Eligibility
Young adult women and men can join Sea Scout Ship 25 if 14 but not yet 21 years of age. They can also join if they are 13 years old and have completed the eighth grade. We prefer members join when they are rising ninth or tenth graders so they can benefit from several years of program.
Meetings
The most common meeting pattern is that we meet from 10 AM to Noon on Saturday twice each month at the Harbor Patrol Headquarters, 550 Water Street SW. This is two blocks east and two blocks south of the Waterfront METRO Station.
Program
This is the maritime program of the BSA, which is also the official young adult program of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. We are one of only 35 Ships nationwide chartered directly to the Auxiliary. Our 50-youth Ship is co-ed and diverse, comprised of sub-groups known as “crews” and follows Sea Scouting’s iconic motor craft, sail craft and paddle craft curriculum. Sea Scouts can earn four succeeding “Ranks” leading to the awarding of “Quartermaster” designation. Unique among Sea Scout Ships, our youth receive instruction directly from members of the Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, DC Harbor Patrol and commercial maritime professionals. This qualifies youth for Sea Scout “Ranks” and ultimately Coast Guard Auxiliary qualifications. Sea Scouts wear professional-appearing dark navy-colored uniforms that the Ship obtains.
One-Time Joining Costs
Uniform fee is $200, and includes a shirt with all required patches, name tag, pants, nylon “riggers” belt, three t-shirts and hat. One-time BSA joining fee (for insurance and camp facility maintenance) is $185 (paid directly to the BSA on their website).
Annual Cost
$600 Ship program fee paid in three $200 installments (paid in June, October and February) cover all meeting, program, transportation, meals, day trips and recognition costs, except for optional overnight trips and our annual week-long trips in the summer (aquatics camp and long cruise). We collect online using VISA. We can assist if you cannot pay our full fees.
Parent Obligations
The parents or guardian of each Sea Scout are required to be either a member of our Ship 25 Committee (for those who want to be episodically active with us) or otherwise help 3 times per year with tasks like transportation. You must assure regular participation of your Sea Scout at our Saturday morning meetings or he/she will fall behind in acquiring her Sea Scouting skills. Sea Scouting conducts a background check for registered Ship 25 Committee Members and our Skipper’s Staff.
Fundraising
We have an event in November where our families, the community and the commercial maritime businesses of the District of Columbia are asked to contribute to help our own Sea Scouts whose families cannot afford all of our dues and fees. We also may use some funds to acquire equipment. We do not sell products to fund our operations. No cookies, popcorn, or candy bars. The Sea Scouts themselves can choose to fundraise once a year for a “long cruise” event they can plan for the summer — but still no product sales.
Leadership
Adults involved include individuals credentialed in the military, Auxiliary, law enforcement, maritime industry and Sea Scouting. All have completed Sea Scouting adult training for their positions and child protection and abuse-avoidance training. Our parent-involved Ship 25 Committee, the Auxiliary and our local Scouting Council provide oversight.
How to Join
Ship 25 admits a class of up to 30 young adults each March. A parent or guardian should accompany the interested young adult to one of our scheduled Open Houses in March. See our Calendar of Events for the specifics.
Those who receive a Notice of Selection pay a uniform fee ($200) and register with the national Sea Scouting organization and pay a one-time insurance and facility maintenance fee ($185) directly to them. All newly-admitted Sea Scouts are required to attend a mandatory day-long orientation at Coast Guard Station Washington, DC and attend a week-long aquatics camp in late June at Goshen Scout Reservation.
Outings
We offer a day-trip outside the City each trimester and all costs (including van transportation) are included in the trimester Ship fee. This is usually to visit a Coast Guard facility, commercial port or extraordinary seagoing vessel. We usually offer one optional overnight extra-fee trip during the fall and spring trimesters, with the locations being chosen by the young adult officers. We keep costs modest — typically $150, including transportation, program, lodging and food. Each year the youth officers plan and execute a week-long aquatics camp for new members and a week-long long sailing cruise on the Chesapeake Bay for experienced members.
Comprehensive Information
www.SeaScoutsDc.org provides information on the program, costs, schedule, parent obligations and our policies to protect the safety of your Sea Scout. A single document for adults describing the full program is the Skipper’s Letter to Prospective Parents.
Parent and Friend Support
Each Sea Scout must have a parent, guardian or an adult friend over the age of 21 able to provide occasional support to the operation of the Ship. Ways to do this include serving on the Ship 25 Committee or selecting some of the following:
- Drive a group of Sea Scouts to and from trips.
- Serve as a chaperone on outdoor overnight outings (must register as a member of Sea Scouting).
- Serve as a chaperone on service projects or other day-only activities.
- Serve as a registered Counselor for swimming or lifesaving Merit Badge.
- Serve as one of the organizers of our annual November fund-raising reception. The purpose of the reception is to raise funds to help pay the dues and other expenses of our own Sea Scouts whose families cannot afford full payment of our fees. Because we do not conduct product sales of any type, this is our only fundraising activity of any type all year.
- Attend and participate in the annual November fund-raising reception. This is our only fundraising activity all year long and is intended to help raise funds to pay dues and costs for Sea Scouts whose families cannot pay the entire amount. Contributions range from $50 to upward of $500.