Volunteer Opportunities
Whatever your skills or interests, there is a place for you at Urban Boatbuilders. Our opportunities aim to achieve continual capacity for youth programming, and offer enriching experiences for volunteers both through the contributions they make towards a worthwhile mission and through personal hands-on learning, skill development and self-growth. Check out some ways to get involved, below, and please don’t hesitate to get in touch at volunteer@urbanboatbuilders.org with your questions and ideas.
Volunteer in the workshop:
Click on a volunteer opportunity on the calendar and follow the registration instructions. Closed-toed shoes are required. Safety goggles and hearing protection available on-site. Are you a first-time volunteer?
First-time volunteers are required to complete at least one Saturday training session before using any power tools in the workshop. We strongly encourage all volunteers to complete the training before volunteering with us, but as we offer limited training sessions you are welcome to attend open shop in the meantime to assist with non-power tool related tasks. Sign up using the calendar above for an orientation/tools training.
Orientation & Basic Tools Training: Join us for a brief orientation on the organization and what we do, followed by basic hand and power tools training (band saw, drill press, 12" disc sander, and chop saw). Those not interested in volunteering on the shop floor don't need to stay for the tools training.
Advanced Power Tools Training: Designed for volunteers with some prior woodworking experience, this training includes a brief orientation on the organization and what we do, followed by training on advanced power tools (table saw, planer, and router).
*** Please read through our Volunteer Handbook and bring a signed Liability Waiver to orientation. ***
Open Shop Night (Wednesdays 6:30 – 9:30 PM): This volunteer opportunity is open to all levels of experience and interest, and is a chance to assist with a variety of shop and boat-related projects. It’s a relaxed and fun way to get involved in boatbuilding activities, and provides us with very valuable assistance in our programming. Pizza is provided in exchange for your time and participation. Check calendar for holiday or staff-related closings. Saturday training sessions are required for power tools use. If you are unable to complete a training before your first open shop, you may attend and assist in non-power tool related jobs.
Women/Trans/Femme Shop Night (every other Thursday, 6:30 - 9:00 PM):
Please Note: Our WTF program is currently on hold due to staff transitions. We apologize for the inconvenience!
This is a volunteer night for women, transgender, and femme-identified people. Woodworking and boatbuilding are traditionally a male-dominated fields, and we believe it’s important to create a supportive space in which WTF-identified people can gain access to and develop their confidence in these skills. Like our Wednesday night open shop volunteer night, this is a time when volunteers work on projects that support our youth boatbuilding projects and workshop needs. Pizza is provided in exchange for your time and participation. The regular meeting time is the 1st & 3rd Thursday of the month from 6:30 - 9:00 PM. We also host WTF-specific power tool trainings. These usually occur on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 9 AM - 12 PM. Use the calendar to sign up (summer schedule varies).
What does WTF mean?
Women: people who identify as women
Trans: transgender people who identify with any gender: man, woman, nonbinary, agender, etc.
Femme: anyone who identifies with femininity in their gender expression. (Gender expression refers to how someone presents; from hair to makeup to clothes, etc.)
E-mail volunteer@urbanboatbuilders.org with questions or join our Facebook group.
Become a volunteer youth instructor:
We recruit community members who have experience working with youth to volunteer as a mentor / assistant in our apprenticeship program. Our Volunteer instructors work with an apprenticeship cohort one day a week, assisting the head instructor in answering questions for the youth, moving along the building process, and serving as another adult mentor for the youth we work with. If you are interested in working with youth in our shop, email volunteer@urbanboatbuilders.org for more information. Make sure to read up on our Apprenticeship Program and the relevant dates and times before sending an inquiry.
Join a committee:
Consider getting involved on the Communications Committee or Fundraising Committee. Participants provide vital support to our organization, and we couldn’t continue our work without support in these capacities. Email us at volunteer@urbanboatbuilders.org to discuss how you might get involved and contribute to our mission.
Table an outreach event:
Urban Boatbuilders attends multiple events each year to increase our visibility in our communities and to spread the word about the work that we do. These events include but are not limited to the Minneapolis Boat Show, the American Craft Council Show, and the Minnesota State Fair.
These events are made possible by the many volunteers that sign up for a 2 - 3 hour shift at the Urban Boatbuilders table, talking with visitors and sharing details of our programs. This is a fun chance to spend time with youth apprentices and Urban Boatbuilders and staff. In addition, many outreach events include a hands on educational aspect, such as lashing or paddle carving, which require teaching help.
If you’re interested in serving as an advocate for Urban Boatbuilders at these events, email volunteer@urbanboatbuilders.org and ask to be placed on our volunteer list.
Didn’t find a fit? Contact volunteer@urbanboatbuilders.org. We would be happy to consult with you to find the best way for you to contribute your time and energy.
