SEA SCOUTS – A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF ADVENTURE!

SAIL THE HIGH SEAS WITH SHIP 248

Experience first-hand what has captured the hearts and minds of youth for centuries! Do you dream of sailing Superior? Exploring the Apostle Islands? Trying out all kinds of watercraft? Racing in a Regatta? Exploring waters on a long cruise far from home? Do you imagine being anchored offshore and watching the stars and aurora as the waves rock you to sleep? Or are you interested in pursuing a future career in the Navy or Coast Guard? Then you’re ready to be a Sea Scout!

Northern Star Council’s Sea Scout Ship #248, SSS Mendota is an impressive group of scouts from communities across the council. Their program is worth travelling for! Sea Scouts are all about getting on their boats, and in the summer you’ll find them on the water every week. Frequently Sea Scouts are involved in multiple scout units and bring their aquatic skills back to their troop or crew. Some are BSA lifeguards. Some are developing skills in SCUBA. Some are practicing whitewater paddling skills. Some take positions at our council camps and some are serving as outstanding youth leaders at NYLT or as Jr. Assistant Scout Masters or Assistant Scoutmasters with their troop.

You might wonder what Sea Scouts do when the lakes are frozen. Over the past three winters, Ship 248 Sea Scouts have partnered with the US Power Squadron to complete courses in seamanship, sailing, and piloting. Their scouts are now ready to take on national Sea Scout training and adventure opportunities. This year some are applying to attend this summer’s national Sea Scout Experience Advanced Leadership (SEAL ) training program, designed to teach leadership skills while underway at sea. They also look forward to future opportunities to join the crew of the Coast Guard Academy’s tall ship “USCG Barque Eagle” on a cadet training cruise.

What makes Sea Scouting unique is getting out on the water. You can safely learn to sail, to row, to paddle, to cruise in a power boat, and to keep a boat in shape under the guidance of well qualified mentors and specialists. You can cruise local waters or go sailing on long cruises on Superior and beyond, and the surprising part is – it’s remarkably affordable!

Sea Scouts provide a range of program opportunities for youth who are 13 and have completed 8th grade through 21 years old. The Sea Scout mission is the same as the Boy Scout mission: to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices and to internalize the Scout Oath and Law. They just do all of this on boats.

You are invited to visit their Tuesday evening Sea Scout Ship meetings and discover the adventure that awaits you on the water! To set up a time to visit or if you have questions please email Mate Bev Verweg [email protected] or Skipper Louise Goetz [email protected]. They look forward to meeting you soon! Ahoy Mates!

More information on Ship 248