Hillsborough Scouts Go To Seabase St. Thomas

by Michael Shouldis

This most recent summer (2019), Boy Scouts Christopher Demetrio, Erik Robuck, Jimmy Marvits, and Michael Shouldis (elected crew leader) from Troop 489 and Dominic Armento from Troop 186, along with their adult advisors Mr. John Demetrio, Mr. Thomas Marvits, and Ms. Janet Shouldis, attended Sea Base St. Thomas, one of the many trips offered by Sea Base, and
one of the four high adventure courses recognized by the Boy Scouts of America. Here, scouts lived for one week on a 48-foot ketch sailboat, where they cooked,ate, slept, and even celebrated a birthday.

They left port on the island of St. Thomas and spent the rest of their trip circumnavigating the magnificent island of St. John. From educational experiences, breathtaking views, and the forming of new bonds that would last a lifetime, this daring voyage left these scouts forever changed.

Though it was necessary to use the motor on the boat to navigate shallower waters, scouts always opted for opening up the sails and travelling at a whopping maximum speed of 6 knots, or
approximately 7 miles per hour. In fact, scouts moved using only sails so often that they earned the 50-miler award, an award given to crews that sail fifty or more miles during the course of their adventure. On top of becoming sailors, scouts also gained a number of other skills, ranging from eco-friendly dish washing to how to free dive better. Scouts participated in lots of snorkeling, which earned them the Snorkeling BSA award, and it never got old with the beautiful waters of the Virgin Islands to explore. The ocean is home to incredible things, like coral reefs, sea turtles, and massive barracudas named Harry, and scouts were able to appreciate them all with the help of their trusty snorkeling gear. Furthermore, scouts participated in a great deal of
on-land activities as well. They hiked trails that took them to sites that are hundreds of years old, including a sugar mill from when the British occupied the islands and a group of sacred pools that natives used for centuries for their mysterious ceremonies and rituals. Throughout the course of their trip, scouts earned both the Duty to God award, an award granted to crews who consistently
demonstrated scout-like reverence, and the Captain’s Club award, which is granted to crews who keep a positive attitude for the whole trip and have a willingness to learn new things. And of course, none of these wondrous experiences would have been possible without the guidance of the wise Captain Francesco, who shared with them knowledge that he had gained through his years
of sailing and working with Sea Base and the BSA. He taught the scouts new skills like great cooking recipes, how boats work, how to conserve water on hikes, and, most importantly, how to conquer the seasickness everyone feared before embarking on this trip. But not only did he teach skills, he taught philosophies and insightful doctrines that neither the scouts nor adults will
soon forget. It would be a gross understatement to describe the 2019 Sea Base trip as life changing, but perhaps that’s the closest one can get. Scouts learned about sailing, hiking, camaraderie, and what it really means to be physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

Though it only lasted one short week, the skills gained and lessons learned will carry on for much longer. Most importantly, this trip was made possible by the adult leaders and parents who provided diligent supervision, offered advice, and enjoyed the trip alongside the scouts.