About

Community Boating Center’s Mission is to teach positive life values to at-risk youth through boating.

How We Implement Our Mission

At our core, we view ourselves as a community outreach center connecting Greater New Bedford’s at risk youth with mentors to enhance their lives through boating. Our flagship program is our Summer Youth Sailing Program. This program is designed to be a step by step process in character development, by using sailing and boating as a tool to help instill important life lessons in our students, such as the values of integrity, sound judgment, teamwork and environmental awareness.

During the Fall and Spring, we partner with other Greater New Bedford organizations to offer enrichment opportunities centered around boating for at risk youth. Currently these include sailing programs for following New Bedford Area charter schools serving similar demographics to those that are served by CBC: Nativity Preparatory School, Global Learning Charter School and Alma Del Mar.

History

One hot and humid day in 1995 a New Bedford social worker had a vision. After visiting seven young children in a sweltering, north end tenement, JoAnn Tschaen began searching for an answer to the hopelessness and despair she saw in their eyes. That evening on her way home across the Fairhaven Bridge, seven small boats caught her eye. Seven boats, seven kids…

In 1998, Community Boating Center incorporated as a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to enriching the lives of area youth by exposing them to a new and challenging environment built upon a foundation of trust and respect. The Community Boating Center staff, acting as role models, provide friendship and mentorship, teach responsibility and team work and demonstrate commitment and compassion with all Community Boating Center students. Safety, Fun and Education are the cornerstones of Community Boating Center programs. For many of these children, Community Boating Center’s on-the-water program is their first exposure to the marine environment right in their own backyard.

Who we are

CBC Staff

Andy Herlihy, Executive Director

Jane Pimentel, Program Manager

Brian Nobrega, Operations Manager

Board of Directors

Heike Milhench, President

William Marvel, Treasurer

Greg Downey, Secretary/clerk

Andrew Defrias

Kathy Feeney

Sara Furlong

Oliver Moore

David Prentiss

Mark Riley

David Risch