The Scout program emphasizes having fun while learning by doing. We make space for youth to expand their leadership skills and gain self confidence. As Sea Scouts, we have an extra focus on water activities: canoeing, sailing, swimming.
The outdoors is an essential part of the Scout program and water activities are essential to a Sea Scout program. Weekend events, canoe trips, hikes, no trace camping and seasonal activities round out the Scout experience.
Sea Scouts meet in a group called a Ship’s Company. This larger group is split into smaller groups called Boat Crews. It’s in these boat crews or patrols that youth really take the lead with each other and work as teams, sometimes in co-operation with other crews and sometimes in friendly competition.
Scouting will give you the opportunity to:
- camp and explore the outdoors
- learn about and protect the natural world
- develop self discipline and teamwork
- be of service to the community
- be a leader
Sea Scouting is a part of Scouts Canada and of the worldwide Scouting movement.
History
Robert Baden-Powell grew up being constantly reminded of his family’s naval connections. His maternal grandfather was Admiral William Smyth. In 1872, when he was 15, Baden-Powell accompanied his brothers on a cross-country expedition by collapsible canoe. They slept in tents and cooked their meals over open fires. Little wonder then that B-P was to write later on in his life that he started his Scouting as a Sea Scout.
Sea Scouting had its beginning at a campfire in England when B-P voiced the hope that older Scouts would be interested in learning about boat management and seamanship. He stressed the need for young men to prepare themselves for service on their country’s ships. Sea Scouting was introduced by B-P with the assistance of his brother, Warington Baden-Powell, an Admiralty lawyer, sailor, and inventor of canoe sailing. Robert Baden-Powell personally held a Scout camp at Bucklers Hard, Hampshire in August 1909 which marked the start of Sea Scouts, though they were not officially named such until 1912. Warington Baden-Powell wrote the handbook Sea Scouting and Seamanship for Boys in 1910 with a foreword by Robert Baden-Powell. A special uniform was approved in 1910, and was enthusiastically received by the young men of Britain, soon finding its way to the rest of the world. Warington Baden-Powell is also the author of Canoe Travelling: Log of a Cruise on the Baltic, and Practical Hints on Building and Fitting Canoes, London, Smith, Elder, 1871.
Questions about this site can be directed to Keith at kapn@kapn.net. This site is maintained on behalf of Sea Scouts across Canada by the 403rd Toronto Sea Scouts.