Students from Chip Schwehm's “Making and Marketing” class at Boothbay Region High School have been hard at work creating their very own company. After a lot of discussion and testing nine different prototype ideas, including a square water bottle and a combination fork/shovel, the class decided to craft a new and improved canoe paddle.

Five students from the class came to present their company, dubbed the “Boothbay Paddle Company,” to the CSD School Committee on Nov. 4. Students included seniors Anna Baumm (marketing), Camden Spear (marketing), Nick Gorey (finance) and Nick McCullough (quality control) along with junior Joe Paolillo (design and engineering). A total of 17 students are involved in the class.

According to Paolillo, the paddle, which is made using an oval ash shaft and a carbon fiber paddle, is an improvement over regular paddles because of the unique curve in the shaft.

“We tested it on Knickerbocker against traditional paddles,” Paolillo said. “And this is our final product. Also, while other similar paddles cost between $100 and $300, ours cost only $65 due to the low labor costs.”

“The students are being paid in knowledge,” BRHS principal Dan Welch said.

“It's a longer process to create, but it yields quality,” said Spear. “We're selling them through our website, through social media, and we've talked to TidePools and Oak Street Provisions in town, who were both delighted to represent our paddle in their shops.”

According to Baumm, the group has both an Instagram and Facebook page, and shot a commercial on Friday, Nov. 6 that it hopes to have aired on Channel 7.

The company's goal is to sell a total of 33 paddles.

The class is a collaboration between teacher Schwehm and Technology Integrator Barbara Greenstone.

“It's a lot of fun,” Schwehm said. “It's the most realistic class I've ever been involved in a public school. It leads to all sorts of things, from creation of a product to building a website and more.”

“I've really enjoyed the opportunity to team teach,” Greenstone said.

Superintendent of Schools Eileen King asked the students what they were enjoying most about the class.

“Going out during class time and being a leader,” Baumm said. “Approaching TidePools and Oak Street Provisions and getting them interested in our product.”

“It's so real world with different aspects,” Paolillo said.

“I love the independence we have in this class, and the knowledge we're gaining about how a company works,” Spear said.

According to Baumm, if the company manages to turn a profit, they are considering creating a scholarship fund for students. Check out www.facebook.com/boothbaypaddlecompany/ to learn more.