Step inside IYRS workshops during two January Open Houses

by Cynthia Goss on 4 Jan 2013 Those who are interested in pursuing new career tracks at the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) will have a chance to step inside the school’s workshops during two January Open Houses. These two events will give career seekers an opportunity to meet with IYRS staff, observe students at work, and review the school’s programs before applying for spring or fall 2013 admission.

On Tuesday afternoon, January 8, the doors to Restoration Hall on the school’s Newport campus at 449 Thames Street will be open from 4 pm to 6:30 pm.

The Newport campus is home to the school’s 20-month Boatbuilding and Restoration program, where students are trained to restore classic wooden boats and develop craftsmanship skills that are highly valued by today’s woodworking trades. Open House attendees will observe students at work from 4-5 pm, meet with instructors from 5-5:30 pm, and talk with staff about the admissions process and financial aid from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.

On Wednesday afternoon, January 16, the IYRS lab and workshop at the school’s Bristol facility at 253 Franklin Street will be open from 4 pm-6:30 pm.

The Bristol facility is home to the school’s Marine Systems and Composites Technology programs. The Bristol Open House will follow the same schedule, providing attendees an opportunity to observe students at work and a chance to meet with faculty and staff.

Both the Marine Systems and Composites Technology programs are six-month programs; the next session of these two programs begins on March 7, 2013.

The Composites Technology program trains students in the theory and hands-on practice of working with composite materials, a method of building that produces structures with a high strength-to-weight ratio. Composites represent the next generation of building materials in many industries—including aerospace, construction, boat building, automotive and wind energy.

The Marine Systems program teaches students to install, maintain, and troubleshoot the onboard systems used on modern and classic boats, such as electrical, electronic, fuel, propulsion, and steering systems. Developed with the marine trades and the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC), the program prepares students to sit for relevant ABYC certifications, a gold-medal standard in the industry.

Mentoring opportunities that give individuals who have already submitted an application a chance to shadow an IYRS student are available on Open House days.

For more information about the Open Houses, mentoring opportunities or IYRS programs, visit the IYRS website or contact Admissions Team Leader Holly Ashton at 401-848-5777, ext. 216 or hashton@iyrs.org.