Sea Scouting celebrates its Centennial Year in 2012! The Orange County Council has a rich tradition of Sea Scouts, going back to the 1930s, when land from the Army was turned over to the Sea Scouts in Newport Harbor. The Sea Scout Base was home to many Sea Scout ships over the years, and in the 1970s, the Sea Scout Base became wholly operated by the OCBSA, and now is the Newport Sea Base.
Sea Scouting is a co-educational program, for youth who have graduated the 8th grade thru 20 years old. Currently registered Boy Scouts or Venturers, who are age eligible, may also register in a Sea Scout ship at the same time. Whereas, Boy Scouting takes young men into the wilderness to discover leadership and character values, Sea Scouting takes young women and men onto the ocean to expand their horizons by sailing to them. Sea Scouts learn maritime-related skills such as sailing, navigation, piloting, radio communications, marlinspike, knot tying, engine maintenance, first aid, and much more. Most importantly, these scouts have adventures that will last lifetimes!
There are currently four Sea Scout ships in Orange County, with three calling the Newport Sea Base their home port, and the other meets at the Dana Point Youth and Group Facility in Dana Point Harbor. Ships 90, 711, 936, and 1767 are among the best in the nation, with 2 of the ships, in the past 5 years, earning the distinction of the top program in the nation, and a third coming in as runner-up. Sea Scouts in Orange County have won the International Sea Scout Cup, a sailing competition, 3 times in the past decade. The ships have continuously placed well at other annual Sea Scout competitions in Long Beach, Ventura, and San Francisco.
For more information about the Sea Scout program, please contact Tom Hartmann at thomash@ocbsa.org. 714-546-4990 x102.
