Students graduating from the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association’s Youth Summer Boatbuilding Program will launch boats they built at a ceremony at 10 a.m. Thursday at Fort Adams State Park Beach in Newport.
The six-week course is designed for 14- to 16-year-olds and incorporates hands-on skill building, marine-trades career exploration, leadership development and adult mentoring.
RIMTA’s youth program started with one class. With support from Real Jobs Rhode Island and the Governor’s Workforce Board, RIMTA worked with area schools this summer to expand to five programs. Two are in North Providence, and there is one apiece in Newport, Bristol and Tiverton.
Each program built a different type of boat, and each is having its own launch at the conclusion of the classes.
