ABOUT THE LANDING SCHOOL

HISTORY

“The Landing” is a short stretch of the Kennebunk River where The Landing School is located. It was once an internationally famous shipbuilding area and the home of more than 20 shipbuilding firms dating back to the 1600's. As the economic effects of the Great Depression descended over the country in the early 20th century, the shipbuilding business throughout Maine began to dwindle. In 1942, The Landing hosted its last official launching of a commercial vessel, a police cruiser.

In December of 1978, three and a half decades later, the first class of students at The Landing School launched a Chamberlain dory-skiff, reviving the boat building trade along The Landing. The first year hosted nine students who used a cow barn (as pictured below) as a classroom taught by The School’s founders John Burgess and Cricket Tupper. They built two dories and two 18-foot sailboats as the curriculum. In 1979, school administrators set out to fill a critical void in the industry where well-trained tradespeople were in high demand. This objective spurred the creation of the Yacht Design Program. This program provided the global marine industry with a source of new designers trained specifically in the techniques and aesthetics of yacht and commercial boat design.

In 1987, The Landing School became the first school of its type to be accredited by The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), which is listed by the United States Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency under the provisions of Chapter 33, Title 38, U.S. Code and subsequent legislation.

Two decades later, boatyards were struggling with a shortage of trained marine systems technicians. So in September 1999, The Landing School once again responded to the industry’s need by launching the Marine Systems Program. At the same time, The School began a multi-year aggressive growth plan that resulted in a large addition that was completed in 2007. The addition provided room for the curriculum to expand again with the creation of the Composite Boat Building Program.

Today, each of The Landing School’s eight-month programs culminates in a diploma for students who successfully complete their 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 technical programs and the required general education course credits is eligible to receive an Associate’s degree. The Landing School has been recognized by ACCSC as a 2014 ACCSC School of Distinction / ACCSC School of Excellence.

Education from The Landing School reinforces and preserves traditional design and construction methods while advancing the art of boat building, design and maintenance through the integration of modern techniques and contemporary materials. The marine industry values this unique training and has lauded The Landing School internationally with a reputation for graduates of exceptional quality.

LIFESTYLE: THE ULTIMATE IN WORK-LIFE BALANCE

At The Landing School, the skills you learn serve you well Monday through Friday as well as Saturdays and Sundays. You can earn a paycheck while doing the things you love to do. Whether you want to own and maintain your own boat, want to purchase and restore a boat, do woodworking around your home, aspire to build your own fine furniture, the skills you acquire here at The Landing School will follow you home after work and continue to add value to your life.

EPIC ODYSSEY: UNRIVALED EXPERIENCES

Students attend The Landing School for a reason: they are passionate about boats. Most of our students live together as small groups in houses, providing them with the opportunity to build lifelong friendships, and support each other in their studies. When alumni speak about their Landing school experience, the most common words are “awesome”, “amazing”, “transformational”, “life-changing”. Your experience here will be challenging. You will be called upon to perform heroic feats, and our remarkable faculty will be there beside you to support you. 

PROFESSION: WORLD CLASS TEACHING EXPERTISE AND ACCESS TO MARINE INDUSTRY EMPLOYERS

The breadth and depth of industry and teaching experience of our faculty is unrivaled. The Landing School faculty are augmented by adjunct faculty consisting of some of the most highly regarded people in the industry. We have well-equipped shops, a fleet of project boats, classrooms for lectures, lounges for relaxing, and the Atlantic Ocean at our doorstep. All of our Program costs include unlimited access to diverse general education courses taught by talented professionals outside of the marine industry. 

At The Landing School, not only will you receive unrivaled technical training, you will also have the opportunity to receive mentoring, industry-related guidance, and academic support to aid you in your studies and job search. As a Landing School student (and continuing as an alumnus/alumna) you will have access to our web-based Job Board. The Landing School Job Board allows you to apply for a diversity of yacht design jobs, marine systems jobs, and boat building jobs that we receive and update every week, providing you with unparalleled access to leading employers in the marine industry. As a Landing School graduate, you also benefit from joining a robust network of over 1,500 graduates, many of whom are in top management or leadership positions with the most respected companies in the marine industry. Each spring The Landing School hosts a job fair where you will have the opportunity to meet potential employers face-to-face.

In 2019, the average employment rate – the rate at which our students found employment in their field of study after graduation – was 92%. The employment rate achieved in many years was 100%.