Since 1996, we have worked with more than 1,700 youth who have completed 140 boats. More than 375 youth have been introduced to an on-the-water experience in a boat built with their own hands.   Urban Boatbuilders has built relationships with community based organizations and schools working with at-risk youth. Working alongside adult mentors and volunteers from their neighborhoods, young people develop technical and problem-solving skills and more often than not increase their self-esteem, sense of responsibility, and their respect and appreciation of others.

We have two primary programs. The first is project partnership, wherein a school or youth service agency contacts us to arrange for a boatbuilding project, either at their location or in our shop. We also have an apprenticeship program, now in its fourth year. Apprentices are recruited from our project partners. They are students who demonstrate proficiency with woodworking tools and techniques, and are willing to make a commitment to the continued development of these skills. This is an after school program designed to provide workplace experience to youth considering the trades.

As we expand UBB's apprenticeship program and on-the-water programs, we are rapidly outgrowing our current space. We are presently looking to develop a larger, permanent boat building workshop with waterfront access. A small boat livery could be maintained for on-water programming and use by the general public.

Urban Boatbuilders relies on energetic volunteers and generous donors to keep the shop going. We always can use more energy and generosity! Give us a call or drop by if you would like to help.

Generous Support Provided by:

McKnight Foundation
Jay and Rose Phillips Foundation
St. Paul Foundation
Individual Donors
Volunteers

H.B. Fuller
Grotto Foundation
St.Paul Companies
St. Paul Travelers

Bush Foundation
Midway Shopping Center
Minneapolis Foundation
Rathmann Family Foundation
Trillium Family Foundation

UBB Staff

Bruce Casselton, Executive Director
Bruce recently resigned his position as a Supervisor at Ramsey County Workforce Solutions to join Urban Boatbuilders, Inc as the Executive Director, thus weaving a long-term love of wooden boats with his youth work and workforce development experience. Bruce began his non-profit employment experience in 1970 when he worked as a counselor at a northern Minnesota wilderness canoeing camp serving youth 12-18 years of age. Since then, he has worked in a variety of non-profit and public settings including the YMCA, Minnesota Extension Service (Urban 4H), American Red Cross Blood Services, National Marrow Donor Program, St. Paul Schools Center for Employment and Training, and Ramsey County Workforce Solutions.

In addition to his experience, he brings with him an appreciation for boat building as a metaphor for life building and the applicability of a care and respect ethic required for a wooden craft to a fragile world and its inhabitants.

Welcome Bruce!

Brian Thorkildson, Boatbuilding Instructor
Brian is a master electrician as well as a highly skilled boatbuilder, woodworker, toolmaker, and instructor. He believes that getting youth involved with woodworking and working with their hands can expose them to skills they may not know they had. He enjoys woodworking with traditional tools and techniques. In his spare time he and his wife are restoring their 1927 Four Square house in St. Paul.

Phil Winger, Boat Building Instructor/Program Manager
During Phil's eight years at UBB, he has enjoyed being able to share the experiences of wooden boatbuilding with hundreds of students and apprentices.  He has seen this process time and again instill in young people an appreciation for craftsmanship, perseverance, responsibility and teamwork.  His experience has taught him that young people must be given an opportunity to excel, and he believes that boatbuilding is the perfect medium for this.

His extranautical landlubbing activities are mostly outdoors: backpacking, cross-country skiing, and generally trying to get lost in the wilderness.  Chocolate is his drug of choice.

2010 Board of Directors

Bob Anderson, President
Jun-Li Wang, Vice President
Mark Thorkildson, Treasurer
Greg Lindberg, Secretary
Tim Eaton
Todd Ellingson
Pete Giancola
Jeff Olson
Bill Smith
Bill Yaeger

Past and Current Partner Organizations