: 1) What kind of kayaks should we build?

I would recommend a simple greenland style traditional SOF. Wood construction is the easiest for many inexperienced hands, and requires the simplest, most common tools. For covering I would recommend canvas. Again simple, easily obtainable, and does require exotic, toxic coverings.

I made a SOF kayak in about 5 days at a kayak making class (except for coating the skin which requires significant waiting time), with no previous experience. The keys were motivated workers and a knowledgable teacher. I would do the boats in two shifts, so everybody isn't trying to steam ribs at the same time. Two people work on one boat, and when done work on another.

You will probably need to buy the gunwales, keelson, and chine wood (long pieces) and the bending stock (green oak or such), but the rest of the wood could be obtained from scrap. It is however possible that ALL the wood and the coating (house paint) could be scrounged. A couple hundred dollars would be the top end, the bottom end is pretty close to zero.

Unfortunately there is not much 'small work' that can be done before hand. You could get the wood ripped and materials gathered. Most things are sized in place (ie. you measure the next piece for the current boat shape). This is good in some ways, you avoid measuring errors. I built my boat with no measuring tool more complicated than a piece of string with knots in it.

I believe that people have built SOF kayaks and subsequently taken them apart and shipped them.

You might ask more questions at
http://www.qajaqusa.org/cgi-bin/GreenlandTechniqueForum_config.pl/

: 2) Are there any specific designs you would recommend?

Get Chris Cunningham's book. It is the easiest to understand instructions that I have seen. Make one for yourself first.

Some other things you should figure out before you start: Where are these things going to live? Just how motivated are your kids? Where are you going to do the remaining work after the basic stuff is done? Do the kids get to keep their kayaks? Are you planning on making them all custom sized for each kid (I recommend that, it is not much work).

Good Luck. Where in Maine are you?

Topher