Sea Scouts
Scouting on the water — where seamanship, leadership, and long-lasting friendships come together.
What is Sea Scouts?
Sea Scouts is Scouting America’s maritime program for young people ages 14 through 20. Founded in 1912, it is one of the oldest continuously operating Scouting programs in America and remains the only Scouting program built entirely around life on the water. Sea Scouts learn seamanship, navigation, water safety, and boat handling — whether their unit sails, paddles, motors, or does some of each.
Along the way, Sea Scouts develop the same qualities that all Scouting programs teach: leadership, teamwork, service, and character. What makes Sea Scouts distinctive is that all of it happens with the water as the classroom. The Gulf Coast region — with the Gulf of Mexico, protected bays, rivers, and lakes — is an especially well-suited home for the program.
Sea Scouts welcomes any young person in the age range, whether they came up through other Scouting programs or are joining for the first time. Ships are co-ed, and prior Scouting or boating experience is not required.
How Sea Scouts works
Sea Scouts belong to a unit called a ship. Ships operate with naval-inspired traditions and terminology — but the day-to-day is Scouts learning practical skills and running the program themselves under the guidance of adult mentors.
Youth-led ships
Ships are led by an elected Boatswain supported by other youth officers. Adult Skippers and Mates provide coaching and ensure safety, but Sea Scouts run the ship.
On-the-water focus
Regular meetings blend classroom instruction with time spent on the water. Ships plan cruises, sailing trips, and expeditions built around the vessels available to them.
Real seamanship
Sea Scouts learn genuine maritime skills — navigation, engine maintenance, safe boat handling, weather, and emergency response — that transfer directly to lifelong recreational boating or maritime careers.
Advancement and ranks
Sea Scouts has its own progression of ranks built around growing competence on the water. Each rank requires demonstrated seamanship skills, participation in ship activities, and increasing levels of leadership and service.
Beyond the ranks
Sea Scouts can also earn a wide range of specialty awards recognizing achievements in areas like long cruising, small-boat sailing, marine mechanics, and community service. Many Sea Scouts also pursue certifications like American Red Cross Lifeguard, Safe Powerboat Handling, and Small Boat Sailing that carry weight far beyond Scouting.
What ships actually do
Every Sea Scout ship is different depending on the vessels it has access to and the interests of its members. Common activities include:
Weekend cruises
Overnight trips aboard sailboats or motor vessels — sometimes on the Gulf, sometimes on protected inland waters — where Sea Scouts navigate, cook aboard, and stand watches.
Regattas and rendezvous
Ships gather with other Sea Scout units for sailing competitions, service events, and multi-day rendezvous with training and social activities.
Community service on the water
Sea Scouts often support regattas, waterway cleanups, safe boating outreach, and emergency preparedness in their coastal communities.
Who runs the program?
Sea Scout ships are led by youth. An elected Boatswain presides over the ship, supported by other elected officers who handle activities, safety, and administration. Adult volunteers — a Skipper and Mates — provide mentorship, ensure safety, and share their seamanship experience, but they don’t run the ship.
Every registered adult completes Safeguarding Youth Training and a background check. All Sea Scout activities follow Scouting America’s youth protection policies and the additional water safety standards required for maritime operations.
Ready to find a Sea Scout ship?
Use our program finder to see ships near you and connect with a local Skipper.
