Sea
Scouts (1998-present)
Overview
In August of 1998, with the replacement of Exploring with Venturing,
Sea Explorers would be renamed Sea Scouts and be a part of Venturing.
For the most part, the program of Sea Scouts post-1998 is no different
from Sea Explorers before 1998. The renaming of the program would
also produced a renewed interest in the program. After years of neglect
from National, now the program would be better emphasized. Out of
this, work would begin on new editions of the Sea Scout, Skipper, and Crew
Leader Manuals, some not seen for almost 40 years.
For more information about the Sea Scout program, visit the web site of the National Sea Scout Committee.
NEW
in Sea Scouting:
A new version of the Sea Scout Manual is out (#33239C). Still
no sign of the new Crew Leader or Skipper Manuals.
There is now a national organization for Quartermasters equivalent to NESA: the National Quartermaster Association (NQMA). Info can be found HERE.
The coveted Skipper's Key (aka Scouter's Key) is coming back as a separate
medal. It should be available soon from National Supply. It
was last available from the 30s to the 50s, when it was discountinued in
favor of everyone using the Scouter's Key.
Read the latest National Sea Scout Log at the National Sea Scout website HERE. (NOTE: this is a PDF file).
In 2002, Sea Scouts celebrated their 90th Anniversary.
See the cover article on the Sea Scout Advanced Leadership training program for Sea Scouts in a recent issue of Scouting magazine (Building Leaders on the Chesapeake Oct. 2000). SEAL Training, which started off during the Sea Explorer era, is sort of JLTC for Sea Scout youth leaders. Below is the pin. I have recently created a page devoted to it here.
National Sea Scout Events
These are the known Sea Scout events, and their insignia. Let
me know what I've missed.
The old National Sea Scout Sailing competitions has been restarted as
The
William I. Koch International Sea Scout Cup. More info on this event
and the winners may be found HERE
at the National Sea Scout site.
2002 Chicago- Lake Michigan
2004 Massachusetts
| At the 2001 National Scout Jamboree, there was a continguent of Sea Scouts setup next to the Venturing Rainforest. As in the past, they had their own patch done for it. |  |
| I expect there will be a Sea Scout exhibit at the 2005 National Jamboree, and an companying patch. | NO PICTURE (yet) |
Program, Uniform, Unit Organization
The program, uniform, advancement and unit organization of the Sea
Scouts is identical to the prior Sea Explorer
program. However, shirt strips saying "Sea Scouting, B.S.A" on white, navy
blue, and tan were produced and made available in the 2000 BSA catalog.
In the 2001 BSA catalog, these were replaced by strips saying "Sea Scouts,
B.S.A.".
The Sea Scout Uniform can be confusing to those outside the program. Especially so when it follows the variety of naval-style uniforms where you have different uniforms for time of year, and for youth and adults. Please check the current edition of the Sea Scout Manual (#33239C) for current and correct information on appropriate uniforms and insignia placement, as things have changed in 2002.
Here is a list put together by a long-time Sea Scouter:
SEA SCOUT UNIFORMS
OFFICERS & QUARTERMASTERS
Dress:
navy blue coat, white shirt, navy tie and trousers, matching cover
Winter Working: navy (black) shirt, belt,
cover and trousers (optional ball cap)
Summer Dress: sea scout white
shirt & white trousers or navy coat with white trousers
Summer Working: khaki shirt, belt and trousers, matching
cover (black tie optional)
Hurricane Strap: silver for officers
and black for Quartermasters
SEA SCOUTS (Except Quartermasters)
Winter Dress:
navy Donald Ducks (Crackerjack) w/Fighting Bob Evans hat
Summer Dress: white Donald
Ducks (Crackerjack) w/FBE hat
Working:
navy blue shirt or Ship's t-shirt & trousers w/FBE or ball cap
Black shoes for all uniforms except white shoes with white trousers and deck shoes or sneakers for Sea Scout working uniform and for officers in summer working when sailing. See the Sea Scout Manual for insignia placement, as there are differences in the different uniforms.
Advancement Program
In addition to the traditional Sea Scout advancement program of Apprentice,
Ordinary, Able, and Quartermaster, along with the Qualified Seaman and
Small-Boat Handler awards, Sea Scouts may also earn the new Venturing Awards.
The Sea Scouting Bronze Award is really just the Sea Scout Ordinary Award.
This allows Sea Scouts a ready path to earning the Venturing Gold and Silver
Awards. See the Venturing
page for more
info on these awards.
For those who may be unclear on this point: only those Venturers who are registered with Sea Scout Ships and are thus Sea Scouts may earn Sea Scout Advancement. The Sea Scout Advancement is NOT available to all Venturers. There has been a lot of confusion in this area, not helped by incorrect information in the published literature.
For advancement requirement, go HERE for Apprentice, Ordinary, Able, and Quartermaster requirements.
Literature
With the restoration of the Sea Scouts name came a renewed spirit of
reviving the program. This can be seen in the new 10th edition of
the Sea Scout Manual, and in the upcoming 4th edition of the Skipper's
Handbook, and third edition of the Crew Leader's Handbook (now
re-titled Petty Officers Handbook), which will hopefully come out
in 2003 (they were expected in 2001).
The National Sea Scout Log was brought back in 1999. It
had last been published in the 1940s. You can obtain copies in PDF
format at the National Sea Scout Committee web page HERE.
| Sea Explorer Manual (9th Edition) (#3239)
1st 1987 2nd 1997 [new cover] (#33239A) paperback, ~270pg |
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| Sea Scout Manual (10th Edition)
1st 2000 #33239B 402pg 2nd 2003 #33239C 404pg wire bound |
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| Handbook for Skippers
4th edition 1 sometime in 2003? |
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| Petty Officers Handbook
3th edition 1 sometime in 2003? |
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| National Sea Scout Log
V9 1999-2001 V10 2002 published quarterly, 4 pages |
NO PICTURE |
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Updated: 02/14/2003mrb