2022 Wooden Boat Festival

Maritima Educare (MEA, aka Maritime Education Association) is an outgrowth of the Washington State nonprofit Coastal Heritage Alliance (CHA). MEA was founded 5 years ago in response to a recognized need to help Croatia revive its traditional maritime skills and knowledge.

This presentation will lead the audience through the steps taken in opening the Maritima Educare organization in Croatia. It will describe some the challenges of doing nonprofit work in a relatively poor country; but it will also highlight MEA’s successes in the field youth maritime education, and the program support it receives though the European Union.

Perhaps Festival visitors that are engaged in youth maritime programming, nonprofit management, or those that have a craving to visit Croatia might be most inclined to benefit from this presentation. In addition, MEA will be introducing future opportunities for individuals who may want to learn traditional wooden boat restoration in Croatia.