The Compass Project

Описание: The Compass Project uses boat building and rowing to provide positive direction to youth by encouraging the development of personal responsibility and community and environmental engagement.

Values:
Youth are innately capable of positive development when given a constructive environment and proper tools.
Youth deserve to have access to Maine's natural resources, its waterfront, shoreline and maritime traditions.
Youth are the future custodians of our society and our environment.

Vision:
The Compass Project envisions the development of innovative experiential programs such as boatbuilding, rowing, sailing, family boatbuilding and community gig building programs that will engage hard-to-reach youth in personal development and community building. Our programs will encourage self-development through experiential education (particularly in math and science), job training, skill-building, apprentice programs, adventure-based therapy programs and mentoring programs.

Students will become invested in learning and will thrive in school, particularly in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) subjects, an area critical for their future economic success.

These programs will offer concrete and life-changing solutions to youth who are having difficulty staying in school, finding jobs and resisting the pull of drugs and a negative life style.

We envision a community boating center for youth and adults in the Greater Portland area which will provide public access to waterfront activities that will promote environmental awareness, personal development and positive change through opportunities to learn boatbuilding, sailing, rowing and related activities.

"The patience it takes for students to learn to build this boat translates into increased ability to stay on task and do work in the classroom," says Tyler Thompson, Westbrook teacher.

Our Partners:
The Compass Project collaborates with Southern Maine schools and organizations, including those in Portland, Westbrook and Brunswick, to offer alternative education programs for at-risk students. To view a comprehensive list of partners, please visit the Programs page.

Volunteers:
Volunteers at the Compass Project are crucial to our success and actively support the Project through:
Volunteer boat building with youth
Staffing boat show events and Boat Building Festival
Helping with mailings
Fun- and fund- raising

For more information, head to http://www.compassproject.org/