Chesapeake Sea Scout Flotilla

Northeast Region Sea Scouts, BSA

Updated 05 October 2006 22:57

Mission:

To develop, maintain, and promote the Sea Scout program in the Chesapeake Bay of Northeast Region in a manner which will emphasize the purposes and achieve the objectives of the Boy Scouts of America.

Principal Responsibilities:

1. To communicate between the Chesapeake Sea Scout Flotilla ships and squadrons and the Northeast Region Sea Scouting Committee. This shall include bringing concerns and program ideas to the Regional Sea Scouting Committee, and conveying word of Committee action to ships and squadrons of the Chesapeake Flotilla.

2. To establish and maintain cooperative relationships with boating and maritime organizations within the area of the Flotilla.

3. To encourage councils to organize new Sea Scout ships and improve the quality of existing Ships leading to longer tenure of members and leaders.

4. To encourage a good working relationship between Flotilla ships and the U.S. Coast Guard.

5. To facilitate the exchange of excess boats and gear.

6. To maintain and improve communications among Sea Scout ships and squadrons within the Chesapeake Sea Scout Flotilla.

7. To encourage and facilitate other ship and squadron Sea Scouting leadership courses.

8. To promote the involvement of Sea Scout ships and squadrons in council, flotilla, regional, and national Venturing events.

Committee Operation

The Chesapeake Sea Scout Flotilla is a sub-committee of the Northeast Region Sea Scouting Committee. It will meet at least twice annually at a time and location determined by the Chair and staff advisor. Materials and programs will be mailed to the Chesapeake Flotilla for reaction as needed.

The Chesapeake Sea Scout Flotilla Chair is appointed by the Northeast Region Sea Scouting Commodore for a one-year term ending June 30. The Chesapeake Sea Scout Flotilla Chair also serves on the Northeast Region Sea Scouting Committee.  The Chesapeake Sea Scout Flotilla Chair also serves as a Regional Rear Commodore.

The Chesapeake Sea Scout Flotilla consists of all Sea Scout Ships and Sea Scout Squadrons within Maryland, Washington, D.C., Delaware, northern Virginia, and those parts of Pennsylvania in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Until other geographic Sea Scout Flotillas within the Northeast Region are formed, other ships in close proximity may, by request, become members of the Chesapeake Sea Scout Flotilla.

If the Chesapeake Sea Scout Flotilla takes on a permanent or on-going responsibility, any personnel assigned to this responsibility will be appointed by the Northeast Region Commodore upon the recommendation of the Chesapeake Sea Scout Flotilla Chair. The person being appointed will first be cleared by the Regional staff advisor with the person’s home council.

ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE 

CHESAPEAKE SEA SCOUT FLOTILLA

Training

A yearly Sea Scouting Training Weekend held at Camp Round Meadow in Catoctin Mountain Park in January where our Sea Scouts are taught such topics as Weather, Knots, Marlinspike Seamanship, Drill, Semaphore, Morse Code, Sextant, Electricity, Engines, GPS, Celestial Navigation, and other skills necessary for developing good seamanship. 

A yearly Sea Scouting Advanced Leadership (SEAL) Training Course where Sea Scouts selected from all over the country spend a week on the Chesapeake Bay developing their leadership skills.  These skills include:  Planning, Preparing, Implementing, Coordinating, Commanding, Delegating, Training, Supervising, Motivating, Problem-solving, Communicating, Counseling and Evaluating.  This course is sanctioned by the National Sea Scouting Committee of the Boy Scouts of America.

Safe Boating Classes.  These classes teach our Sea Scouts safe boating procedures and principles.  The Maryland Safe Boating Course is used as the text and curriculum.

Sea Scouts and Sea Scout Leaders are currently offered hands-on training in advanced seamanship skills aboard a 46 ft. Morgan Ketch, SSTV "der PeLiKan".  This Sea Scout Training Vessel serves as the center piece of our seamanship and leadership training program.

Special Events

The Henry I. Nygard Regatta, sponsored by the National Capital Area Council Sea Scout Squadron held over Memorial Day Weekend each year tests the seamanship skills of Sea Scout Ships from Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, New York, New Jersey, and Florida.  Sea Scouts compete in: Life Ring Toss, Heaving Line, Navigation, Sailing, Bos'n Chairlift, Scuttlebutt, Canoeing, First Aid, Knots, Splicing, Pulling Boat, Drill, Inspection, Powder Monkey Race, Swimming, and Signaling.

Multi-Ship raft-ups during the spring, summer, and fall seasons are organized.

Sail-offs.

Boat and Equipment Donations

The Chesapeake Sea Scout Flotilla, through the Friends of  Sea Scouts of Maryland, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, accepts boat donations as well as boating equipment donations for program support and use by individual Sea Scout Ships.  The continuing success of this wonderful program for our youth is dependent on the support of our friends and sponsors.  If you have a boat you would like to donate please contact:

Links to other Northeast Region Sea Scout Squadrons & Flotillas:

Liberty Flotilla         Chesapeake Squadron