A Reflection…

Happy Builders

One amazing summer.

Three boats built.

21 lives changed forever.

Open House

Annual Spring Open House

Saturday, May 18, 2019 ▪ 10am – 4pm  ▪ Mount Brydges Lion’s Park 

• Learn about the programs offered at Stem2Stern.

• Check out the handcrafted vessels on display.

• Try out the tools at the various stations set up on site.

• Meet the staff and have your questions answered.

• Sign up for a workshop to reserve your space!

• Involve your children in the craft area.

• Enjoy some refreshments.

The Journey Continues

After much hard work, the first boat sees the light of day – June 2017. But wait, how does one transport a boat in a landlocked environment to a body of water several kilometers away? Realizing that every challenge has a solution, I worked with my young builders to solve our transportation challenge. Through the generosity of the Strathroy police, we were afforded a personal escort as everyone peddled to the launch site. A most memorable day for all.

David Vine – Founder: Stem2Stern

The Journey Begins

“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats”. – Kenneth Grahame (The Wind in the Willows, 1908)


Stem2Stern: A dream realized. 12 years ago I was fortunate enough to happen upon a family boat building opportunity in Brooklyn, Maine, a lobstering town of 824 on the east coast of the United States. My own children were 9 and 15 at the time. We borrowed my father’s car and headed east. 17 hours later we ran out of road and arrived at our destination where the three of us would build memories together that would last a lifetime. That ol’ boat still leans up against a tree in our yard, as a reminder of the bonds we formed that week, while still getting dropped in the pond from time to time, whenever the nostalgia stirs within us. As a woodworker, and boat builder, and teacher, and father, I vowed that one day I would bring this same community opportunity to the families of the London-Middlesex region, to afford others the same gift I received a dozen years ago. Join us at Stem2Stern for a rare opportunity as we continue to build lifetime memories, one boat at a time.

David Vine – Founder: Stem2Stern