SEA SCOUTS

WELCOME ABOARD THE CYC SEA SCOUT SHIP 5870 “PRIVATEER”

After a couple of years of COVID shut down and tribulations, the ship is afloat and up and running. Didn’t know CYC had a Sea Scout program, or didn’t know what Sea Scouts are? You are not alone.

A LITTLE HISTORY OF THE SCOUTS

When an American newspaperman and entrepreneur, W.D. Boyce, was in London in 1910 he was helped across the street to his hotel by an unknown Scout, who refused a tip afterwards, saying he was a Scout and that’s what a Scout does. The Scout gave Boyce the address of the Scout headquarters where Boyce picked up information about the group started by General Robert Baden-Powell. Boyce brought back the information to the U.S., where he and several other businessmen started a Scouting program. The Scouting program started in the U.S. in 1911 as the Boy Scouts of America, offering activities and life lessons while in an outdoor environment. The Sea Scout program started in 1912 following the same model but with a nautical twist. The maritime industry of the day was a natural fit for the Sea Scouts. Initially, the Sea Scouts outnumbered the Boy Scouts. The program grew to its largest numbers, in the hundreds of thousands, up until World War II when most of the Scouts joined the armed services. The program never recovered after the war with numbers dropping off steadily until recently, when in the last few years it is growing again! However, it still remains one of the smallest and most unknown programs in the Boy Scouts of America.

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS IN 2025

The Chicago Yacht Club started its Sea Scout Ship’s charter in 1925 and is currently the oldest active charter in the nation, celebrating 100 years in 2025! CYC has had hundreds of Scouts come through the program with

many current members today. Many remember their Sea Scout days, and many had their first experience sailing on the small boats that the program uses to teach sailing. The ship has many boats that we use, large and small (power and sail), with several of the leaders offering to use their own to teach the Scouts. The program has had changes throughout the years and continues to offer many life lessons to Scouts, but the most important lesson is stewardship. Through this simple tenant, the Scouts learn leadership skills that will stay with them the rest of their adult lives. CYC’s Sea Scouts are heavily invested in nautical traditions and maritime history. They are learning seamanship skills aboard sailing and power vessels and helping out wherever they can at club events. The Scouts are active all year long. We meet on the second Saturday of the month either at Monroe or Belmont Station.

There is an end of season fall camping trip, Christmas Ship activities, museum visits, spring maintenance of the vessels and swim lessons from October through May. During the off-season, they learn boat handling, sail theory, safety, marlinspike, navigation and maritime traditions. Once the boats are back in the water, they put all this into practice. The Scouts help teach each other, the more experienced Scouts teaching the less experienced with the adult leadership providing program oversight. The program is co-ed for ages 14-21 with the opportunity to achieve the ranks of Apprentice, Ordinary, Able and Quartermaster (Eagle Scout equivalent). After 21 they can stay on board as adult leaders regardless of rank. It is not all about the rank for our Scouts; it’s about the personal journey, friendships and growth for each Scout that is most important. Our current adult leadership brings a broad range of boating and Scouting experience to the Sea Scout Ship. All have experience in boating and most importantly have the desire to work with the Scouts to teach and mentor, and the CYC ship is growing. All are welcome to join. No experience necessary, just a good sense of humor, patience and appetite for adventure. Contact Robert Bied, Lloyd Karzen or Ray Groble through the club’s website or Mark Corter, mccorter1@gmail.com for more information.

Have a safe and healthy 2022 season. Fair winds and following seas. ✶