Sea Scout Academy

Education on the water

Sea Scout Academy is a regional Sea Scout learning experience directly related to Sea Scouts advancement and the development of youth leadership. Youth may choose from one of seven tracks of study. Youth are taught advancement skills such as radio procedures, rules of the road and navigation. Regardless of the track a youth pursues, all participants spend time sailing and applying their skills.

Classes we offer

TRACKS (Youth): Six training tracks are available for Sea Scout youth ranging from recruit (1st year) to Quartermaster (5th year). Tracks are designed based upon a typical advancement path as outlined in the 2010 Sea Scout Manual. Venturing youth will be restricted to the Apprentice.

TRACK 5 SEAL (Youth): The Sea Scout Experience Advanced Leadership (SEAL) training program is designed to teach leadership skills while underway. SEAL is designed to “jump start” the junior leaders of new Ships and to fine tune leaders of experienced Ships. It is a hard core, physically and mentally demanding, and remarkably rewarding hands-on leadership experience.

SSABLT (Adults): Sea Scout Adult Basic Leader Training Course: (4 hours) Introduces adults to the Sea Scout program and the resources necessary to get a ship up and running successfully. SSALBT is a prerequisite for Sea Badge.

Registration

WHO MAY ATTEND: All registered BSA Sea Scouts and Venturers. This is a regional event so ships from outside Bay Area Council are welcome. Scouts must be at least 13 years old or older.

TIME: Check-in at 11 a.m. on January 14, 2017. Checkout by 11:59 a.m. on January 16, 2017

PLACE: Sea Scout Base Galveston, 7509 Broadway, Galveston, TX 77554

COST: (On the first day lunch will not be served, so bring a sack lunch or eat before arriving at camp.
Cost for the weekend covers berthing, five meals, evening snacks, and materials (practice ropes, handouts, fuel, etc.)

TRACKS 1-4, 6A-6B (Youth) $75
TRACK 5 SEAL (Youth & APPROVED STAFF ONLY) $40
STAFF & ADULT LEADERSHIP $75

ADULT LEADERSHIP: Each unit must have at least one adult leader for each 10 youth with a 2 adult minimum. Units with female members present must provide appropriate female adult leadership or make arrangements.
- SSBG Liability Form
- Tour Plan (If outside the Bay Area Council)
- BSA Health Form (Parts A&B)
- Sea Scout work uniform. The chambray/dungarees (youth), or khakis (adults) or the new century uniforms are preferred. A Sea Scout Class B T-shirt/blue jeans are also acceptable.)
- Warm clothing, a good jacket, and foul weather gear if needed
- Boat shoes or shoes with light colored soles to minimize boat wear (NO OPEN TOED SHOES)
- Sleeping bag or blankets
- Modest sleep wear
- BRING YOUR OWN CUP

PLEASE READ THE SSBG SEA SCOUT ACADEMY BOARDING MANUAL HERE

CONTACT: Tim Corwin at tim.corwin@scouting.org

REGISTER BY: January 4, 2017

Schedule

Saturday

            1100        Registration open
            1300        Welcome and announcements, Flag Plaza
            1330-1700    Classes
                    Session 1: 1330 – 1435
                    Session 2: 1450 – 1545
                    Session 3: 1550 - 1700
            1730        Dinner
            1830        Worship – Dining Hall
            1900        Guest Speaker: Lt. Garcia, United States Naval Academy
            2000        Fellowship – YOU MUST BE IN ONE OF THESE PLACES!
                    Movie and Games – Dining Hall
                    Music – Chapel (Bring your guitars)
                    Volleyball – Volleyball Court
            2230        Taps – EVERYONE in their quarters

Sunday
            0630        Reveille
            0700        Breakfast
            0800-1300    Classes
            1300        Lunch
            1400-1630    Classes
            1800        Dinner
            1900        Fellowship – YOU MUST BE IN ONE OF THESE PLACES!
                    Movie and Games – Dining Hall
                    Music – Chapel (Bring your guitars)
                    Volleyball – Volleyball Court
            1900        SSALBT (adult training) – Room 513
            2230        Taps – everyone in their quarters

Monday
            0630        Reveille
            0700        Breakfast
            0800-1100    Classes
            1110        Closing

Track specifics

Youth should choose the track most appropriate to their time in Sea Scouts, their current rank, or their attendance at previous Sea Scout Academies.   The advancement requirement numbering reflects the numbering found in the 2010 edition of the Sea Scout Manual.

TRACK ONE – New Recruit/Apprentice (1st year Participants)
This track will cover all the Apprentice requirements except swimming and service.  Youth will be challenged with an Amazing Race format as they move through the requirements.  They will have four hours of sailing, as well.

TRACK TWO – Ordinary (2nd year Participants)
This track will follow an Amazing Race format to complete the following Ordinary requirements:
•    Ordinary 1 Ideals: a, b, c
•    Ordinary 5 Safety: e, f, g
•    Ordinary 6 Marlinspike Seamanship: a, b, c, d
•    Ordinary 7 Boat Handling: a, b
•    Ordinary 10 Piloting and Navigation: a, b, c, d
•    Ordinary 11 Practical Deck Seamanship: a, b, c, d
•    Ordinary 12 Environment: a

TRACK THREE – Ordinary (3rd year Participants)
This track will follow an Amazing Race format to complete the following Ordinary requirements:
•    Ordinary 2 Active Membership: b
•    Ordinary 3 Leadership: c
•    Ordinary 5 Safety:  c, d
•    Ordinary 6 Marlinspike Seamanship:  c, d
•    Ordinary 8 Ground Tackle: a, b, c, d
•    Ordinary 9 Navigation: a, b, c, d, e, f
•    Ordinary 10 Piloting and Navigation:  f, g
•    Ordinary 11 Practical Deck Seamanship:  b, d, e

TRACK FOUR – Able (4th year Participants)    
*    Navigation Rules – Participants will study dayshapes and aids to navigation (A 9.b,c
*    Blocks and Tackle – Participants will learn the parts of a block and how blocks are sized.  They will reeve different types of tackle. (Able 6.c.)
*    Point Glass – Youth will utilize Point Glass to cover Quartermaster requirements (7, 8, 11, 13b).
*    Splicing, Whipping, Grommets – Instruction and practice will be given for meeting the requirements of Able 6a.
*    Environment – Information on the protection of marine endangered species will be shared.

TRACK FIVE – SEAL Prep
*    Piloting – All Ordinary (10a-f) and Able (10a-f) Piloting and Navigation requirements will be covered and practiced.
*    SEAL Navigation – A typical SEAL day will be described along with the expectations for Boatswain, Navigator, Crew, and drills.  The SEAL Navigation practice test will be administered.
*    Sailing – The youth will follow the course they established in the morning class, take fixes, maintain a deck log, etc.
*    Boatswain’s Pipe – Youth will learn and practice calls they will use during SEAL (Ordinary 16g).
*    Sail Repair – Youth will learn and practice all necessary sail repair stitches while constructing their own ditty bag (Able 6b).

 
TRACK SIX.A – Been There, Done That (5th year Participants)
•    Crew Leaders will mentor and advise youth participating in the Apprentice track as the new recruits navigate an “Amazing Race” format to master the majority of material required for the Apprentice Rank.

TRACK SIX.B – Been There, Done That (5th year Participants)
Participants will spend the day in port aboard the 1877 Iron Barque ELISSA experiencing life aboard a tall ship in the late 1800’s with lessons in line handling, life at sea, seamanship, Elissa’s history, coiling, rigging, sail plan, pin rail, sail setting and tall ship tacking and wearing.
 
PLEASE NOTE: Participants will berth, eat morning and evening meals at Sea Scout Base Galveston. A box lunch will be provided for Sunday Lunch at the “Elissa".
 
Scouts must know these knots in advance: Bowline, Figure Eight, Reef, Double Overhand, Sheet Bend and Clove Hitch. NO EXCEPTION! Know them well before boarding Elissa.
 
Bring a water bottle and foul weather gear. This program continues rain or shine.