National Virtual Sea Scout Academy
The National Virtual Sea Scout Academy (NVSSA) brings together Sea Scouts and Scouters online, offering valuable information for advancement across four rank tracks (Apprentice, Ordinary, Able, and Quartermaster) as well as information about opportunities within Sea Scouts via Zoom, ensuring all Sea Scouts learn valuable lessons and skills to aid in their advancement journey.
Each session will be led by unique sea scout leaders from all over the country! Registration can be found here, https://scoutingevent.com/564-76453
Event hosted by Capital Area Council
Dates: Academy learning days will be January 29th, through February 2nd, 2024. Followed by a closing event February 4th at 9pm.
Time: All classes will begin at 5pmPT/6pmMT/7pmCT/8pmET. Each class period will be about 2 hours long.
Track Schedule
Day 1 – Monday, 29 January 2024
What is Sea Scouting
1B: Oath, Law, Promise & Ship code/Obligation
1CD: Courtesies and procedures on vessels.
2B: Uniforms
3AB: Ship leadership and organization.
Day 2 – Tuesday, 30 January 2024
4B: Safe swim defense
5A: PFDs
5B: Marine Distress signals
Intro to USCG Auxiliary
Day 3 – Wednesday, 31 January 2024
5C: Distress communication procedure
5D: Safety on vessels
7C: Heaving line
6: Knots!
Day 4 – Thursday, 1 February 2024
7A: Parts of a Sailboat
7B: Characteristics of different types of sailboats
Leadership in your community
Recruitment
Day 5 – Friday, 2 February 2024
Saftey Afloat!
Intro to Water Rescue
Leadership training
Paper Boat competition
Day 1 – Monday, 29 January 2024
1AB: Sea Scout Emblem & US flag
1CD: Flag Etiquette; Oath & Law in Daily Life
5A: Safety afloat
5B: Describe the safety equipment required by law for your ship’s primary vessel
5C: Station bills
5EF: Equipment and procedures for maritime communications
Day 2 – Tuesday, 30 January 2024
5H: Galley
6A: Manufactured rope and how it’s made
6AB: Marlinspike
Day 3 – Wednesday, 31 January 2024
7A: Name of parts of a boat
8A: Parts of anchors
8BC: types of anchors, rode calculation
9AB: Rule of responsibility & navigation rules discussion
Day 4 – Thursday, 1 February 2024
9CD: Give way rules and responsibility between vessels
9EF: Nav lights and sound signals
10A: Latitude and Longitude
10BC: Compass headings and measuring distance, time, and speed.
10DEG: Zulu time and Time Zones
Day 5 – Friday, 2 February 2024
11ABC: Bell time, lookout, and relative bearings
12ABC: Environmental factors
13A: Weather Bulletin
12B: River levels and flow
Level 1 electives summary
Day 1- Monday, January 29th
5A: Vessel Safety Checklist
5B: Fire prevention and prevent entanglements
5C: Fires
6C: Blocks and Tackle
7B: Names and functions of lines
8AB: Anchors aweigh
Day 2 – Tuesday, 30 January 2024
8CE: Marking chain and rode and use of a windlass
9B: Vessel lights and day shapes
9C: Aids of Navigation
9D: NOS Charts and how they work
10F: Radar
Day 3 – Wednesday, 31 January 2024
10G: Charts, tables, lists, and how to use them
10C: Fix position
11ABC: Hand tools, safety equipment, and sewing equipment
11E: Repair and protect vessels used by your Ship
Day 4 – Thursday, 1 February 2024
12B: MARPOL placards
12A: Environmental laws about environmentally sensitive materials
13: Weather devices/Scales
Elective Lvl 2: Maritime History Highlights
Day 5 – Friday, 2 February 2024
EDGE Method guide for teaching requirements
Level 2: Planning an Interfaith Worship Service
Becoming a Council/NST/National Officer
Marksmanship Awards
Staffing Summer Camp
Day 1 – Monday, 29 January 2024
1A: Discussion on ideals in the Sea Promise
1B: Written analysis on a recommendation for a Ship program
3B: Serve as an officer for 6+ months
3D: Help conduct ILSS
5A: Heavy-weather precautions onboard a vessel
Improve Ship Events, Service, and Fundraising
Day 2 – Tuesday, 30 January 2024
5B: Special precautions in limited visibility
8B: Anchoring & Mooring
Navigation Skills
Charting and Nav Resources
10B: Fixes in Limited Visibility
Day 3 – Wednesday, 31 January 2024
11B: Weather signs & 48-hour forecast
Weather indicators and resources,
Teaching Techniques (Guest Speaker!)
Teaching Resources
Long Cruise Planning
Weather chart supplement can be found here!
Day 4 – Thursday, 1 February 2024
12C: Writing a report on an aquatic environment
12A: Maritime Sanitation Devices
12B: Gray Water
QM Panel
Elective Level 3: Electricity (Partial); 1, 2, 3, 6, 7
Day 5 – Friday, 2 February 2024
Other Sea Scout/Scouting Awards
CGAux Guest Speaker
Level 3: International Code Flags Parts 1 & 2 (Partial)
What to do after you earn Quartermaster
APPRENTICE
Track Boatswain: Katya Withrow (National Sea Scout Support Lead for NSTs 14-16)
“Hey, I’m Katya, the Apprentice Track Boatswain!
I’m super excited to teach the basics of Sea Scouts, cover vessel safety, boat parts, marlinspike, and more at NVSSA!
One of my favorite memories from my time in Sea Scouts was earlier this year at the Fort Monroe Sea Scout Academy. I was able to learn how to boardsail and how to keep myself from falling into the freezing water by keeping my balance. Eventually, I got the hang of it.
I’m excited to bring all my knowledge of Sea Scouts to NVSSA!”
ORDINARY
Track Boatswain: Meredith Burns (National Sea Scout Support Lead for NSTs 10-13)
“Hi! My name is Meredith Burns and I’ll be your Ordinary Track Lead for NVSSA 2024!
This track is going to cover lots of different Ordinary requirements. We’ll be going over different safety aspects of Scouting, boat handling, navigation rules, and some parts of practical deck seamanship.
One of my favorites about scouting is traveling to unique destinations I wouldn’t have gone to without being a Sea Scout!”
ABLE
Track Boatswain: Ethan Azevedo (National Sea Scout Support Lead for NST 3)
“Hello everyone! My name is Ethan Azevedo and I am the boatswain of the able track for NVSSA 2024!
I look forward to teaching topics under able requirements to Scouts working on their rank in Sea Scouts. I am also excited to meet new people who are eager to learn!
One thing I love about Sea Scouts is the camaraderie, I enjoy working alongside people who have the same goals as I do.
I’m super excited to see YOU at NVSSA 2024!”
QUARTERMASTER
Track Boatswain: Chris Debetta (National Sea Scout Support Leads for NSTs 7 & 8)
“Howdy! My name is Chris DeBetta, and I will be your Quartermaster Track Boatswain for NVSSA 2024!
This track will cover various aspects of the Quartermaster Rank requirements, such as charting/navigation skills, weather, planning, marine sanitation, and various electives that will aid in your journey to Quartermaster!
One of my favorite memories from this year in Sea Scouts has got to be attending Philmont NAYLE this past summer. Although there weren’t any on the water activities (ignoring torrential downpours), I was able to develop my leadership skills and bring that knowledge back to my council and ship.
I’m looking forward to seeing everyone this January!”
