Sea Scouts for youngsters ?

[Snowgoose-1]

I was asked if the Sea Scouts was a good idea for a young lad.
Any experience that I could pass on would be helpful.
Thanks

 

[veshengro]

I appreciate it will be different and more in keeping with todays ethics but I would say yes. Rope work, Boat handling etc: is still taught (I hope) and just being part of a crew or group will help some youngsters to come out of their shell and develop.
Later perhaps. Sea Cadets...and that was really good times.

1956

 

[ribdriver]

Scouting clearly offers all sorts of opportunities and chances to undertake all sorts of activities, also teaches young people a lot about teamwork, challenging themselves, behaviour, pride and much much more. Also discipline without being too OTT.
Add in boats and well....what's not to appeal, especially if they like boats and the sea.

I was a sea scout years ago and got so much from it. Am now a scout leader (sadly not sea scouts due to location) and it is very rewarding when we see the scouts achieve so much.

On the above point of coming out of their shell - this is one of the best bits to see, and very common. It's often a case of being given opportunities that they might otherwise not get - especially these days.

 

[Sandy]

It has been some time since I was a Sea Scout and have no contact with the Scout Association. I suggest you ask the local Sea Scout Group if the young lad can attend a few meetings, assuming there is no waiting list due to the lack of leaders, and see what he thinks.

 

[ylop]

I was asked if the Sea Scouts was a good idea for a young lad.
Any experience that I could pass on would be helpful.
Thanks

A strange question, we don’t know “the lad”, “the local sea scout group” or what the person asking the question considered a “good idea”. However in general boys and girls often enjoy scouting and get a lot out of it. Sea Scouts are just like other scouts but with some emphasis on nautical activity.

 

[LiftyK]

Many excellent years in Sea Scouts. I learned many skills that were valuable for a lifetime of enjoying leisure life afloat. Go for it.

 

[LittleSister]

It's an excellent idea. What's the worst that can happen? He (or a she) goes along a few times, doesn't like it and stops going.

I was in the Cubs, the (non-Sea) Scouts and later the Sea Cadets. I wish I could go back and thank all the leaders and supporters of those groups and tell them how much I appreciate, if rather belatedly, the huge benefits I received from all their efforts, enthusiasm and guidance.

Looking back I learnt so much in the way of skills (and values) which still help me all these many years later; about discipline, self-discipline, teamwork, and confidence in my own capabilities and limitations; and had so many exciting new experiences and great adventures. I can now also see that it gave me, as someone who had few friends and limited social horizons as a child, an opportunity to socialise and develop as an individual.

On the other hand, I did develop an addiction to boating while in the Sea Cadets, and that has cost me a fortune in the half-century or so since!

 

[SaltyC]

As others have said, it all depends on the individual and parental support as a taxi service as a Sea Scout group may be further away than the local Scout group. They do exist inland and are generally based near a lake / reservoir with access to dinghies.
Yes, they get access to activities they may not otherwise have, as with all Scout activities they learn practical skills and life skills like team work and communication.
I am aware of individuals who have been isolated at school for whatever reason, Sailing has given them a skill and confidence allowing them to develop rapidly as they realise they have skills and can achieve things with perseverance.
Taking groups of youngsters on a yacht for a weekend is a revelation as you see them gain confidence and work as a team not an individual.
Find a local group and let them attend a few weeks and they can decide for themselves.

 

[Snowgoose-1]

Many thanks for all the contributions. I will pass the information on to my neighbor . So nice to have user contributions. I only wish I had joined when I was a a lad.

 

[obmij]

I was in the scouts & my son is in the sea scouts. Different troops but the same coastal area. There isn't a huge amount of difference between the two. The focus for both is mainly the scouting side of things (that being camping, making fires, kicking around etc). They do get out on the water though but it's not like a sailing club where that is the primary focus.

I would definitely recommend joining the scouts and if the troop are 'sea scouts' then that's as good as any, but if the intention is to sail every weekend then a sailing club is the way forward.

Or do both

 

[ylop]

I was in the scouts & my son is in the sea scouts. Different troops but the same coastal area. There isn't a huge amount of difference between the two. The focus for both is mainly the scouting side of things (that being camping, making fires, kicking around etc). They do get out on the water though but it's not like a sailing club where that is the primary focus.

I would definitely recommend joining the scouts and if the troop are 'sea scouts' then that's as good as any, but if the intention is to sail every weekend then a sailing club is the way forward.

Or do both

I think every Sea Scout group (troup?) is different depending on what facilities, instructors, resources etc they have. Our nearest one doesn’t have any dinghies but has kayaks, canoes, sups and will be found on the water virtually every weekly session when it’s daylight (and the older ones do some night paddles as well). Do some multi day weekend trips in canoes and an annual sailing weekend too. Use the winter for the “more traditional” scouting stuff. Thats why I said earlier you can’t comment properly without knowing the child and the particular group, other than to say generally positive stuff about the concept. I do agree if you really want to be racing performance dinghies then a sailing club is probably better. If you just want to have fun mucking about on the water then some dinghy clubs are too serious for that - and it’s great to see kids learning to row/paddle/tie knots/throw lines/first aid/navigate all skills that may not be a priority at a race focussed club.