Sea Scouting in America was founded in 1912. That year, Arthur A. Carey of Waltham, Massachusetts, had Sea Scouts using the schooner Pioneer and was appointed Chairman of the National Council Committee on Sea Scouting.
By 1930 the membership had reached 8,043 young men. In the 1930’s, with the cooperation of other departments in the national office of the Boy Scouts of America, Carey developed training courses for leaders, new registration procedures, and more acceptable Sea Scout equipment and uniforms.
With a membership of more than 27,000, Sea Scouting served its country well in World War II. Thousands upon thousands of former and active Sea Scouts joined the Navy and made a tremendous impression on Admiral Chester Nimitz, who sincerely believed that Sea Scouts were better trained and better equipped to help the Navy win out over the enemy and the elements.
In May 1949, the National Executive Board made sweeping changes in the older-boy program, as a result of a study made by the Research Service of the Boy Scouts of America. This revision of Senior Scouting recognized as Explorers all young men who were 14 years of age or older and registered with the Boy Scouts of America.
So, on September 1, 1949, the Sea Scouts officially became Sea Explorers. This was primarily a change in terminology since the old Sea Scout program continued much the same is it had in the past.
In 1998, the Boy Scouts of America reorganized the Exploring program into the Learning for Life Exploring program and the new Venturing Division. Sea Exploring was placed in the Venturing Division and was renamed Sea Scouts.
The move is a “significant milestone for Sea Scouts, BSA,” according to a release from the National Sea Scout Support Committee. The change provides “Sea Scouting with access to the full range of attention and support at the National Council and throughout the BSA organization.”
Sea Scouting is a coed program for those 13–21 years of age, designed to teach leadership and responsibility through a boating program. While it has changed over the years, it continues to uphold the traditions of the sea under the auspices of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).
Sea Scouting includes a rigorous advancement program that leads our youth through the skills necessary to be a very competent sailor and mature leader. In fact, recipients of the Quartermaster Award, Sea Scouting’s highest rank, can qualify for a higher entry enlisted rank and pay scale if they later join the U.S. Navy or U.S. Coast Guard. The Quartermaster rank is equivalent to the Boy Scout’s Eagle Scout rank but is less well known due to the smaller number of Sea Scout Ships in existence.
Current Exhibit Update
