About Us

Sea Scouts, BSA is a program of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women ages 14 to 20. Sea Scouting promotes better citizenship and improved members’ boating skills through instruction and practice in water safety, boating skills, outdoor, social, service experiences, and knowledge of our maritime heritage.

Sea Scout units–called ships–are established all across the country on oceans, bays, rivers, and lakes. They provide limitless opportunities and exciting challenges that you won’t ﬁnd anywhere else. Sea Scouts is a place to grow and learn, ﬁnd adventure, and build long-lasting friendships. Sea Scout ships can be located by contacting a ship in your area. If there is not a ship nearby, encourage parents, school, church, or community organizations to organize one.

The element of water makes Sea Scouts unique. Sea Scout units use a variety of boats, from outboard motorboats to large sailing yachts. Sea Scouts belong to a world that is distinct from anything on shore, and they have their own language and customs. The water is not a place for the unwary, and the Scout motto, "Be Prepared," is imperative. The challenge is taking a vessel from point A to point B while being ready for whatever may be encountered along the way. Crewing a vessel involves sharing the duties of helmsman, navigator, lookout, cook, sail handler, or engineer. Outings on a boat offer new destinations in the morning and the changing scenery of a new harbor by evening. Every event is an adventure.

Sea Scout programs are run by the youth members. Elected officers plan and conduct the program. Being part of the vessel's crew teaches teamwork. As experience is gained, more opportunities arise to contribute to the leadership of the unit. At quarterdeck meetings, ship's officers work together to plan and evaluate the ship's program. Leadership skills learned in Sea Scouts last a lifetime.

Sea Scouts give service to others. Sea Scouts have been of service to hundreds of communities across the nation. Service can be expressed in individual good turns to others or in organized projects involving the crew or the whole ship. In rescues at sea, or facing emergencies on shore, Sea Scouts have saved lives and property. Sea Scout service puts citizenship into action.

Sea Scouts are recognized and rewarded for the things they learn and do. You can earn valuable certiﬁcations in SCUBA, boating safety, lifesaving, and CPR, as well as advance in rank from Apprentice to Quartermaster. Each certiﬁcation and level of advancement marks your growth as a sailor and a leader. Sea Scout advancement rewards individual pursuits of excellence. Each level of advancement marks growth as a seaman and a leader. The highest rank a Sea Scout can earn is the prestigious Quartermaster rank.

Seafaring has traditions that go back hundreds of years. Sea Scouts have adapted these traditions to the Sea Scout program and have created traditions of their own.

The Sam Houston Area Council, BSA, serves nearly 50,000 youth in 16 counties southeast Texas area through dedicated service and leadership of nearly 20,000 adult volunteers. Scouting is completely funded by the generosity of our local communities. Your support of Scouting provides programs, services, professional support, as well as year-round outdoor programs - all designed to lead youth to lifelong values, service and achievement.