Frequently Asked Questions

• Can girls join Sea Scouts?
  ABSOLUTELY YES! GIRLS CAN JOIN SEA SCOUTS AND VENTURE SCOUTS
  
  
• How long has Sea Scouting been around?
  Sea Scouting was founded in the United States in 1912. In the 90 + years since Sea Scouts have charted a course of leadership and adventure.
  
  The Boy Scouts of America was inspired by and modeled on the Boy Scouts, established by Robert Baden-Powell in Britain in 1907. It also borrowed ideas from Sir Ernest Thompson Seton, the YMCA, and a number of other "Scouting" organizations for boys that had sprung up in the decade of the 1900s in the United States and abroad.
  
  Sea Scouting had its beginning at a camp fire in England when Lord Baden-Powell voiced the hope that older Scouts would be interested in learning about boat management and seamanship. He stressed the need for young men to prepare themselves for service on their country's ships.
  
  The Boy Scouts of America was established in 1910 by William D. Boyce.
  
  A more detailed history of Sea Scouting is available on the National Sea Scouting website. Click here
  
  
• What does "SSS" mean in the ship name?
  "SSS" means the water craft is a registered Sea Scout Ship. All Sea Scout Ships are inspected by the US Coast Guard for water safety and seaworthyness. As a non-for-profit, Sea Scouts are registered with ship designations starting with "SSS".
  
  
• My daughter/son is not quite age 14. Can he she still join? Unfortunately, as a general rule of thumb, the answer is "No" due to insurance liabilities. Because Sea Scouts crews use power and sail craft, the dangers for the crew member increases. To keep operation and enrollment costs in check, we are required by law to maintain certain age
  requirement.
  
  
• What are the fees or costs involved in joining a crew?
  This is better left up to the ships officers in charge.
  
  Please contact them for a definitive answer.
  As a guidline, fees range from $25 to $75 for first time enrollment. Fees are used to cover the costs of the manual and other items provided by the ships stores. Obtaining a uniform is mandatory and falls under the obligation of the crew member to aquire. The ship can help in the aquisition of a uniform. Ships with higher enrollment fees are often providing a uniform to the new crew member as an added service, passing along the costs in the enrollment fees. After initial enrollment, membership fees are usually about $10 for yearly insurance only.
  
  
• Are there any recurring/yearly dues?
  After initial enrollment, membership fees are usually about $10 for yearly insurance only.
  
  
• How often do you take the boats out?
  Crews maintain weekly outings. Sea Scouting doesn't always wait on nice weather to go sailing. Sea Scouts learn sailing in all weather conditions. Generally unpredictable, inclimate or other otherwise unfavorable conditions, like a lack of a good breeze for sailing, are the only times the crews do not go out sailing. But a little drizzle or, moderate rain, has not stopped the crew from making way.
  
  Expect to have fun and get wet!
  
• I've heard there is the oportunity for Advanced Paygrades for the Navy and Coast Guard. Is this true?
  Yes! That is true. Each crew member recieves a copy of the open letter from the Commander of the U.S Coast Guard Recruiting Center issued for the Chief Scout Executive Boy Scouts of America.
  
  

  . . . The U.S. Coast Guard enlistment program authorizes the advanced pay grade enlistment of active and qualified members of the Sea Scouts who are high school graduates. Instead of enlisting as a Seaman Recruit (pay grade E-1), a currently qualified Able Seaman Sea Scout may be enlisted as a Seaman Apprentice (E-2), and a currently qualified Quartermaster Sea Scout may be enlisted as a Seaman (E-3).

  
  More information on the benefits of Sea Scouting and elistment pay status can be viewed here.
  
  Advanced Paygrades for the Navy and Coast Guard
  
• What does the manual look like?
  A small sample of the the manual is available on the web. Please feel free to contact us regarding the program and the manuals at any time.
  
  
• Got more questions?
  Please feel free to contact us with your questions. We use your inquiries to make this website as informative as possible for you.
  
  

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