Adventure for Education

Preserving maritime heritage and empowering future generations through education—with your support, we can continue to chart a course toward a brighter future for Lowell's Boat Shop and the communities it serves.

A grand opportunity.

Together, we can ensure that Lowell's Boat Shop remains a beacon of maritime heritage and education for years to come.

Our Goal

This June & July 2024, Lowell's Executive Director Graham McKay is voyaging to the Arctic as an educator on the schooner Bowdoin. At Lowell’s Boat Shop, we honor the spirit of adventure and experience. By granting our director a two month salty sabbatical to take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity, we are investing in the educational future of Lowell’s Boat Shop. We are utilizing this voyage as a way to excite our community about the educational opportunities that exist here at Lowell’s and to stimulate support for our programs. Lowell’s has set a goal of raising $50K during Graham’s hiatus to support our array of educational offerings. All of your donation made here, 100%, directly supports educational programming at Lowell's Boat Shop.

This voyage is about more than just sightseeing; it's about educating youth in the art of traditional seamanship, where every knot tied, every sail trimmed, and every course plotted is a teaching moment. Whether you're an experienced sailor or a landlubber with a sense of adventure, there's a place for you to follow along as we navigate the icy waters of the Arctic.

Lowell's Boat Shop stands as a living testament to centuries of craftsmanship, and tradition. For over two centuries, this historic boatbuilding establishment has played a pivotal role in shaping the maritime identity of New England and preserving the art of traditional wooden boatbuilding. Today, as we navigate the currents of modernity, Lowell's Boat Shop continues to serve as a vital hub for education, community engagement, and the preservation of maritime heritage. However, in order to sustain and expand its educational initiatives, Lowell's Boat Shop relies on the generous support of donors like you. Join us in our mission to uphold this legacy and empower future generations through education.

The Need: Lowell's Boat Shop faces several challenges in fulfilling its mission to educate, inspire, and preserve maritime heritage.

  1. Financial Sustainability: Like many non-profit organizations, Lowell's Boat Shop relies on donations to fund its educational programs, maintain its historic facilities, and sustain its operations. With fluctuating revenues and rising costs, securing consistent funding is essential for the shop's long-term viability.

  2. Access to Education: Lowell's Boat Shop offers a wide range of educational programs, including apprentice programs, boatbuilding workshops, maritime history seminars, and youth outreach initiatives. However, the shop needs to raise 150K annually to provide affordable access to these programs.  No student is denied a program for lack of ability to pay.

  3. Preservation of Craftsmanship: As modern technologies and materials increasingly dominate the boatbuilding industry, the art of traditional wooden boatbuilding faces the risk of being lost. By supporting education programs at Lowell's Boat Shop, donors can help ensure that these time-honored skills and techniques are preserved and passed down to future generations.

The Impact: Your support for education programs at Lowell's Boat Shop will have a profound impact on the preservation of maritime heritage and the empowerment of individuals of all ages.

  1. Hands-On Learning: Through boatbuilding workshops, maritime history lectures, and hands-on experiences, participants gain valuable skills, knowledge, and appreciation for maritime traditions and craftsmanship.

  2. Community Engagement: Lowell's Boat Shop serves as a gathering place for individuals from all walks of life who share a passion for woodworking, craftsmanship, and maritime heritage. By supporting education programs, donors help foster a sense of community and belonging among participants and visitors.

  3. Legacy Preservation: By investing in education at Lowell's Boat Shop, donors contribute to the preservation of an important piece of maritime history and ensure that future generations will continue to benefit from its legacy for years to come.

A Call to Action: Join us in supporting education programs at Lowell's Boat Shop and help preserve maritime heritage for generations to come. Your contribution, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference in the lives of participants and the sustainability of this historic institution. Together, we can ensure that Lowell's Boat Shop remains a beacon of maritime heritage and education for years to come.

Thank you for your commitment to preserving maritime heritage and empowering future generations through education. With your support, we can continue to chart a course toward a brighter future for Lowell's Boat Shop and the communities it serves.

About Bowdoin

Built in 1921 in East Boothbay, Maine, at the Hodgdon Brothers Shipyard. She was built for arctic explorer Donald B. MacMillan, and made 29 trips to the arctic. Like Lowell’s, the schooner Bowdoin is a living piece of maritime history, a testament to the enduring allure of wooden shipbuilding, and a symbol of our deep connection to the sea.

Historic Image Courtesy of Bill Barton via the Peary–MacMillan Arctic Museum

Special thanks to Bill Barton for permission to use images here on this landing page from his own arctic adventures.