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CEDARVILLE -- A school that teaches the art of wooden boat building may sound more like something from the 1930s, but the Great Lakes Boat Building School opened in 2006.  It was only four years ago that the facility was just an idea.

Today, it's fully operational, offering a nine month program during the school year and week-long workshops during the summer months.  In addition to boating classes, students can also take general education course through North Central Michigan College, which may open the door for even more career choices.

"When I'm done here, I'd like to go work for someone for a couple of years, possibly go and start my own business," said student Jeremy Labore.  "I think there's a lot of options open for students to do what you, as an individual, want to do with this."

The school focuses on giving their students a hands-on learning experience.  This year's group of eight students has two instructors working closely with them in the classroom and the workshop.

"The most enjoyable part of the whole thing is seeing them going through the program and really grow," said executive director Dave Lesh.  "If you look around here, what they start building on day one versus what they graduate building, it's pretty remarkable how much they've learned."

School officials hope to double enrollment for next year.  As for the impact on local commerce, the staff is working to conduct a study to show just how much the Great Lakes Boating School has affected Cedarville's local economy.

TV6 Contributor Jade Olds, Sault Ste. Marie