We have five new 9-month and 2-year apprentices in the building this fall, as well as two new 12-weekers. You can read a little more about each of them below.

Matthew (left)

Matthew came to us from New Jersey a few years after an inspiring trip to Key West. Coming upon a dock of beautifully built wooden boats, “I looked out on the sea which the winds had swept into a fury and at that moment all I ever wanted was sitting right in front of me. I desperately wanted to be on one of those boats…I wanted to build a ship that could withstand those seas.” It took some time and a few other explorations before he was finally able to start down the path of realizing these dreams. He was drawn to the ‘Shop not only for the promise of new skills, but also because of the values and the emphasis on community. He hopes to develop his communication and teamwork skills, as well as build a deep-water sailing yacht for his family after he finishes his apprenticeship. And more generally, he hopes to become “a person who makes things during their life.”

Asa (right)

Originally from Ohio, Asa moved up to Maine from Mississippi. He was drawn to our apprenticeship program because “a small cohort works and learns together to build things that are beautiful and useful and serve a function rather than being ornamental.” With some previous woodworking and design experience, Asa hopes to pursue a career in antique furniture and boat restoration after he finishes the program. “While building for the future is important, my passions lay in preserving the past, whether for historical or sentimental purposes.”

Natalie (left)

Natalie moved to Rockland from Montana. While she didn’t come in with a lot of building experience, as she says, “My perspective is that if I have the drive, patience, and commitment, I can get through any frustrations along the way.” She came to the ‘Shop because she wanted to find a career where she could use her creativity in a practical application. She was also drawn to the ‘Shop’s “strong and connected community.” In the future, Natalie potentially sees herself with her own canoe company, “building custom canoes for people and sharing my love for nature and the water.”

Einar (right)

Einar came to us from Washington state with some exposure to woodworking, welding, and diesel mechanics through previous schooling. He even had a chance to build a boat with his class during freshman year of high school. He was draw to the ‘Shop by a love of tradition and craftsmanship, an interest in pursuing boatbuilding as a career, and the desire for “an experience with a group of people over a long term in order to build some lifelong friendships.” He hopes to take what he learns here and continue working on wooden boats, possibly back in Alaska where he lived previously. And as he says, “hopefully I’ll learn to be a mentor in this process and not just a mentee.”

Grace

Grace moved to Maine from New Orleans after working as an environmental organizer for over a decade. She came in with some previous exposure to timber framing and sailing, as well as “a 10 gallon cast iron cauldron, gumbo-making skills, enthusiasm, a love of learning, a determined work ethic...and a commitment to self-transformation.” In the midst of a long journey towards making a life change and learning building skills, she heard about the ‘Shop from a friend. She was immediately drawn to the emphasis on community, learning by doing, and the exploration at the ‘intersection of traditional craft and contemporary culture’”. She is still exploring where this adventure will take her.

Keith

We first met Keith during his volunteer week. He had initially applied for the 9-month apprenticeship before deciding that our 12-week program was a better fit. He also volunteered with us over the summer during our 50th anniversary celebration and Free Friday sails. We are so thrilled that he’s finally in the building! He came in with extensive carpentry and sailing experience, as well as a longtime interest in The Apprenticeshop as a part of the Rockland community. “Beyond the strictly technical, the culture of The Apprenticeshop appeals to my own belief’s in fairness, inclusivity, pride in skills gained, and eagerness to help others along as I do my own work.” He is open to the possibilities of what might come next, perhaps getting involved with wooden boat restoration or even teaching.

Finn

Hailing from Ohio, Finn came to the ‘Shop with some previous carpentry experience. He had worked on building a house with his father, who happens to be a classically trained British master carpenter. As he says, "I have always liked working with my hands…I hope to gain experience and knowledge in this new field for me. I want to work hard and have fun doing something I enjoy.”

Meet the New Apprentices!