sea scout startup manual

8/6/2019 Sea Scout Startup Manual

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Pat r io t s Poin t Sea Sc out sChartered by Boy Scouts of America

Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum on Charleston Harbor

sponsors the Sea Scout program for all teenagers, ages 14 to 20.

Theme: Maritime Careers.

Program goal: Inspire a desire to be a super achiever.

Training goal: Develop leadership, responsibility anddecision making skills.

I f you l ike adventure , a career in

the mar i t ime w or ld is fo r you.

The program will emphasize the importance of having a dream and

a role model of the person you want to be.

The museum represents thousands of maritime careers and super

achievers, an environment that can inspire teenagers and adults

alike.

The Sea Scout program int roduces you

to t he wor ld o f mar i t ime adventures .

Startup Manual, November 9, 2004 edition


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Pride of Baltimorein Charleston Harbor,

spring 2003

Written and Published by

Captain Bob Webb

220 Ibis Lane

Goose Creek, SC 29445

(843) 764-3280

[email protected]

Motivation Tool Chest website motivation-tools.com

Sea Scout website: http://home.att.net/~ppseascouts

The statements in this booklet have no official endorsement by the

Boy Scouts of America or the Patriots Point Maritime Museum.

Photos by Bob Webb

Cover photos: Panama Canal Zone Sea Scouts, Ship 8 1976


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Advent ures of Bob WebbAt the age of 14, Bob joined a Sea Scout ship in Summit, New Jersey. This association

inspired his desire to learn more about the maritime world and how it could be conquered. The

book Kon Tiki became his role model and created the desire to be a super achiever. He set a

goal of duplicating the Kon Tiki voyage. This teenage dream may not have been practical, but,searching for ways to carry it out led to opportunities beyond his wildest dreams. (People

without a motivating dream are not searching and have accepted their station in life.)

1962 Bob helped crew a 36 sailboat from Hawaii to Los

Angeles, a 30-day voyage. One of the crewmembers was

20-year-old Joyce from British Colombia, Canada who was

finishing a two-year trip hitchhiking around the world. During

the voyage, she fascinated the crew with her travel experiences.

The association and experiences on this voyage changed Bobs

life forever, giving him courage, motivation and a driving

determination to be an achiever. 1962 Bob hitchhiked through Central America with the goal

of traveling down the Amazon River. By the time he reached

Panama, he was out of money.

The Panama Canal was hiring and Bob signed on as a machinist.

There he found coworkers who hired on for the same reason;

they were traveling through Panama when they ran out of money.

The highly motivated attitude of coworkers impressed him. He

met a machinist who was a freelance writer for Yachting

Magazine. A security guard loaned Bob a book he had written

and published about the Panama Canal Zone. At the nearby YachtClub, a number of yachts were under construction by company

employees. In this can-do environment, The Panama Canal

became home base for Bobs adventures, on and off the job.

Panama had an environment where Bob could develop ideas into

workable projects. He set a goal of rediscovering how the

Polynesian people traveled between Hawaii and New Zealand

2,000 years ago. Their boats were dugout canoes and they had no

charts or navigation interments. The art of these high seas

adventures was lost long before Europeans came to the Pacific.

Bobs next goal was to rediscover this lost art.

1963 Bob traveled down the Amazon River by riverboat and

raft. During this voyage, Bob took notes and made drawing of

construction methods with supplies found in the jungle. With the

ability to think and work like people without modern tools, Bob

could advance to his next adventure.

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Joyce on Vanamos somewhere

in the mid Pacific Ocean

Gillard Cut, Panama Canal

Bob and his friends on their

Amazon River raft.


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1964 Bob had the Choco Indians build two forty-foot dugout

canoes. He shipped them to Tahiti where he built a replica of a

Polynesian double hull voyaging vessel namedLiki Tiki. The goal

was to sail it from Tahiti to Hawaii. Three days at sea, Bob

discovered the two heavy hulls worked against each other and

would soon breakup. 1970 Bob sail a 36-foot single hull dugout with double outriggers

from Panama to Hawaii namedLiki Tiki Too. The 5,000 mile

voyage took 68 days. Dugouts with outriggers can cross any

ocean.

Bob discovered the Polynesian method of navigation. He calls it

comfort zone navigation. He says intuitive senses leads man to

any goal he establishes, whether it be in business or sailing a

dugout canoe to a distance island. He refers to Captain William

Bligh after the mutiny on theBounty 200 years ago. Captain

Bligh and eighteen of his loyal crewmembers were set adrift in alifeboat. Without navigation tools, they sailed the open boat

3,600 miles through uncharted waters to the Dutch colony,

Timor, near Java. This outstanding achievement is only possible

with comfort zone navigation. Intuitive forces help the crew

make the right decisions. Polynesians used the same navigation

method.

1975 Bob was the first drive a motorcycle through 200 miles

of jungle between Panama and Columbia.

1976 Bob was navigator on the Panama Canals tall ship Chief

Aptakisic. He helped take 14 teenagers to New Yorks 1976bicentennial celebration up the Hudson River. In Panama waters,

Bob was Captain.

Bob had designed and self-built a 50-foot ketch named

Hunky-Dory. With his wife Joan, they sailed the Atlantic and

Pacific Oceans for five years.

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Liki Tiki on the cover of

Argosy, September 1967

Bob and his cat, Salty, on

the bow of theLiki Tiki Too

Bob and Indian guide on

Panama Columbia boarder

with is two-wheel drive

motorcycle Panama Canal Sea Scout

schooner Chief AptakisicBobs Hunky-Dory in Tonga


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Sai l ing Mak es Learning Fun

Life on the water can be one of the most miserable experiences, while at the same time,

be one of the most enjoyable in the world. We cuss ourselves for deliberately sailing off and

becoming sick. Once back in port, we will do it again. Why? First there is a satisfaction ofachievement. Doing what others can't do seems to give us an inter strength that makes us walk

taller with "I can do it" feeling. Second, it develops our self-confidence. The more confident we

become the more we can do. The walls of resistance, that are built around us, start to crumble.

Sailing is an educational opportunity that has

rich potential for the development of knowledge,

skills, and attitudes that are difficult to teach in the

confines of the classroom. The sailing vessel is

opportunity first followed by training. It is notably

effective for people who cannot cope well with the

demands of society and are at risk of abandoning the

search for a successful and productive life. Such

people often see themselves as being rejected from

the mainstream of society. Sailing reverse these

tendencies. The experience challenges the

conventional school curriculum. In this real-world classroom, science, mathematics, physics,

biology, geography, history, literature, and even poetry suddenly have purpose and meaning.

The sailing vessel also provide a forum in which crew

members learn many disciplines not easily conveyed in the

classroom. One example is problem solving. Even the most

successful teachers will tell you that while it is relatively simple to

teach about problem solving skills, it is very difficult to teachskillful problem solving, even to bright, eager, enthusiastic

students in well equipped classrooms. And yet acquiring these

skills is commonplace, if not inevitable, on board a sailing vessel.

Sailing presents real problems, that

require real solutions, that cant be

ignored. At sea, the results of the crews

decisions are experienced immediately.

Sailing is an environment that

must be operated with both mind and

muscle. Some of the tasks, such as

raising sails, require a coordinated

team effort, physically pulling together, whereas other tasks, such as

steering the vessel, may only be done by one person at a time, acting

alone yet in concert with the whole ship. The rules under which these

systems function are both simple and demanding. They are not the

rules of the teacher or the school board or the government, but rather,

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rules of nature. Natures laws demands respect, honesty, and right decisions. Learning to handle

a ship at sea replaces ignorance, ineptitude, and fear.

When under way, there is the never-ending task of learning how the interaction of the

vessel reacts with fluid dynamics, the atmosphere, and the ocean. The crew becomes comfortable

with cause and effect, as well as sequencing, persistence, endurance, patience, and courage; all

of which are very difficult traits to teach in a classroom.

Much is said about the importance of

self-esteem. Without a doubt, strong positive

self-esteem is essential for personal maturity. Many

remedies for low self-esteem have been offered.

Most of these, if properly applied, do have some

positive effect. However, the bottom line seems to

be that positive self-esteem comes from knowing

that we can do something that not everyone else can

do and that we can do it well. Its not just learning

to sail, its what we learn from sailing.

A ship is a microcosm of the world ashore,

a classroom, and a disciplinary learning machine. For many people, learning and applying the

maritime "rules of the road" is their first exposure to a system of regulations that are necessary,

logical, beneficial, fair, and uniformly applied to everyone. Learning navigation and piloting is

not only important for math and map reading skills, but when did you learn to weigh the options,

select a destination, figure out how to get

there safely and efficiently, and then do it?

Nature will punish the ship and its crew for

bad decisions. Also, there is no way to cheat,

lie, or take shortcuts, nature does not allow its

laws to be broken without a penalty.

Knowing that we can do something

that not everyone else can do, requires risk.

Our society has the opinion that no one should

be put at risk. That tasks or products should be

100% safe and free of responsibility. The fact

is, loss of responsibility robs us of our

self-esteem, then we seek more protection

from government and society. At sea there is

no help from the outside world when problems

arise. Blaming problems on nature or otherpeople solves nothing. Problem solving and

survival is totally depended on the crews

ability to work with nature. Assuming

responsibility and winning over great odds

builds self-esteem and the feeling, WE CAN

DO IT.

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Bec om ing a Super Ach iever

Super achievers started with a dream of what they want to achieve and had a role model

of the person they wanted to be. Opportunity is attracted to people with a dream. They are the

first to be hired, first to be offered opportunity, and first to be promoted. Bigger the dream the

faster doors open. People without a dream are last to be hired, last to be promoted, and first to be

laid-off in a force reduction. For non-dreamers, doors remain closed. WHY? People with a

dream act differently than non-dreamers, dreamers develop an attitude that radiates energy, they

have a sense of purpose and meaning to their lives. Radiant energy is an attitude that bosses like

and to which bosses offer opportunity. This is how the impossible becomes possible.

Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum represents thousands of super achievers. A

few of these achievers are currently active with the museum. The Sea Scout program offers a

unique opportunity to bring teenagers and achievers together, that will inspire a new generation

of super achievers.

Some of Yorktowns displays that represent super achievers.

Wright Brothers first flight.

Battle of Midway - A battle that changed history.

Apollo 8 recovery.

Yorktown Carrier Aviation Hall of Fame

Congressional Medal of Honor Museum

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Disc over ing Ta lent s

Every fourteen-year old teen is motivated, wants to learn, and be somebody someday.

Hands-on projects give teenagers the opportunity to discover their true abilities and achieve

these lofty goals. The Sea Scout program is built around projects that interest the group. The

teens select a project, make decisions, assume responsibility, and search for ways to complete it.

Projects are highly appealing because they are based on our desire to learn more about the world

we live in. The challenge is to learn and work ,as a team, in harmony with nature to achieve a

desired goal.

Projects:

are the exploration tools for an adventure with nature.

start with a dream or vision of experiences that are beyond our reach at the present time.

are learning tools that motivates by curiosity.

are mans natural way to learn.

motivate us to learn more about the world we live in.

inspire a love to learn.

build positive self-esteem.

help us discover our true capabilities.

develop self-discipline.

teach persistence and the art of bouncing back from failure.

lead us to a career that is in harmony with our natural talent.

are fun!

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Benef i ts o f a Mar i t im e Career

High Wages

The transport maritime industry pays above average wages. Very often, skilledblue-collar workers yearly income is more than white-collar management. Investment

in ships, container yards and cranes are extremely costly and must operate 24 hours a

day, 365 days a year. As a result, there is lots of overtime. Idle facilities are more

costly that employee overtime.

The scientific maritime industry does not have the time pressures that transports have,

therefore, the annual wage level may be lower. However, the challenges they are

confronted with makes their job exciting.

The recreational maritime industry is for fun, for the sportsman at his convince.

Wages are normal, except for specialty skills such as diving instructor. The up side is,

it is fun to work with people who are paying to have fun.

Adventure Environment

The maritime world is associated with the forces of nature, in this case, water. Water

mixed with wind is unpredictable and this unpredictability creates an environment of

adventure. Under the harshest of conditions, jobs still have to get done. Because 100

knot winds are whipping up the seas does not mean you can take the day off, one

must assume responsibilities and deal with the situation at hand.

In the marine world, contacts with interesting people and unusual projects are

common, such as, connections to people diving on the Titanic or the Coast Guards

search and rescue missions. The maritime environment is mans last frontier andmany want to be part of it.

The maritime world attracts adventures, freelance and sponsored. Depending on the

project, the paths of similar interested people cross in various ports around the world.

Suva, Fiji is the crossroads of world circling yachtsmen. Panama is the crossroads of

all types of mariners traveling from ocean to ocean it is also the crossroads of land

adventures traveling north and south. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute is the

crossroads of maritime scientist. Adventure inspired visionaries are at these

crossroads with wild ideas, willing to share their ambitions with fellow adventures.

The seemly impossible suddenly becomes possible.

Exposure to Opportunity The maritime world is a mixture of many skills and professional trades. In this

environment, there is exposure to other skills, such as, a marine machinist who is

assigned to work with divers. Having a working relationship with divers increases the

chances of becoming a diver. Connections create opportunity for advancement.

Companies that adapt to fast changing technology offer opportunity for advancement.

Businesses in the maritime world must adapt technology to stay competitive. High

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wages is one of the pressures for adapting, but new technology increases efficiency, if

not creating possibilities that could not be achieved in the past. Finding the Titanic

was only possible with newly developed equipment, and this equipment opened up a

new frontier of exploration.

Opportunity to Promote Creative Concepts

In the maritime world, people from the four corners of the world are exposed to

different cultures and different ways of thinking. This helps remove the barriers to

creative thinking. In this environment, it becomes possible to think, talk about and

promote unique ideas.

It was my goal to sail across the Pacific Ocean in a dugout canoe. I was

supported by coworkers, the community and received support from top

leadership of the company I worked for, The Panama Canal Company. The

5,000 mile voyage from Panama to Hawaii took 68 days. Before Panama, I

was living in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. If I had dared express my sea

adventure ambitions in this environment, friends would have encouraged me

to see a doctor.

Many people have unique concepts that are killed by the environment they live in. In

the maritime world, many of these barriers are nonexistent. If you are creative and

like adventure, a career in the marine and maritime world is for you.

Education and Training (getting started)

Attending the Merchant Marine Academy, Coast Guard Academy or Navy Academy

will put you on the fast track for opportunity and advancement.

There are various types of marine related colleges and schools where you pay the

tuition, usually white-collar careers.

There are apprentice programs in the blue-collar workforce where you are paid an

hourly wage. Today, technical colleges are starting to replace traditional apprentice

programs.

For those not meeting acceptance qualifications, they can begin a blue-collar career

as a laborer. In the industrial workforce, there is always semiskilled work that needs

to be done. A high percentage of trade professionals started at the bottom and worked

their way up. Industrial businesses like this type of person, because they can hire

naturally talented craftsmen at low wages.

For a laborer to advance, they need to be recognized. Attributes for recognition are

positive self-esteem, self-motivated, ambitious and can learn fast. Learning is relatedto dexterity and mechanical skills. Repairing diesel engines, is an example.

When applying for a maritime position, be sure to mention that you were active in Sea

Scouts. Very often, this is the experience that led to a selection.

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Donat ed Boat sSea Scout boats are donated to the organization. As a rule, maintenance on these boats

has a history of neglect, which means, it will take a great deal of work and money to put it back

in condition. Volunteers can be relied on to complete small maintenance jobs that take a day or

two, but not major maintenance.. A boat in excellent condition will have startup cost.

Cost to consider

Liability insurance

Haulout

Cleaning and painting

Hull repairs

Additional safety equipment

Sails, rigging, engine and hull maintenance

Operational and trip expense

In a volunteer organization, a ship does not have a physical owner which makes

upkeep difficult.

Sponsors

An active youth maritime program requires thousands of dollars yearly to subsidize field

trips, boat maintenance and insurance . With a proven program, sponsors will support a ship and

its activities. Major sponsors respond favorably when the organization presents a clearly defined

mission that represents their interest. This is one of the goals of this booklet.

My experience with a tall ship that rotted at its moorings.

In 1977, I was captain of the Panama Canal Zones training schooner Chief Aptakisic. At

first, there was spontaneous community interest and the program was able to raise money to

refurbish the ship. Once the ship was completed, community interest and money to maintain it,

faded. The ship soon died, because there was no physical owner and no money. I, and some

others, kept it going for four years, and then it was scuttled. With no resources for major

maintenance, you can imagine the condition it was in.

Promotional interest was in the ship, not the training program. I believe, if the primary

interest was the training program, the ship might still be operating today.

My Research on Tall Ship Organizations

The above information is based on my experience with profit and nonprofit tall ship

organizations. It is also based on research of highly successful nonprofit ships, primarily, Pride

of Baltimore andAmistad. The research also included the Los Angeles Maritime Institutes, TopSail program and Living Classroom Foundations maritime program. At the Living Classroom, I

was given a half day tour of their facilities with the opportunity to interview five staff members.

This tour convinced me that a meaningful tall ship program must have an active shore program.

The Living Classroom program reaches out to 30,000 students in the state of Maryland.

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SponsorsAn active Sea Scout program requires costly resources for the program to be community

friendly. Where there is a clearly defined mission, supported by scientific or quantifiable data,

sponsors will respond favorably. Very often, this is the missing link to attracting major financial

support.

Financial support comes from people and organizations who have an interest in, or will

benefit from the goals and objectives of the program. They are interested in the mission and the

people who will carry it out. If the mission is an educational program, based on maritime careers,

then the promoters must offer quantifiable evidence on how their career program is superior to

other forms of career programs. Passion for the mission and/or creating an image, is not enough.

The Sea Scout theme of maritime careers, backed up by the resources at the naval museum are

attractive incentives to the maritime industry.

In the Charleston area, there are people wanting to support quality maritime programs for

our youth.

Char lest on Bui l t Tal l ShipsThese two 140-foot four masted schooners were built in North Charleston in 1995 and

2001 at Detyens Shipyard. They are owned by Bob Marthai who lives on James Island. The

ships are now sailing on the Great Lakes. It is Bobs dream to bring one of the ships back to

Charleston for educational cruises.

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Oc eanography ProgramFor Scouts visiting Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum,

Charleston Explorers has developed a multi step hands-on interactive

program in Oceanography for all ages. The program is not only

educational and stimulating, but fun as well. All data collected isincluded in the oyster restoration project being conducted at Patriots

Point by Charleston Explorers and the South Carolina Department of

Natural Resources.

All of our instructors are registered with the Boy Scouts and

are qualified to teach the skills and materials required to earn the Boy

Scout Oceanography (note: in compliance with the 2004 revisions) Merit Badge and Girl Scout

Earth Connections Badge. Both badges have their own set of requirements.

BSA Oceanography Badge A Checklist and Worksheet have been prepared to assist

Merit Badge Candidates in preparing for and completing the requirements for the Oceanography

Badge. Badge Candidates will berequired to prepare for the course

prior to the visit by reading the

badge handbook.

All research participants

visit our Marine Lab on board the

Coast Guard Cutter Ingham and

research floating dock. There, we

will conduct various

oceanography experiments, as

well as perform inventories of themarine life living within our

research habitats.

Badge candidates and

those that wish to assist, will build

oyster collection bags to be used

in the construction of the oyster

reef at Patriots Point this summer.

All information collected

is submitted to Charleston

Explorers by each participatingtroop in a final report submitted

for inclusion in the Oyster

Restoration Project begin

conducted at Patriots Point.

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Program and Pro jec t sSea Scout meetings are in three parts:

Formal opening

Business meeting including planning for weekend boating activitiesProgram

Presentation program

Hands-on project

Formal closing

As the scouts become experienced, they will assume responsibility of programs and

weekend activities. The adult committee will manage resources. Activity level will depend on

resources available, such as a Sea Scout ship.

Presentation Ideas

Page number refers to Sea Scout Manual.

The museum has many quality speakers available on

wide ranging topics.Guest Speaker

Sea Scout Advancement - page 83

Seal Training - page 97

See Sea Scout Manual for other topics

Leadership Training and

Opportunities in the Sea Scouts

The Evolution of Ships - page 283

Exploration of the Sea - page 286

History of Sea Scouting - page 301

Ocean Voyaging in Sailing Yachts

Crewing Aboard Tall Ships

Maritime History and Adventure

(Sea Scout Manual and other

sources)

Rope, Blocks and Tackles - page 125

Boat Maintenance and Engines - page 159

Piloting and Rules of the Road - page 172

Aids to Navigation - page 186

Navigation and Piloting - page 210Marine nomenclature

Sailing theory

First aid

Safety and emergency drills.

Signaling, flags and pennants.

Weather

Seamanship

Oceanography and Marine Science

Blue-Collar Trade Crafts

Marine Transport

Military Careers

Recreational Boating and Fishing

Maritime Careers

Program TitleProgram Type

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Hands-on Projects

During the hands-on phase of the program, the group will be divided into teams. Each

team will select a an in-depth project that may take several weeks to complete. Projects

objectives are to develop skills in research, responsibility, decision making and discovery. These

are the tools that lead to positive self-esteem.

Oceanography led by Keith Grybowski.

Veterans History Project

Interview war veterans - collect stories of ordinary people for Library of

Congress. www.loc.gov/folklife/vets/

USS Yorktown information website for teens by teens.

Careers the Yorktown represents at the flight deck, hanger deck, living

quarters, machinery sections and dockside services.

Yorktown and Navy history.

Museum displays at the Yorktown.

Photo gallery of the Yorktown.

Heroes of the Yorktown.

To help understand Maritime Rules of the Road, make model buoys and ships.

Page 377.

Create navigation games using Charleston Harbor charts.

Make a sail training model. Page 333.

Advance knots and rope utilities, decorative and practical.

Make a rope spinning tool and make our own rope.

*** More ideas needed. ***

Weekend Watercraft Activities

Harbor sailing

Exploring rivers and beaches

Overnight cruises to Georgetown

and Hilton Head

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Alternative Program

Tour of container shipping operationsMaritime transport industry

Fort Sumter tour19th century Charleston maritime history

Maritime careers aboard the Yorktown.Maritime careers

A day aboard a tall shipTall ships

Tour of super achievers aboard the YorktownWhat is a super achiever?

Tour of Coast Guard facilitiesWhat the Coast Guard does

Aboard Charleston ExplorerIntroduction to oceanography

Saturday Field TripTuesday Evening Meeting

The Need for Developing Maritime Skills

There are two ways to have fun in the maritime world, as a

tourist or as a participant. A tourist will take a cruise on a tall ship,then go home and talk about the new experience. They learn nothing

about responsibility, seamanship or the skills needed for a pleasant,

safe voyage. A participant must have hands-on experience with

responsibility to develop confidence that he is doing things right and

have fun at the same time. The sea is a hostel environment and man

must learn to work with the forces of nature. The Sea Scout program is

designed to help you learn about the sea, acquire skills and enjoy it.

Learning to sail a dugout canoe across the Pacific Ocean.

In my youth, it was my goal to sail a dugout

canoe across the Pacific Ocean. It took two boats andfour attempts before I succeeded. On the first attempt I

was naive, I through I had all the skills needed to carry

out the project. The forces of nature quickly taught me

that I knew nothing about what I was trying to do. The

first three attempts was training, learning how to get it

right. The forth attempt was a success. The 5,000 mile

voyage between Panama, and Hawaii took 68 days. At

times, while sitting at the stern, I saw the boat go under

the waves the only thing above the water line was the

mast. Because of the skills and confidence I developed

during the three failures, I knew this situation was not

dangerous, it just looked bad. This kind of confidence is

only achieved with responsibility and hands-on

experience. Maritime tourist cannot build confidence

because they do not have responsibility.

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Above: Liki Tiki Too somewhere in the

mid Pacific Ocean


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