The Cooperative Internship curriculum combines hands-on experience with writing and reflection. A final presentation at the end of the course is the culmination of the program. The following schedules and guidelines should serve as an overview of the curriculum and expectations.

The following descriptions follow:

A sample daily and weekly schedule for the Cooperative Internship

Syllabi - The Susan Skiff: Week by Week & Interview Schedule

The Susan Book - How to build a Susan Skiff (not posted on this page, but available upon request)

Overview of a week as a Cooperative Intern

The following schedule is a possible weekly schedule which would allow 55 hours per week of study, essentially one credit per week. Participants are encouraged to create their own schedules.

The first Monday of your cooperative internship, you will participate in a through orientation to 'shop systems, safety, and basic tool use. After this orientation, you will spend building time working on your susan skiff.

Download a PDF (right click on this link to save your computer) of an Overview of a week as a Cooperative Intern


The Susan Skiff: Week by Week

The following schedule is based on our standard 6-week internship. Internships that are shorter or longer in duration will follow modified schedules appropriate to the time required for completion.

Week 1: Backbone Construction

Topic Mastered:
Stem finished with rabbet cut

Skills Learned:
How to select wood and grain
Use of a chisel and mallet
Use of hand saws and chop saw
Theory of a rabbet
How to change a two dimensional picture in a three dimensional object
How to cut a rabbet

Topic Mastered:
Transom complete

Skills Learned:
How to spline and glue
Use of a Table saw
Theory of a bevel and how to cut one
Use of hand planes
Block plane
#4 Finish plane

Topic Mastered:
Stem, transom, and chines in place on jig

Skills Learned:
Bending wood
Steam bending discussion
Discussion of other ways to bend wood
Decision on how best to bend wood
Bevels
Learning about Fasteners (types and uses)
Fastening and bedding techniques
Theory of a jig
Jig Setup
Truing a Jig
Basic Backbone structure of a boat

Interview
Executive Director

Topics to Discuss:
History and philosophy of Atlantic Challenge
Oversight and management of a non-profit
Financial aspects of non-profits
Insurance for non-profits


Week 2: Fundamentals of Planking

Topic Mastered:
Keelson in place

Skills Learned:
Layout of a keelson
Fastening techniques
Use of a thickness planer
Carving appropriate bevels for landing a plank

Topic Mastered:
Lining off completed

Skills Learned:
Design and layout
Creating a planking plan and schedule

Topic Mastered:
Garboard installed

Skills Learned:
Planking techniques
Scarf techniques
Fasteners with various thicknesses
Bevel Planes
Cutting gains
Fitting to keel

Interview
Apprenticeshop Programs Coordinator

Topics to Discuss:
Program development
Client relations
Safety and Management of the 'Shop
'Shop Facilities
Apprentice/Alumni network
Youth programs
Management of instructors
Group Dynamics of a community based program


Week 3: Planking

Topic Mastered:
Second strake and sheer installed (remaining planks)

Skills Learned:
Planking continued
Bevels continued
Spiling

Topic Mastered:
Chines Faired for bottom planking

Skills Learned:
Use of Block planes
#4 block plane
Slick

Topic Mastered:
Techniques to keep a boat dry without caulking

Skills Learned:
Clench nailing
Planing and cleaning plank lap joints

Interview
Communications and Marketing Coordinator

Topics to Discuss:
Press releases and communications
Publishing techniques and software
Email list maintenance
Advertising
Boat show logistics
Articles and images


Week 4: Bottom Planking and Longitudinal Structure

Topic Mastered:
Bottom Planking installed and caulked

Skills Learned:
Milling
Fastening and bedding continues
Caulking bevels
Caulking with cotton

Topic Mastered:
Keel, Keelson and rub strips installed

Skills Learned:
Use of a router for rub strips
Coving techniques

Interview
Development Coordinator

Topics to Discuss:
Fundraising initiatives
Development efforts
Grant writing
Trustee Relations
Local community network
Database setup and maintenance


Week 5: Fitting and Structural Components

Topic Mastered:
Frames, breasthook, quarter knees and inwales installed

Skills Learned:
How to read wood grain
How to select knees
Fitting and beveling
How to use a chisel and plane
Camber fairing
Structure of gunwales
Finish carpentry

Interview
Waterfront Programs Coordinator

Topics to Discuss:
Community Sailing program
Waterfront management
Safety
Yard management
Facilities management
Youth and Adult program management
Volunteer management


Week 6: Finish Carpentry and Final Detail

Topic Mastered:
Thwart risers, thwarts, oarlock pads, rub strips, & finish work

Skills Learned:
Longitudinal strength of a boat
Aesthetic optical illusions
Structure
Oarlock pads
Hardware selection
Oars
Finishes and Coatings for wooden boats

Interview
Apprenticeshop Instructor

Topics to Discuss:
Direct instruction
Education of apprentices and interns
Facilitation of short courses
Susan Skiff details
Development of youth programs in the 'Shop
Management of volunteers
Working in the 'Shop vs. professional boat building venue


Building Log
Each day there is time set aside to write an entry in the Building Log. This Log is meant to be a journal of your experience as an intern. We hope that you use it to log what you have learned factually and also emotionally by being part of the 'Shop and the Atlantic Challenge community. You should include your challenges and your successes, your daily activities and new skills learned, your impressions of the 'Shop, traditionally boat building and Atlantic Challenge.

Final Paper/Presentation
The Final Paper/Presentation will very depending on each intern's home institution, but will serve as the culmination of the experience at Atlantic Challenge.


Assessment

Successful completion of the Cooperative Internship is dependent on the assessment of the following criteria:

• Completion and quality of the Susan skiff



• Quality, quantity and consistency of building log entries



• Consistency and level of community involvement



• Final paper submitted to Atlantic Challenge and to Franklin Pierce



• Presentation of internship to faculty and/or students at Franklin Pierce (or other sending academic institution)

1. The building of the Susan Skiff will be evaluated by 'Shop instructors. You will be evaluated on:

• Materials acquisition
• Initiative
• Craftsmanship
• Time management

If you choose to, you may be involved with the publicity surrounding the launch of your skiff. You will work closely with and be evaluated by the Atlantic Challenge Communications Coordinator.

If you choose to sell your skiff, you will work with the Program and Communications Coordinators to market and advertise your boat for sale, and discuss how the revenue of your sale contributes to Atlantic Challenge with the program director and Executive Director. You may also be involved in developing programs around its sale.

2. Although each intern's Building log will very greatly depending on personal experience, the quality of entries will be evaluated. Faculty will review the content for its thorough treatment of the topics outlined in the curriculum description of the journal.

3. Your community involvement will be evaluated by the staff.

4 & 5. The final paper and presentation should include:

• Overview and assessment of your experience
• Learning traditional boat building
• Learning seamanship
• Community involvement
• Working within a non-profit
• Your experience with this type of experiential education

Suggested Reading

If you would like to begin learning about building practices and boat handling before you arrive, or if you want to start your own wooden boatbuilding and seamanship library, the following books might interest you.

Boatbuilding

Bray, Anne and Maynard. 2000. Designs to Inspire: From the Rudder 1897-1942. WoodenBoat Publications, Inc.: Brooklin, ME.

Chapelle, Howard. 1951. American Small Sailing Craft: Their Design, Development, and Construction. W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.: New York, NY.

Lowell, Royal. 2002. Boatbuilding Down East: How Lobsterboats are Built. WoodenBoat Publications, Inc.: Brooklin, ME

McIntosh, David C. "Bud" and Samuel F. Manning, illustrator. 1987. How to Build a Wooden Boat. WoodenBoat Publications, Inc.: Brooklin, ME.

Rössel, Greg. 1998. Building Small Boats. WoodenBoat Publications, Inc.: Brooklin, ME.

Stelmok, Jerry and Rollin Thurlow. 1987. The Wood and Canvas Canoe: A Complete Guide to its History, Construction, Restoration, and Maintenance. Tilbury House Publishers: Gardiner, ME.

Any issue of WoodenBoat Magazine.

Any issue of The Rudder Magazine.

Seamanship

Adkins, Jan. 1973. The Craft of Sail. Walker & Company: NY.

Cunliffe, Tom. 1992. Hand Reef and Steer: Traditional Sailing Skills for Classic Boats. Sheridan House: NY (Printed in Singapore).

Seidman, David. 1994. The Complete Sailor: Learning the Art of Sailing. International Marine: Camden, ME.