Hands On Deck
Elementary Mechanical Skills
Ages 5–10
Hands On Deck — Mechanical and Maritime Skills Education in Green Bay
“The value of manual training lies not in the finished product, but in the development of the child.”
— Otto Salomon
A 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization Since 2016
About Hands On Deck
Hands On Deck began in 2016 as a boatbuilding club on the third floor of Green Bay’s downtown library. From boatbuilding, we expanded into boat restoration and provided free boat rides on the bay to hundreds of deserving young people.
We launched Elementary Mechanical Skills (EMS) and Industrial Arts (IA) classes for elementary, middle, and high school students, offering hands-on mechanical skills education during and after school. Today, we serve hundreds of students each month and reach learners across the country through HOD At Home programming.
Our adult programming continues to grow with the support of partner organizations that operate out of our shop at 975 Parkview Road in Green Bay.
Hands On Deck
People and Partners
Historical Timline Gallery
If anyone is curious about the integrity of ships being manufactured in North East Wisconsin…they're seaworthy. If you laugh at this…you have to donate $5
Thanks For the great photo Riley!
Thank You @lienielsentoolworks. You generous sponsorship will empower many kids.
What an incredible adventure the past two days have been. We had the opportunity to teach and be taught by over 30 people! And we sold over 10 projects. It was a ton of work, but so many goals were met, so many connections were made and strengthened, and the scope of our reach for 2017 has be expanded. It's grant writing time, and well see you in class on Monday! Thank you to all who gave time, talents, and donations.
Wow. Our plane irons are dull, the signup sheets are full, and me legs are like noodles. What an awesome day.
Family + 1 cleanup. Thanks Hollie Surber for training such a good cleaner person. First class in the new space on Monday!
Boat Building Class Tonight from 6-8 at the corner of Bay Beach Rd. and Angie Ave. We are working on two boats: a Wheelbarrow boat and a Skin On Frame Canoe. We will also be talking about the plans for our new space and our upcoming SUP build!
We are torch bearers for this lovey vessel that is native to our western Great Lakes. "Serang" is the only surviving Mackinaw Boat from Manitoulin Island. She was built "off the land" by Islanders in the early part of the 20th century. The 2017 Mackinaw Symposium is in two weeks in Michigan, and we'll be talking and sailing Mackinaws that weekend with Heritage Coast Sailing and Rowing.
This is a Heir Island Lobster Boat named Hanorah from Ireland. We had a great meeting today about a possible partnership to help finish a build on this this boat. If your interested in knowing more about this project feel free to message me.
@nickferrybuilds getting it done without an ink brayer. Jim Spitzer is laminating for oar blanks. The oars are for our
Portaging on Hickory Hill Dr.
With the help of over 25 local businesses, and more than 125 of our core supporters and mentors; we raised well over $10,000 at the Boat Lift on Thursday evening. Thank You.
We had a tremendous couple days with the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance (NEWMA). We got quite a bit accomplished on the Skin On Frame Canoe. Thank you Steve Srubas, Jack Jake Gostisha, Pete, and Don. Thank You Ann Franz for your continued support. If your looking for a great team building project that incorporates a community component, consider building a boat with Hands On Deck.
Day 4 of the Mary Mackinaw Boat Build.
To whom much is given…much is required. Thank you @blue_spruce_tools …we will put these to good use.
A huge shout out to a great crew of volunteers who manned the booth while we were called away on a family emergency.
of with @loveblueindigo @sylva_spoon and @jarrod__dahl @northhousefolkschool during
Wednesday was a tech education summit and we hosted the morning session in our new space at South Bay Marina & Marine Center. The idea of “unplugging” as a part of the future of career development and tech education was well received. Thank you Ann Franz and the North Coast Marine Manufacturing Alliance.
Our cut and run summer apprenticeship is going very well. Today we covered: proper oar size, leathering, and tallowing. We took a Fox River study boat tour that covered history, economy, ecology, and sustainability. Thank You Andy Holzem Music and Rodger Clarence Swanson.
Working with Luke this morning for our summer programming. Every student builds a tool tote with hand tools. Thank you Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, Blue Spruce Toolworks, and Lie-Nielsen Toolworks for supporting our mission.
Tomorrow morning we are starting a canoe build with our summer apprentices Abe and Luke. Stop by if your interested in hearing more about what we do and why we do it. Thank You Jamestown Distributors for being apart of this awesome project!
We lost a few due to illness, but it was a great three days. Math, Geometry, Carving, Joinery, and little bit of Boat Science to boot.
We have a for and We love our gear from @benchcrafted and all our and other tools from @blue_spruce_tools and @lienielsentoolworks. Thank You to all who have made a difference and impacted lives this year.
Folks…take a look at phase 1! Thanks to all who made this place look so good! We have lots more tools to move around, a tablesaw to assemble, and a classroom area to develope.
Great people made this day fantastic. Thank You Rodger Swanson, Peggy Collinsmith, Jamie Chadoir, Maddy Laufenberg, Dennis Drosner, Renee and Luke, Abe, Scott Craw, Jack Gotisha, Pete Matcheff, Rick Martens, Loren Yager, Rick McDonough, Steve Srubas, Olive Srubas and Sydney Hawkins. Thank You Crew.
We are making incredible progress on both the @clcboats Team Dory and our lobster boat. Thank you Scott, Rick, and volunteers. Congratulations to Luke for his award winning
We had a blast making and breaking bentwood bracelets last night. This is our Tuesday Night L1 class. We taught: Whip Lashing, Finishing With Shellac (homemade), Level, Plumb, Square, Measuring Illregular Shapes and Curves, and bending (breaking) Green White Oak Soaked In Vinegar. Oh yeah…everyone got seat time on the shave horse with a drawknife.
Today was an incredible rollercoaster of events and emotions at HOD. made here debut on the water after almost a decade of planning and construction.
This is the 2nd session for our prototype windsor chair class with an 8 and 12 year old. Every class we are more impressed with their desire to learn. Whats better than building chairs and boats with kids and their families? Maybe a egg sandwich @ssrubas?
@totalboat has supported us for several years, and we are excited to be a part of spreading supplies to organizations that need them the most. Im reboxing supplies destined for Argentina for @botealagua
We are finally back to hosting our Wednesday morning volunteer breakfast.
@clcboats @totalboat
out of @manitowocmarina with the
@clcboats with @totalboat
Holiday Special Gift Certificates Available // 4 Hours of Private Woodworking Instruction @ Hands On Deck
From a White Ash Log to a Finished Set of Snowshoes. Thank You Volunteers. We are doing adult snowshoes at HOD on Thursday nights till March, so feel free to stop by.
Thank You @lienielsentoolworks for making tomorrow a little brighter.
Luke is working on a project for @voyageurs_sourdough
We hosted a class for on tuesday.
The Phantom 45 engine has been successfully transplanted into the Eva Jean and runs like a top with a push of a button. The bottom has been glued to Preston's canoe, and they are getting closer and closer to paint.
Sam took first place at the fair with her butter spreader!
@dennis_p_rockhill at @einsteinproject making pumps from scratch for a water fountain.
Mrs. Hawkins brought her 9th grade science class over for boat rides this morning. We also have access to Renard Island to further our conservation discussion with the students.
Saturday, we hosted Green Bay's Adventure Club. Over 20 participants made shrink pots followed by a wonderful Chilli potluck dinner.
Thank You @lienielsentoolworks for supporting this year. We love putting great tools in the hands of future craftspeople.
The last day of 2021 was a busy one at the shop. Pete refurbished the newly donated combo sander and the rest of the crew worked on the canoe mold. Thank You Rick, Dan, John, Don, Rick M. and Pete.
We are building a Chase Small Craft Compass Skiff at the WBAY TV-2 boat show this weekend inside the Resch Complex here in Green Bay Please come and hang out! We have activities for the whole family!
We are over capacity for our Tuesday evening class in March. I'm pretty sure if we had beds everyone would have spent the night.
and with the on and
In preparation for our estuary connection opportunities program this year we are refitting the Eva Jean with her newly rebuilt Graymarine 620 vintage engine. Thank You Ted Cartner! Also a special thanks to South Bay marina for letting us use the service department.
On Wednesday we did a few rides aboard SAGA for our Estuary Connection Opportunities program. Ken graciously offered himself and his Mackinaw boat at no cost to us or the families who participated.
Last on the water experience with Mrs. Hawkins physics class from @baycity_bobcats
This shot took six years. Students teaching students…this makes it all worth while.
Curtis, who is now 15, made this tool tote at HOD when he was 12. His family volunteered today to help make a dolly frame for the Eva Jean and her keel work. We also got our new computer up and running today…thank you @southbaymarina for letting us borrow a monitor.
There are all kinds of great things happening this week at
Luke, Pete and Pete are hard at work re-organizing the shop while John and Rick completed the paint removal on the Eva Jean. We simply have the best team of volunteers in all the land.
Pete has helped lead our three apprentices through the Woodworking Career Alliance program. Mateo is teaching on Thursday evenings, Hank will be working in digital fabrication and production; and Luke (oldest) is testing his skill and knowledge with building custom fixtures for a local business.
Thank You @totalboat for suporting our spring builds and maintenance. Lots of progress on our @clcboats We are also kneedeep in an project with @legendairy_cnc
Its all about mechanical skills all the time…and tea breaks.
@oconto_county @the.shop.on.main
This was a busy week: with boat rides, mechanical skills workshops, a local supporting foundation presentation, library programming, and our pizza fundraiser.
@odyssey.climbing raised $1500 for us in the month of June, with one person climbing over 6 miles of routes in one month. Thank You!
Who wants a cutting board? Purchase at @paradisenorthdistillery this weekend.
Thank you Dan and crew at Rosin Woodwork for supplying us with beautiful material to work with, machining our laminations, and an awesome end of year donation.
Our first event is in the books. Jim and his wife Sarah did an amazing job running the whole thing.
FOR YOUR CHILD WHO LOVES TO BUILD THINGS: We currently have 5 Elementary Mechanical Skills classes running, and we have space for your child in every class. Monday 10-12 (Homeschool), Tuesday 12:30-2:30 (Homeschool), Tuesday 3:30-5:30, Wednesday 10-12(Homeschool), and Saturday mornings twice a month. Click here for more information:
Elementary Mechanical Skills
Hank is
Lots of photos, but no time to post.
Thank You John Seaman and all rowers! Thank you pizza staff! Thank you @nauticalboatclubgreenbay and @southbaymarina for the safety boat. If your interested in rowing this summer please reach out.
Whats better than learning to build a boat in the traditional methods from
Peter is one of those volunteers who comes in, does what needs to be done, and repeats that process over and over. Peter is a great carver, and here he is prepping for upcoming classes.
This Fall at HOD, we have youth classes for ages 5 and up in Elementary Mechanical Skills, Industrial Arts, and Wooden Boat Building. Projects range from puzzle design to laying cotton between planks on our Off Center Harbor skiff. Click Here To Register:
@offcenterharbor
@handmadepapergb @newleafprepacademy @krafttex
We teach traditional boat construction to youth. Yes, its difficult work that teaches patience and team work. You should stop by on a Monday evening at 5:30 and check it out sometime. Thanks for helping us raise $750 for
This week at
From 3rd floors where we started, to hallways, and basements…we have done great things with very little for nine years. We are getting an upgrade this month…stay tuned.
Whos the mentor?
One of the unsung heros of the move from Southbay to our new location at 975 Parkview in Ashwaubenon is John Seaman. John coordinated the logistics and manged the volunteer effort! Thank You John!
Thank You Perry at @analogethos for the sweet amp kit. More to come on our vinyl station at the new shop.
Jack is steadfast volunteer at HOD, and this week he hosted us at Osprey Point for Bushcraft camp. This was a great week, and we’re already looking towards next summer. Thanks Jack!
is most talented young woodworker I know…possibly in existence today. This prototype shaker table came to life in a few hours…design to finish. He is on staff, he volunteers, and he just likes hanging out cause we’re just that cool. Rick’s that cool…we’re all wannabes 😂 Thank you Hank!
From the Tall Ship Festival in 2016 to today three hundred feet of boats built and restored with youth and adults over the past 10 years. Still building. Still learning. ⚓️
Dan Weiske is a fantastic instructor, and this weekend it’s all about Tampico fibers, brushes, and dustpans.
Since there was a hiccup posting last week, here is two weeks @hod. Thank you Glacier Lakes Chapter of the @acbsboats for your generous donation.
We are at the end of our semester, and it has been incredible watching so many humans using their head heart and hands to build a better community here in Green Bay.
This was the last week for semester classes. Great work everyone! We carved and crafted longbows and woven strings in bows and boomerangs. Hayden is now a longbow lover for life. We’re building two skin on frame canoes. Thanks Rick and John. One at the shop and one at @newleafprepacademy we hosted an open house for the Bay Lake Turners last Thursday with a fantastic turnout. We filled our prototype afterschool carving and turning classes on Monday and Wednesday. Much thanks Casey, Tim, and Ed. We also are running a model airplane class with Dr. Joyce, and an advanced woodworking class on Tuesday mornings for homeschoolers. John is turning out some amazing scroll saw projects with Pete. All of our elementary mechanical skills and industrial arts students took home arm loads of micro and macro projects. Thank you Hayden and Riley. Also, thank you @julie.eckberg for all your behind the scenes work.
The first Nuts and Bolts Camp is in the bag. Next week is Junior Furniture Makers. Thank you @hank_powell08 for the great images.
This has been a busy camp, pictures have been few and far between the many many projects and subprojects. The campers made their own paper dry box press, and then made paper lamp shades the dried in the dry press. Those lamp shade sheets will of course get attached to their lamps today. This is one project. I know…we are nuts. Kids love it though. Thank you Handmade Papermakers of Green Bay and Beyond
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