Boats made by kids save Washington Christmas river crossing

WASHINGTON CROSSING, Pa. -- George Washington and his troops' annual Christmas Day trip across the Delaware River has been saved by boats made by children.

Organizers had feared the crossing would have to be canceled because low water levels in the river between Pennsylvania and New Jersey would have made it impossible for re-enactors to navigate their wooden Durham boats.

But Philadelphia Waterborne, a not-for-profit that teaches boat-building skills to middle- and high-school students, is lending the organizers six handmade, 12-foot rowboats. The boats only draw about six inches of water, meaning they can get across the river under current conditions.

The river's water level needs to be at least 9 feet above sea level to use the Durham boats, and recent water levels have been about 8.3 feet. Organizers had said a "pretty significant amount" of precipitation would be needed to raise the river's water levels in time for the event.

The crossing -- which was the trek that turned the tide of the Revolutionary War -- is the highlight of the annual event that draws thousands of people to the banks of the river in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, and Titusville, New Jersey.

John Godzieba, as Gen. George Washington, second right, stands in a boat Dec. 25, 2016, during a re-enactment of Washington's daring Christmas 1776 crossing of the Delaware River in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania.Mel Evans ~ Associated Press

It also features Washington rallying the troops and other historical speeches and processions

Boats ferried 2,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 18 cannons across the river during the original crossing. Washington's troops marched 8 miles downriver before battling Hessian mercenaries in the streets of Trenton.

Thirty Hessians were killed, and two Continental soldiers froze to death on the march.

Organizers note there's plenty of historical authenticity to this unique re-enactment. They note while Durham boats were used in the original 1776 crossing, historians agree Washington probably used various river craft to make his daring crossing.

Nicholas Pagon, founder and managing director of the Philadelphia Waterborne program, said the agreement "suddenly came together." He said people in the crossing event were aware of his program and asked whether they had boats that could be used.

"This is just great, so perfect for the students," Pagon said Friday. "As part of this program, I wanted them to build something real and to see they could build things that were valuable to the community, which is why being part of this Washington crossing event is so wonderful. Their work will be on display."

About 75 students in Philadelphia are involved in the program, and more than 200 have taken part overall since it began four years ago. Pagon said he plans to attend the crossing on Christmas Day and is spreading the word to students in the program so they also can watch.

Those involved believe students learn best by doing. They use project-based, immersive and experiential programs -- primarily small boat-building, environmental education, and maritime history -- as a means to engage students more fully in certain core school curricula.

Small groups of students in the program meet weekly in their own schools to build small wooden rowboats as a team. This allows them to consider design considerations and the cultural history of boats, along with the mathematics, physics and geometry needed for the project.

They eventually launch and row the completed boats on local rivers together.

Pertinent address:

Washington Crossing, Pa.

Titusville, N.J.