New roof

Dave of Wurster Roofing Company puts the finishing touches on the chimney, part of the new roof he helped install on the former rectory. This installation used composite tiles that mimic the original slate on this historic structure (1912). Funds were provided by the Camden County Historic Preservation Program.

NJ Historic Trust Project Underway

The new sign signifies the start of the interior reconstruction of two of our buildings funded by a major matching grant from the N.J. Historic Trust. Matching funds must be raised however, so all donations are appreciated.

Been a Long time comin'!

So in the months(!) since we last posted alot has happened. The skerries, being built by 8 youths from Camden Forward School, has touched water, the roof of the rectory is set to be repaired/replaced, and our second season of work groups and Americorps*NCCC have started to come through. Urban Boat Works,our partnership program with Urban Trekkers, has received alot of press, and the reputation of the program has grown immensely. As are the community programs in the Waterfront South neighborhood of Camden.

Thank You Sherwin Williams

We would like to thank Sherwin Williams for their generous donation of paint, and supplies to continue the interior repair of the church building. Their donation has been an incredible boost to the restoration of not only the Camden Shipyard and Maritime Museum/Church of Our Saviour buildings, but also the rebuilding of the Waterfront South Community.

Bean Dip!!

A few weeks ago, Chuck Weiss, a local dog-sled team leader came to the museum to present Inuit Dog Sleds and Dogs to our youth. His lovely assistant Bean Dip came along for the ride. The youth are currently working on a reproduction of a Peary/Henson Sledge, and this presentation helped to turn on the light bulb as to the culture and needs of a sledge. Above is a picture of Bean Dip, hugging our Americorps*VISTA volunteer Susan Mudry.

Halloween Paddle Race

Margo in costume.

On Halloween paddler, and friend, Margo Pellegrino put on a race to benefit the museum and its programs.

Quite a few people paddled, and a good time was had by all.

Sign in time.

... And they're off.

All Teachers on Deck:Recap

The North Wind. Our Classroom for the day.

Though the day was cold and drizzly, many teachers came out to learn about Matthew Henson, the Delaware Estuary, and Delaware River Ports History. We had a wonderful tour given by Gloucester City Sail, and All Hands on Deck staff Mindy Voss, and Claire Antonucci. Good Day all around.

Susan Mudry speaks to an audience of area school teachers about the history and exploits of Matthew Henson and his relationship to the Camden Shipyard and Maritime Museum.

Teachers and instructors on board the "North Wind" discuss the harbor environment and prepare for on-board science demonstrations.

Our New Donation Box

Our beautiful new donations box was recently

unveiled at the museum. It was crafted by Frank Foord out of oak and

plexiglass. The workmanship is of such a high quality that it is worthy of

doing duty at the Smithsonian Institution! Hat's off to Frank!! Let's hope

it brings us luck and lots of money for the museum.

Pictured with the donations box are board members (left to right)

Adrienne Walls, Frank Foord, Dick Wolfe, Susan Mudry and George Rowland

Thank You Badger 6

The Skiffs Return

Gloucester City Sail

To do our All Hands on Deck Program, we'll be using Gloucester City Sail's Schooner:

The "North Wind" is a steel two-masted schooner. The vessel is U.S. Coast Guard registered and inspected to carry up to 49 passengers on board. She is berthed at "Freedom Pier" (the old Coast Guard Station) at the foot of Cumberland Street in Gloucester City, NJ. She is available for charters.

The Mission of Gloucester City Sail:

Gloucester City Sail, Inc. (GCS) is a non-profit agency whose main mission is to serve the youth of the area through a maritime training program. The schooner "North Wind" will serve as the flagship for the city and will be utilized as an educational schoolship. Students from local schools will have the opportunity to learn about the maritime world, with educational and job opportunities.

In addition, the students will learn teamwork, trust and respect for themselves, others and the environment. The GCS program will reach out to youth in the area, especially those less fortunate and under-privileged. The GCS program will also serve adults who are veterans and/or handicapped.

 

Our new Partner!

All Hands On Deck (AHOD) is the anchor program for a comprehensive, constantly evolving education initiative at the NJ Marine Sciences Consortium/NJ Sea Grant dedicated to ports, harbors and estuaries. 

Originally a field trip program for middle-school students that interpreted the natural and commercial inner-workings of the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary from the deck of a chartered passenger ferry, NJMSC/NJSG’s AHOD program now includes in-school presentations, teacher workshops and a wealth of ports-related lesson plans and other educational materials. 

AHOD trips continue to take students on interactive, fully guided tours of the Harbor Estuary that include presentations and activities that help them explore the economic and ecologic importance of this waterway. 

Explore these pages to learn all about this exciting field trip as well as our entire AHOD program. 

Since 2004, this program has served over 750 New Jersey and New York City students, offering them the opportunity to better understand and appreciate the human and natural dimensions of the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary. In spring 2010, the NJMSC/NJSG looks forward to bringing its AHOD program to Delaware Bay. 

The Next Chapter in Urban Boatworks!

Friends, UrbanTrekkers BoatWorks is ready to reopen shop at the Camden Shipyard & Maritime Museum (CS&MM) with a new after school program (3:30 - 6:00 PM) for twelve middle schoolers from our Camden ForwardSchool (CFS). We now have the materials/supplies to begin construction of two 15' Skerrys; a real beauty of a wooden sailboat designed by Chesapeake Light Craft. The program will include swimming, sailing and boat building throughout the 2009/10 school year. We have contracted with the Boys & Girls Club for a swimming module and the Cooper River Yacht Club will provide the sailing component to our students. Through this initiative the program brings together four Camden non-profit organizations who are dedicated to building community and improving the lives of our Camden youth; that's exciting for all of us. We plan to get underway the first week in October with swim lessons and begin actual boat building on Monday October 12. Throughout the school year students will learn about the maritime history and the importance the river and ship building have played in Camden's history. We will explore the significance of the city's rivers and their importance to the environment and the future of our region. We will embrace Camden, its history and its resources! Things will look like this; twelve students will be hand picked by the staff of CFS, six boys and six girls from the 6 - 8 grade. From the group of twelve, six students will work on boat building on Monday, all twelve will take part in swim lessons on Tuesday and the other six students will work in the shop on Wednesdays. Both groups of six will work progressively on the same two boats from week to week. The sailing component will take place in the spring of 2010. Two members of the CFS teaching staff will work with us throughout the year. They will oversee the swimming module in the fall and each one will take a day to be with the two boat building teams during the week. This will help the boatwrights to stay on task and schedule from week to week by insuring the students stay focused to your teaching and supervision. We learned from this summer that the tangible and intangible benefits to our kids from this program are huge...another benefit that does not go unnoticed by me is the impact you guys have on the kids. Next week I'll be sending out the boat building calendar and schedule for you to sign up for your boat shop days. Thanks to all...hoist the sails!

The Launch

The Hubbard Sledge

                                

Known as the Hubbard Sledge, this is one of five sledges used by Peary's North Pole party. Designed by Peary, made by Henson, it was given to Thomas Hubbard (Class of 1857), one of Peary's major financial supporters.

Photographs used from Bowdoin College .

Row,Row,Row your Skiff...

On Aug. 8,2009 the Urban Boatworks had its launch of the 3 skiffs built by the youth at the Camden Shipyard and Maritime Museum. The Courier-Post, a local newspaper, ran an article documenting the launch at Cooper River Yacht Club. There is also a gallery of photos, from which the above was taken.

Some in the community have made comments, via the Courier-Post website:

MikeD0844 said:  Good to see a positive story come out of Camden. To those involved, keep up the good work.

Channel Goodness said: Wonderful piece! One can actually hear the life-lesson that these young men have learned in completing this project. After all, it's been said that "the only place that 'success' comes before 'work' is in the dictionary!" You don't have to know these boys to be proud of them! 

Thank You to the Waterfront South Community, Urban Trekkers and volunteers and Camden Shipyard & Maritime Museum for your dedication and support. 

It's Official

Gov. Corzine signed legislation approving funds for the Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund from which we were awarded $750,000 to restore the Chapel and Parish house. We are also currently researching and applying for other grants . The biggest of which will be the CDBG in the fall.

Playing Catch-Up

Hello. In the past month we've had representatives from the museum attend boat launchings, bill signings and went on a Delaware River cruise. Add to that, our "garden", (more like vegetable jungle), is sprouting a slew of broccoli,collard greens, swiss chard, spinach, rosemary,and cabbage . Apparently, we're some of the few farmers who aren't having troubles with the abundance of rain.

Happy Half-Century N/S Savannah!!

On this day 50 years ago,the  N/S Savannah the world's first nuclear-powered cargo ship,was christened by Former  First Lady, Mamie Eisenhower, at the ship's launch at New York Shipbuilding's yard in Camden, NJ. 

(Photo Taken by:copyright 2009 Ivan Safyan Abrams)

We got it!!

We've been informed that we have been accepted to receive 50K from the Camden County Historic Preservation Program to restore some of the stained glass in the church and to  rebuild the rectory roof.