While the academic program was evolving, the center was asked by Buffalo Public School officials to experiment with boat building as a method for building self-esteem among disadvantage urban youth.
The highly successful cooperation with Native American School #19, paved the way for the development of a wide range of regular community outreach programs. Over the past 20 years the center has worked with numerous groups from Children’s Hospital and the Police Athletic League to public schools and various civic organizations.
The success and demand for these programs presented the need for boat designs appropriate to the task. Out of this need, Professors Bartoo, Butz, and Montague developed the "Six Hour Canoe" course. Later, Montague and Butz developed the "Weekend Skiff" and other designs classes for beginners.
Both the Six Hour Canoe and Weekend Skiff have been published in book form and have enjoyed world wide success. See Building the Six Hour Canoe by Bartoo, Butz, and Montague and Building the Weekend Skiff by Butz and Montague (Tiller Publishing).
