What is #AWBFnextgen?

#AWBFnextgen is the first official Australian Wooden Boat Festival campaign aimed at supporting and promoting wooden boat and maritime culture to young people.

We all know that encouraging younger generations to get involved benefits everyone. It leads to a culture of intergenerational cooperation, trust and respect that has positive impacts across society. For the AWBF it also means creating a legacy that helps sustain the festival and keeps our community alive.

After consulting with “old sea dogs” and master mariners, it was agreed that more should be done to encourage and motivate the younger generations (apparently any person under ''40ish'' years of age!) to not only get involved in the AWBF but wooden boats and maritime culture in general.

So, we make this commitment to you: AWBF will strive to further develop programs and activities that excite, engage and educate the next generation. But we can only do it with your help. Take a look below to see the types of programs you can support via the #AWBFnextgen campaign. To find out more or to get involved, send us an email at office@awbf.org.au.

You can also support the campaign by making a tax deductible donation below.

My First Boat

My First Boat Project (4-10 years)

Adult and child teams work together to build a small child-size boat at home and bring it to the Festival for decorating and its exciting first launch! My First Boat kits, instructions, and guidance are all provided by our team in the lead-up to the Festival.
Quick & Dirty Challenge

Quick & Dirty Boat Building Challenge (10-15 years)

Student teams join forces to construct a boat on site during the Festival. On the final day, they race under the propulsion of sail and oar, watched by thousands of spectators at Hobart’s iconic Constitution Dock.
Scouts

Sort it out for the Scouts (8-18 years)

Scouts and AWBF unite in this very important environmental sustainability project.''Sort it out for the Scouts'' takes a holistic approach to coordinating the Festival's waste management activities while educating the public about recycling and sorting.
Young Sailor

Young Leaders of the Sea (18-23 years)

A Tasmanian youth development project focused on fostering seafaring skills and an inclusive maritime culture. The project will provide youths from regional or diverse backgrounds, the opportunity to crew a Tall Ship and embark on an incredible voyage from their home ports to Hobart as part of the 2025 Australian Wooden Boat Festival.
Musicians

Entertainment & Education Program (0-40 years)

AWBF’s Youth Entertainment and Education program seeks to engage young people with wooden boat and maritime culture through arts, live performance and hands-on activities. The program also provides a platform to support and showcase the creativity and talent of young and up-and-coming Tasmanian artists.
20230212_Alex-Nicholson,WBC,10-27-47

Noisy Boatyard & Shipwright's Village (16-40 years)

Offering a range of unique, structured workshops targeted at adolescents and young adults that build skills and knowledge in disciplines that are complementary to wooden boat building and maritime crafts. Young shipwrights and artisans are also encouraged to share their skills at the festival through demonstrations and activations.

Thank you to our #AWBFnextgen Supporters

The AWBF is extremely grateful to have the support of our donors. Their generous donations and support of #AWBFnextgen will help to promote wooden boats and maritime culture to young people, and in doing so, support the festival and its legacy.

Thank you to all our generous donors and supporters:

Andrew Cannon, Andrew Wilson, Annie Venables, Brenton Thorp, Chris Davis, Derek Cockle, Graham Kent, Grant Dawson, Jacqui Abbott, Joy Phillips, Paul Van der Zant, Paul Stephanus, Peter Curtis, Richard Lea, Simon Rush, Sonia Shimeld, Stephen Bristow, Tim Wayper, Tom McDevitt.

"I believe that the biggest challenge I have faced is the learning curve. Coming from a background with no sailing experience, it was difficult ‘learning the ropes’ in such a fast-paced and unfamiliar environment.

But that is when having such a supportive crew makes all the difference, because those challenges become exciting. Each day, I look forward to learning something new on the Lady Nelson, and while it can be tough, that just makes it all the more rewarding!"

- Chloe James, volunteer on Tall Ship Lady Nelson

#AWBFnextgen Youth Programming

If you have a story to share or an #AWBFnextgen idea, please reach out via email: office@awbf.org.au