Adventure on the Water
Sea Scouts
Ages 14–20
Find your adventure on the water.
Sea Scouts combines boating, sailing, maritime skills and leadership with real experiences on the water. Each ship gives young people the chance to learn, lead and shape their own Scouting experience.
Find a Ship Near Me
Learn the water. Lead the crew.
Sea Scouts learn by doing. From seamanship and navigation to leadership and time on the water, each experience builds practical skills, confidence and responsibility.
Learn
Build real maritime skills including boating, navigation, seamanship, water safety and the fundamentals needed to operate confidently on the water.
Lead
Sea Scouts take responsibility within their ship, work as a crew and develop leadership through real decisions and shared responsibilities.
Explore
Get beyond the weekly meeting through boating, cruises, competitions, service and other experiences that can take your Scouting adventure farther.
Ship Meetings & Activities
Sea Scout ships meet regularly to plan activities, practice maritime skills and prepare for time on the water. Because each ship helps shape its own program, activities can vary based on the interests of its members and the opportunities available locally.
Boating & Sailing
Sea Scouts gain hands-on experience aboard different types of watercraft while learning how to operate safely and work together as a crew.
Navigation & Seamanship
Members learn practical skills such as navigation, knots, weather, vessel handling, communications and other fundamentals of life on the water.
Cruises, Regattas & Events
Ships may take part in day trips, longer cruises, competitions and larger Sea Scout events that bring crews together from across the region and beyond.
Service & Conservation
Sea Scouts can put their skills to work through community service, environmental projects and activities that help protect the waterways they enjoy.
Safety is part of every experience. Sea Scouts learn boating safety, teamwork and responsible decision making as they build the skills needed for greater independence on the water.
Advancement in Sea Scouts
As Sea Scouts gain experience, they can advance through four ranks. Each step builds greater skill in seamanship, leadership, service and responsibility.
Apprentice
The starting point, focused on the basics of Sea Scouting, boating safety and working as part of a ship.
Ordinary
Sea Scouts expand their seamanship knowledge and begin taking on greater responsibility within the crew.
Able
Advanced maritime skills, leadership and experience become a larger part of the Sea Scout journey.
Quartermaster
The highest rank in Sea Scouts, recognizing advanced seamanship, leadership, service and commitment to the program.
Advancement is part of the experience, not the whole experience. Sea Scouts can build skills, lead, serve and enjoy time on the water whether or not earning ranks is their primary goal.
Don't See the Right Ship?
Search BeAScout.org for additional Sea Scout options near you and find the program that works best for your location and interests.
Looking for the Next Step?
Whether you want to volunteer, need help getting connected or are recruiting new Scouts, we can point you in the right direction.
Volunteer
Help create the experiences Sea Scouts remember. Explore ways to volunteer with Scouting across the Tampa Bay area.
Explore Volunteering →Need Help?
Have a question about joining, finding a ship or getting connected with the right person? Our membership team can help.
Email Our Membership Team →Recruiting New Scouts?
Find flyers, recruiting tools and other materials to help your ship introduce more young people and families to Sea Scouts.
Recruitment Resources →