participants is eight.)

Puryear is also going to teach a new class in July on making a skateboard, and Wassberg Johnson says that they’re working with another instructor developing a course on sewing sailbags out of recycled sails. There are also maritime-themed art classes in the works, and sailing- and boating-instructor classes through a partnership with the US Sailing Association.

Classes are kept small, with six to 12 participants in each. And as more people are finding out about the workshops, they’re beginning to fill up earlier. The best plan for those interested in enrolling is to keep checking the website. Wassberg Johnson says that she’ll be posting new classes over the next few weeks, and that the schedule is always subject to additions. Questions may be directed to her by calling (845) 338-0071, extension 16, or e-mailing education@hrmm.org.

Riverport Wooden Boat School, Hudson River Maritime Museum, 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston; (845) 338-0071, extension 16, www.hrmm.org/classes.html.


Boys and girls can become Sea Scouts

The Hudson River Maritime Museum has revived the tradition of Sea Scouting. The maritime arm of the Boy Scouts of America is open to males and females aged 13 to 21. The group promotes citizenship and bonding experiences through instruction and practice in water safety, boating skills, service experiences and knowledge of maritime history. Established in 1912, the Sea Scout units (called “ships” rather than “troops”) are found nationwide.

Scout Ship 609, headquartered at the Hudson River Maritime Museum, has the use of a donated 27-foot Pearson sailboat, according to the site’s education director, Sarah Wassberg Johnson. For more information about the program, visit www.hrmm.org/sea-scouts.html.


Knot-tying workshop on Saturday at Maritime Museum

The Hudson River Maritime Museum (HRMM) at 50 Rondout Landing in Kingston will host an afternoon of crafting for adults on Saturday, February 17 from 3 to 6 p.m. Participants attending “Tie the Knot with HRMM” will learn various nautical knots and leave with a handmade necklace, bracelet or keychain. The cost is $35, which includes a lunch of wine and beer, chili and mac-and-cheese along with a complimentary individual membership to the museum. Current members are encouraged to gift their membership to a friend. Children are welcome, and kids under age 12 are admitted free. Tickets are available at www.hrmm.org.

 

Join the family! Grab a free month of HV1 from the folks who have brought you substantive local news since 1972. We made it 50 years thanks to support from readers like you. Help us keep real journalism alive.
- Geddy Sveikauskas, Publisher

Sharyn Flanagan

Related Posts

Celebrate the musical legacy of America at Ulster County Historical Society
Art & Music

Celebrate the musical legacy of America at Ulster County Historical Society

August 2, 2025
91-year-old artist offers retrospective in Rhinebeck, opening this Saturday
Art & Music

91-year-old artist offers retrospective in Rhinebeck, opening this Saturday

August 1, 2025
Dual exhibit at Wired Gallery opens this Saturday
Art & Music

Dual exhibit at Wired Gallery opens this Saturday

August 1, 2025
Former Kingston tattoo parlor transforms to art space this Friday
Art & Music

Former Kingston tattoo parlor transforms to art space this Friday

July 31, 2025
Music icon plays an in-studio session in Woodstock this Sunday
Art & Music

Music icon plays an in-studio session in Woodstock this Sunday

July 25, 2025
Drive-By Truckers and Deer Tick play Accord this Saturday
Art & Music

Drive-By Truckers and Deer Tick play Accord this Saturday

July 24, 2025
Next Post
Call for falcon-spotters at Mohonk Preserve

Call for falcon-spotters at Mohonk Preserve

Weather

Kingston, NY
72°
Clear
5:51 am8:12 pm EDT
Feels like: 72°F
Wind: 1mph NW
Humidity: 87%
Pressure: 30.16"Hg
UV index: 0
TueWedThu
84°F / 63°F
81°F / 61°F
82°F / 59°F
powered by Weather Atlas

Subscribe

Independent. Local. Substantive. Subscribe now.

  • Subscribe & Support
  • Print Edition
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
  • Our Newsletters
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Free HV1 Trial

© 2022 Ulster Publishing

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Art
    • Books
    • Kids
    • Lifestyle & Wellness
    • Food & Drink
    • Music
    • Nature
    • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Contact Us
    • Customer Support
    • Advertise
    • Submit A News Tip
  • Print Edition
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
    • Where’s My Paper
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Log In
  • Free HV1 Trial
  • Subscribe to Our Newsletters
    • Hey Kingston
    • New Paltz Times
    • Woodstock Times
    • Week in Review

© 2022 Ulster Publishing