PORTLAND, Maine — Compass Project, a non-profit serving at-risk youth through boat building and rowing programs, welcomes family, youth and non-profit teams from all over the country to the 10th Annual Boat Building Festival at Back Cove in Portland, on July 12-14th.
Founded in 2002, Compass Project has served more than 1600 students, helping them reengage with learning and create meaningful mentoring relationships with our staff and volunteers.
The event, a Portland summer tradition, is Compass Project’s largest fundraising and outreach event of the year. Over the course of the weekend, teams build 12’ Bevin’s Skiffs, launching them from East End Beach at the close of the festival. The weekend will feature live music, the raffle of a student built 6-hour canoe and paddle, and children’s activities. The event is open to the public.
Celebrating its Tenth Anniversary, this year’s festival welcomes teams from as far away as Birmingham, Alabama. “The Southern Seniors” team, captained by Susan Wilder White, will feature three generations of her family as they vacation in Maine, making the festival a key stop in their travels.
The festival also welcomes several youth groups: A Company of Girls, sponsored by Down East magazine, and a group of students from Portland High School’s Mentoring Alliance, sponsored by TD Bank. Aucocisco School in Cape Elizabeth and Breakwater School in Portland have also entered teams.
Building a boat is a great way to build a team. Several non-profits will be represented at the festival this year, supporting Compass Project as they strengthen their own teamwork skills. The Pixel Fund, which strives to save the lives of shelter pets, will be building a skiff to display at the Maine Boats and Harbors Festival in Rockland in August. The Daniel Hanley Center for Health Leadership is sponsoring three teams of staff from Portland and Lewiston non-profits that work directly with the immigrant and refugee communities. These teams will use the weekend as a networking and team building exercise in hopes of deepening relationships between these agencies.
Lead event sponsors include Spinnaker Trust, Verrill Dana and Media Sponsor Down East magazine. Sponsors include Sabre Yachts, Cate Street Capital, Hamilton Marine, and Hogdgon Yachts. Coffee by Design, Standard Baking Co., Hannaford and Otto’s Pizza will all donate services during the weekend, keeping our builders fed and happy!
About Compass Project
Compass Project is a community-based program of Spurwink. This innovative, experiential program teaches social, academic and job skills through boat building and rowing. Through hands-on programs participants find new directions in school, work and life. For additional information, visit www.compassproject.org