The John Gardner Small Craft Workshop will again be held during The WoodenBoat Show on Friday to Sunday, June 24 -26 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., hosted by the Traditional Small Craft Association’s John Gardner Chapter.
In addition to having a booth to acquaint show attendees with the TSCA, there will also be demonstrations of skills that enhance the traditional small boat experience. Mystic Seaport Boathouse craft will also be available at no charge for participants to use. We are hoping for a continuous backdrop to the Show of traditional small craft in action on the river.

All TSCA members are encouraged to attend with or without your own boat. There is plenty to do if you don’t bring your own vessel. Registration will allow participant’s access to Australia Beach to launch and retrieve their vessels before and after hours. Launching and parking details will be posted with registration materials.

At 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings, there will be a cruise in-company open to all workshop attendees. We will gather at the Australia Beach and cruise either up river past the highway bridge to the beautiful salt marshes or down river past classic yachts on their moorings.

Attendees will be encouraged to help with the workshop, either by manning the booth at Australia Beach for a 2 hour period and/or giving a demonstration of some skill such as sail rigging, sculling, boat building, hardware making etc. If you have a skill that you would like to demonstrate at the show, please volunteer. Demonstration should last about half an hour and are planned for 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. each day.

Registration for the Small Craft Workshop also allows you admission to the WoodenBoat Show for all three days at no additional cost. Registration is $20 for Museum Members and $40 for non- members. Youths, age 17 and under, are $10 for Museum Members and $20 for non-members. Additionally, Workshop participants can register to stay onboard the Joseph Conrad Friday and Saturday nights for a fee of $20 per person per night.

Indicate your interest in staffing the booth or demonstrating a skill on the registration form or contact Bill Rutherford at smallcrafter@gmail.com or (860) 222-5249