Sea Scout Ship Intrepid Open House Saturday September 19, 2015

The Sea Scout Ship Intrepid invites teens (eight grade thru twelfth grade) to join us on Saturday September 19, 2015 from 10am-2pm at the Port of Redwood City to learn more about our program.

What is Sea Scouts?

Sea Scouts is a specialized segment of the Venturing program of the Boy Scouts, which was organized to address members’ boating skills and promote knowledge of our maritime heritage. Sea Scout units, called “ships,”focus on sailing and cruising either sailboats or power vessels. During the boating season, Sea Scouts learn to maintain and operate their vessel, with a focus on learning the safe and proper methods of handling boats. Sea Scouts also learn the meaning of buoys and lights, how to take advantage of wind and tide, and how to drop anchor and approach a dock.

About S.S.S. Intrepid

The Sea Scout Ship Intrepid has been in Palo Alto for more than 50 years and sponsored by the Palo Alto Elk’s Lodge for most of that time. The structure of our program is drawn from Scouting as well as from the Navy, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine. As in all of the above, we wear uniforms and follow a structured chain of command. We also work on advancement. Similar to attaining merit badges in Boy Scouts, our advancement is geared toward learning about maritime skills and history as well as learning other life skills such as leadership, safety and problem solving. After gaining some experience in the program, Scouts may make choices to run for leadership positions or join the engineering crew. On the engineering crew, Scouts will learn about running and maintaining engines, motors, compressors, pumps and other Ship’s equipment.

Our Ship and Cruising

As our main vessel, we operate a 95-foot ex-US Coast Guard Cutter named OLYMPIC VENTURE, docked in Redwood City at Wharf 4 of the Port of Redwood City. Our ship is our main “classroom”. Several times a year we take our ship out for weekend cruises for training opportunities or to attend various Scouting activities in which we meet with other units for competitions, training and social events. During the summer we generally make two longer summer cruises of seven to ten days. Our typical itinerary for these cruises involves cruising in the Stockton and Sacramento Delta with ample opportunity for training, socializing, swimming, water skiing and other water activities.

Regattas

During the year Sea Scouts compete in three regattas. Primarily held in the spring time, regattas are competitions between different Sea Scout units in many physical and mental events relating to maritime skills. Training for regattas will teach Scouts a range of different skills. While all the events are maritime based, the training will strengthen a Scouts abilities in memorization, math, physics as well as providing good exercise.