Gold Centennial Sea Scout Award

The Gold Centennial Sea Scout Award is available for all Sea Scouts and Leaders to earn in 2012. To learn more about this opportunity and special Centennial Electives, please view the Gold Centennial Sea Scout Order Form Packet.

Albatross Honored - 2012 National Sea Scout Flagship 

IRVING, TX -The Sea Scout Ship Albatross has been selected as the 2012 National Flagship by the Boy Scouts of America. 2012 is the 100-year anniversary of the Sea Scout program, which will be celebrated by over 7000 Sea Scouts and their communities throughout the United States.

BoatUS and Sea Scouts, BSA recognizes Sea Scout Ship 72, S.S.S. Albatross from Martinez, California, chartered by Security Owners Corporation of the Mt. Diablo Silverado Council as the recipient of the 2012 National Flagship Award. The award was created by BoatUS in 2002 to mark the 90^th anniversary of Sea Scouts. It is presented in recognition of excellence in program quality, youth achievement, and adult commitment. It is these attributes, as reflected by the S.S.S. Albatross and its exemplary program of seamanship and youth development, that we honor them with this award.

A heartfelt congratulation goes to Ship Boatswain Catherine Murphy-Bevan, Skipper Adam Mollwitz, and the dedicated S.S.S. Albatross crew and adult volunteers. The S.S.S, Albatross name will be inscribed on a perpetual trophy now on display at the National Scouting Museum in Irving, Texas. An identical trophy will be presented to the ship’s leadership at the 60th Ancient Mariner Regatta, onboard the USS Hornet, in Alameda California.

As a part of the Ship’s qualifications, they met or exceeded all national standards as a part of their application for consideration. The ship’s quarterdeck and skipper completed a full application and provided support through written summary of their accomplishments and activities they participated in during this past year.

Since 1932, the Sea Scouts have been an active part of the Martinez Community, and the Western Region. This year the ship is participating in the Relay for Life, as well as hosting two Regattas.

The Albatross Sea Base, with the help of the crew, parents, and the adult staff, has become the training center for several units of the area. The Albatross main training vessel is a 65 foot ex-Navy torpedo Retriever from 1968, aptly named "Albatross". Their other training vessels include a ski boat named "Little Tross", a runabout named "Tadpole", a whaleboat named "Shanagagines", and other small sail and powerboats.

The co-ed Albatross crew works hard and plays hard: learning to maintain their boat; learn new skills; and compete in a wide array of events. A few highlights of their activities include:

• Achieved the Gold level of the Journey to Excellence national award for 2011.
• 100 % of their youth members advanced in rank, or advanced during the year
• Increased their youth membership by a net of 17%
• 45% of their youth members achieved Ordinary rank or higher, including one Quartermaster
• An average of 90 % of their members attended their ship activities annually
• The crew participated in over 50 on-the-water activities during the year. Including a 10 day Summer Cruise
• Maintained their Boat and Sea Base, including installing a new cabin top for their crew's quarters.
• 6 community service projects were held as a ship , such as color guards and cleaning up the local water front
• Competed in 8 Regattas through out the region; hosted 2 Regattas; participated in Safety at Sea at Yerba Buena Island; participated in many more active meetings and months of events too numerous to mention.

An official Sea Scout SALUTE goes to Ship 72, S.S.S. Albatross for their efforts. We wish them well as they continue to promote water safety and provide a quality Sea Scout program to the youth of their area.

  2012 National Flagship Albatross

Governor Deval L. Patrick of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has issued a proclamation making October 8, 2012 Sea Scouts Day in the Bay State.

The Governor, in issuing his proclamation, reminded the citizens of Massachusetts that Sea Scouting in the United States began in Massachusetts, that it has grown from one Boy Scout Training Ship to become a national program for young men and young women that promotes our maritime heritage and provides hands-on maritime education, training, and experiences, while partnering with other civic organizations to promote safe boating, environmental conservation and community service.

The National Sea Scout Support Committee is please to introduce the New Century Universal Sea Scout Uniform ("NCUSSU").  The NCUSSU is an alternate uniform to the current adult and youth dress and work uniforms. It is intended to make it easy for members of newly formed Sea Scout Ships to outfit themselves in a Sea Scout uniform and may be chosen by any unit new or existing. When chosen by the unit, this universal uniform is worn by all youth and adult Ship members and may serve as both a dress uniform and a work uniform. The New Century Universal Sea Scout Uniform will be included in the next edition of the Sea Scout Manual, No. 33239.

Visit here to learn more about this exciting new option!

Sea Scouts Aboard Tall Ship Coast Guard Barque Eagle -
Applications Accepted Now

Do you want the adventure of a lifetime?  Apply now to sail aboard the tall ship Coast Guard Barque Eagle!  The Eagle is a three-masted barque-rigged ship used to train cadets and officer candidates in the U.S. Coast Guard.  The Eagle was  built in Germany in 1936 and was taken as a war reparation by the U.S. after World War II. Since then the Eagle has been homeported in New London, Connecticut, the location of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

The National Sea Scout Support Committee has again made special arrangements with the US Coast Guard Academy for select Sea Scouts to join as crew aboard the Eagle during its 2013 summer cadet cruise.  This opportunity is available to all Sea Scouts who desire fun, adventure, and a summer cruise to remember - you don't want to miss this chance.  This year's Sunday-to-Saturday cruises are off the New England Coast and will embark on July 28 (at Boston, MA), and August 4 (at a port-of-cal to be determined).

The ideal candidate is an active Sea Scout who is at least Able rank, a leader in his/her Ship, a SEAL graduate, 16 or 17 years old, in the 10th or 11th grade at the time of application, with an interest in the Coast Guard or other military or maritime career.  Remember though, many prior successful applicants have not had all of these attributes. So who should apply?  Any Sea Scout who is interested!

Get your USCG Barque Eagle Cruise App in by the deadline – March 31, 2013

Makai Honored - 2013 National Sea Scout Flagship 

IRVING, TX - Sea Scout Ship 700, SSS Makai of San Leandro, California, San Francisco Bay Area Council has been selected as the 2013 National Flagship by the National Seas Scout Support Committee (“NSSSC”) of the Boy Scouts of America. 2013 is the beginning of the second century of the Sea Scout program, which provides nautical programs to more than 6,500 Sea Scouts throughout the U.S.
BoatUS and Sea Scouts, BSA recognizes the Makai is chartered by Bigham-Taylor Roofing Company. The award was created by BoatUS in 2002 to mark the 90th anniversary of Sea Scouts. It is presented in recognition of excellence in program quality, youth achievement, and adult commitment; attributes reflected by the Makai in its exemplary programs of seamanship and youth development. The Makai was part of the 2012 National Flagship Fleet.

The Ship’s quarterdeck and Skipper completed a full application and provided support through written summary of their accomplishments and activities they participated in during this past year. The Ship’s Boatswain Nick Rojos comments, “Makai is much more than a Sea Scout Ship, we’re a group of determined young men who want to work hard for regattas and enjoy our cruises to the fullest … I am proud to lead these young men and I’m even more proud of the Makai that I call my second family.” The crew works hard and plays hard learning to maintain their boat, learning new skills, and competing in a wide array of events. A few highlights of their activities include:

• • Achieved the Gold level 2012 Journey to Excellence national award with a perfect score
  • 82.6 % of youth members advanced in rank, or advanced during the year
  • 38% of youth members achieved Ordinary Sea Scout rank or higher
  • The crew participated in 42 days of on-the-water activities during the year (Total engine run time 110 hours 13 minutes, including a 17 day Long Cruise)
  • 15 community unit service projects including such as landscaping at a community church, Scouting for Food, and maintenance at various marinas
  • Sent a youth member to Sea Scout Advanced Leadership training (“SEAL”) in Miami, FL
  • Competed in 4 Regional Regattas (taking a top class rating at 3 of them); attended 5 fleet training and social activities; conducted 5 leadership training courses; participated in many more active meetings and months of events too numerous to mention for a total of 188 days of Sea Scout activities during the year
  • Had a youth member appointed as the Western Region Area 3 Boatswain
  • Acquired and rigged a new primary vessel in less than 2 months
  • Recruited 9 new youth members during the year bringing their total to 23 and recruited 5 new adult members during the year bringing their total to 13
  • 14 of their Crew and 13 of their adults earned the Sea Scout Centennial Gold Award pin

A heartfelt congratulation goes to Ship Boatswain Nick Rojos, Skipper Robert Karn, Executive Officer Mr. Kevin Trujillo, and the dedicated S.S.S. Makai crew and adult volunteers. The Makai’s name will be inscribed on a perpetual trophy now on display at the National Scouting Museum in Irving, Texas. An identical trophy will be presented to the ship’s leadership.

Join us in saluting Ship 700, SSS Makai for their outstanding efforts. We wish them well in continuing to promote water safety and provide a quality Sea Scout program to the youth in their area.

For more information about the S.S.S. Makai, visit their website: www.seascoutshipmakai.homestead.com

[Download the 2013 National Flagship Makai Announcement here.]