Sea Scout Awards and Recognitions

Scout Resources

The Small Boat Handler Course contains both classroom and practical portions. The classroom portion loosely follows each state’s National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) boating safety course. State agencies provide group instruction, as well as online instruction and testing. NASBLA approved boating safety courses are also taught by Americas Boating Club and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

The entire membership of a ship can work as a group in the course taught by the ship’s adult leaders and/or qualified instructors. Details supporting the course outlines are found in the technical sections of the Sea Scout Manual or from partner organizations.

Qualified Seaman

The Qualified Seaman course is meant to provide a more in-depth study of the aids to navigation, rules of the road, seamanship, safety, piloting, charts, safe boat handling, and boat operation. Details supporting the course outline are found in the technical sections of the Sea Scout Manual. Courses taught by America’s Boating Club and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary cover these topics. IOWLS lesson plans can be used to cover several of the sections. IOWLS materials can be found at seascout.org/adult-training/iowls.

Long Cruise Badge

The Long Cruise Award may be earned by both youth and adults registered in Sea Scouts. The Sea Scout must cruise for two weeks on any vessel or boat provided by the local council or their unit when authorized by an adult leader in that Sea Scout ship. Each additional long cruise earned is marked by a red arc around the badge, until five such cruises have been completed. Then a single white arc replaces the red arcs around the patch. If it is not possible to make a two-week cruise, a series of weekend or overnight cruises on any boat or ship may be made, provided that the total number equals 14 days.

Sea Scout Leadership Award

The Sea Scout Leadership Award is presented by councils, Service Territories, and the Scouting America National Council to Sea Scouts and adult Leaders who have made exceptional contributions to the Sea Scout program at the National, Territory, or Council level.

America’s Boating Club Finley Sea Scout Service Award

The America’s Boating Club “Finley Sea Scout Service Award” recognizes those members of America’s Boating Club who are also youth or adult Sea Scout leaders, and who have provided outstanding civic, educational, and fraternal leadership to both Sea Scouts and America’s Boating Club, through civic involvement, educational achievement, and active participation in both programs.

National Outdoor Award

The six National Outdoor Award badges recognize a Scout, Sea Scout, or Venturer who demonstrates knowledge and experience in camping, aquatics, conservation, hiking, riding, or adventure. Youth earning the National Outdoor Awards badges have demonstrated that they are knowledgeable, safe, and comfortable in the outdoor activity covered by the badge.