There was no textbook in sight as Lake Macquarie students picked up the tools and got ready to sail for a different type of school lesson.
The all-female teenage crew were hard at work on Thursday, August 27, building a wooden sailing dinghy completely from scratch.
Halfway through their 10-week build, the years 9 to 11 students couldn't wait until their boat was ready to hit the lake next month.
The practical workshop was run by the Making Waves Foundation, a not-for-profit that provides opportunities for disengaged and disadvantaged young people.
This was the first all-female Wright of Passage initiative, which sees students build a boat.
Cassie Wells from the Educational Pathways Program, which helped bring the workshop to life along with not-for-profit Careerlinks, said girls were often hesitant to get involved in general, construction-based programs.
"But as soon as we say it is a female-only class, we end up with a waitlist, they are more confident to get involved," she said.
Glendale Technology High School Year 10 student Amelia said she had never done anything like it before.
"I'd love to see more opportunities like this, especially for girls," she said.
Amelia said she had learnt a lot of new skills such as how to use a stapling gun and using a drop saw.
"I've got new friends and more experiences up my belt," she said.
She was hoping to go into cabinetry or construction after school.
"It has taught me to take my time with things and really make sure you're doing what you need to," she said.
Courtney Pedersen from West Wallsend High School was busy sanding the centreboard and she said the experience had helped with her confidence using different tools and talking to people.
"I'm into construction and building things and I like getting more experiences and opportunities," she said.
She was planning on going into construction or furniture making in the future.
Students came from Lake Macquarie High School, Morisset High School, Glendale High School, Hunter Sports High School and West Wallsend High School.
Making Waves program manager Shane Greaves said the boat-building workshop ran for one day a week for 10 weeks.
The students had four more days to complete the boat which included putting on the top deck, the side tanks, working on the centreboard, the rudder and then painting the vessel.
"The program is focused on disengaged participants in an alternative learning space and teaching them work skills and soft skills like resilience, problem solving, teamwork and communication," he said.
"It's giving them the confidence to use tools, being out on the water and working together."
