History

The Landing School History

John Burgess Turned his Passion for Boat Building into a Platform for Teaching the Skills to Others.

The Landing School was established in 1978 by John Burgess and Helen Tupper as a nonprofit, post-secondary institution dedicated to providing the highest quality hands-on education in boatbuilding. The first year was attended by nine students who used a cow barn as a classroom and built two dories and two 18-foot sailboats as the curriculum. That program became the Wooden Boat Building Program and was eventually expanded to include both Small and Cruising Boat construction.

The Landing School Reflection

The Landing School Early Years

The Landing School, Cow Barn Classroom - 1978

The School filled a critical void in the industry where well-trained tradespeople were in high demand. Following the success of the first year’s students, the Yacht Design Program was added in 1979 to provide the marine industry worldwide with a source of new designers trained specifically in the techniques and aesthetics of yacht and commercial boat design.

Two decades later, boatyards worldwide were struggling with a shortage of trained marine systems technicians. The Landing School once again responded to the industry’s need by launching the Marine Systems Program in September of 1999. At the same time, the school began a multi-year aggressive growth plan that resulted in a large addition to the facilities in 2007, providing room for the curriculum to expand again with the Composite Boat Building Program. Each of The Landing School’s ten-month-long programs culminates with a diploma for students who successfully complete the courses within the high standards set by the faculty.

In 2009 the State of Maine Department of Education and the school’s accrediting agency, ACCSC, approved The Landing School as a degree-granting institution. A student who successfully completes two programs and 15 credit-hours of general education courses is eliglible to receive an Associate’s degree.