This program is focused on guide visits to a traditional shipbuilders’ workshop to acquaint students and other groups with the trade and the world around it.
The traditional shipbuilders’ workshop of Sustainability and Environment Department of Consell de Mallorca launched the project “Discover the Sea” due to the lack of direct access to the understanding of the sea and its traditions by Mallorcan students despite living on an island.
The main goal is to facilitate access to maritime traditions related to traditional boatbuilding by showing the trade of shipbuilder and vessels typologies.
To achieve this, it has been opened to visitors, especially students, a workshop dedicated to restoring and repairing traditional vessels. The workshop has been adapted for visits by installing portable bleachers (capacity for 48) and defining a path for visitors and risk areas. The vessels are exhibited along the tour to explain typologies. Models and tools are used as didactic materials.
Guide visits for students last 2 hours. During the tour, shipbuilders explain to them what a wooden boat is, the shipbuilder trade, the building process and tools needed, the amount of time required, the different typologies currently being built in Mallorca and its purpose, lateen sailing, etc. One part of the visit consists of a tour along the vessels’ exhibition, boat models and working area.
Guide visits for adults and University students last 1 hour and are tailored to their interests and usually focused on the shipbuilder trade.
The institution's website is the main means to promote these guide visits that are scheduled following the requests.
Resources needed
Estimated annual staff cost (2 out of 5 staff members): 3500-4000€
A budget of 3.000€ was allocated to purchase materials for the construction of portable bleachers, refurbishment works (floor painting, cleaning, signalling), didactic materials, promotion on the website and other minor expenses.
Evidence of success
A total of 384 students coming from 8 educational centres have visited the workshop: 92 primary school students, 96 special education students, 72 secondary school and vocational training students and 24 university students. Also, 20 visits for adults have been performed.
The activity was highly rated both by students and adults. They consider it interesting since they have the opportunity to gain acquaintance with the shipbuilder trade and wooden vessels in Mallorca in a live workshop.
Difficulties encountered
The main challenge is to organize a dynamic visit to catch the attention of the students and allow them to gain acquaintance without getting bored. For this reason, they interact and participate by touching wood, tools, boats and models.
Potential for learning or transfer
This kind of project could be interesting for other regions as it connects the visitor directly with a very ancient and unknown trade that exists in a small minority and links the community with the sea in a direct manner. In other words, it explains the early relationship between man and the sea through the wooden boat.
The visits create a flow of people which implies dissemination and arise their interest in the trade, wooden vessels and ultimately in maritime heritage. Besides, it is a trade that is still very active in traditional fleets and some European regions.
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Tags: Cultural heritage, Learning, Schools, Youth
