November, 2024
January 2025 will mark my tenth year here at the Herreshoff Museum. Over that time, we’ve witnessed a significant evolution, growing our audience, getting better at telling our stories, and serving our community in new ways. However, one thing that has not changed is our commitment to building a vibrant, inclusive education program that fosters innovation and creative problem solving.
This year, we produced a video featuring alumni who share the impact that the Herreshoff STEM Education Program has had on their lives. I hope the messages will inspire you to help us keep the positive momentum going and make a year-end gift!
We enrolled 281 students in the Herreshoff Sailing & Seamanship Program in 2024 with a 20% increase in full or partial scholarships because of your generosity. Kaia, a former sailing instructor at HMM, shared her memory of that experience.
“My favorite part was teaching the little kids how to sail on BONITA which is one of the Herreshoff classic 12½s. The immense art of the historic vessel itself, and then getting to show young children the beauty of sailing, seeing the little light turn on in their eyes - it was a beautiful part of working here.”
– Kaia Dickeson, Sailing Alum & Instructor
Today, as I watch a group of young boat builders from The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center prepare to launch their new build, I’m reminded that while these students arrive as ten individuals, they leave as one team thanks to the transformative power of your support. Collin, an HMM Boatbuilding Program Alum and a graduate of the IYRS School of Technology & Trades, talked about the value of hands-on learning and how our program has shaped his life.
“It really wasn’t like this middle school classroom. It was getting your hands dirty and actually working on something that’s going to be alive for a while; like you were creating a beautiful statue to put in the water. That is what it feels like when you finish a boat. You’re able to make something to make people happy; to be able to go out and make memories on. My whole career now is because of Herreshoff.”
– Collin Thomas, HMM Boatbuilding Alum, IYRS School of Technology & Trades Graduate
Our STEM Education Program is more robust than ever, offering hands-on experiences in science and engineering through sailing, boat building, and composites programs. Because of you, we’ve served a diverse group of over 380 students this year, empowering them with life skills that extend far beyond the water and the shop. These programs teach a variety of both hard and soft skills that can enhance career opportunities across a broad range of fields. Oliver Moore, Co-Founder & Director of the Moore Brothers Company, reflected on the benefits.
“Craftsmanship is a fulfilling endeavor, and you can build a career and a life around the trades and craftsmanship. The lessons with materials alone are one thing, but the lessons that get taught in math and science and orderly thought and build processes will make them better engineers, better craftsmen, better designers. Whatever they do in this world, they will be better at it for their exposure to composites at Herreshoff.”
– Oliver Moore, Moore Brothers Company
Every sail hoisted, every boat built, and every skateboard laminated is a testament to the power of skills-based learning, and every dollar you give supports our mission to inspire the next generation of problem solvers. I invite you to visit the HMM campus, meet our young sailors and boat builders, and witness first-hand the life-changing power of your support.
Together, we can ensure that more young people, regardless of background, can access our programs while also drawing inspiration from the stories we tell about design, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Together, let’s keep sparking curiosity and building the future, and from all of us here at the Herreshoff, thank you for your support.
With gratitude,
Bill Lynn, President & Executive Director
Herreshoff Marine Museum is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.