Sons Summer Assignment...SEABASE!

[M.D. Holloway]

Last summer my Son did SeaBase for scouts. It was pretty fun. My older Brother and I were the 'adult' leaders and we had the skipper and 5 scouts. We stayed on a 50' sailboat all week and slept on it all week as well. As far as high adventure Scout camps go, there are 3 - Philmont, Northern Tier, and SeaBase. Some say there is another called SwapBase but its not official yet.

Philmont is a rough 10 day hike up and down a mountain. You pack out everything you will need. It gives you an appreciation for food.

Northern Tier is like Philmont but half the time your canoeing, and the rest of the time your carrying your canoe. Northern Tier gives you an appreciation for being dry.

SeaBase is the cushiest - you either live on a sailboat and snorkel all day or you live at SeaBase in dorms and scuba all day. SeaBase gives you an appreciation for space.

While at SeaBase and in port we happen to watch a few for the scouts working on their PADI certs. He looked over at me an said "I'm coming again next year." My reply was "Why not the whole summer instead of one week. Put an application in to work here."

He thought that was a stroke of brilliance. Well, he applied and sure enough they offered him a job. He ships out the 5th of June, flies back home to shoot at states the 16-18th then goes back to work the summer till September. His R&B is covered and he will make a few hundred a week direct deposited into his college account.

Not a bad gig.

[mikester]

Not bad, I've been to Philmont one twice as a youth and am in an adult leader role for my sons troop and cub master of my sons pack. I almost went to philmont again last year with the crew but couldn't swing the time from work.

I heart scouting. Doing a wood badge staff gig this month and next.

[legion]

I've been to Philmont twice and would desperately love to go back, but it will be another 8 years until my oldest is old enough.

The troop I was in also arranged its own high adventure trips, so it wasn't necessarily one that the larger organization offers. They would do things like mountain bike the Cascade Mountains or canoe the Mississippi.

[id10t]

I did Seabase back in the 80s, once with my troop (sailing) and the next time solo (scuba diving).

Sailing was cool - 7 scouts on 25' sailboats, one counselor between our 2 boats. One day of orientation, next day was "here's your stuff, here's the radio, you can get groceries here on this day, see you then".

Scuba we were based out of the 'base traveling out to various places by boat each day, 2-5 dives/snorkels per day.

Not sure it is still an issue, but the convenience store across the street had no problems selling us smokes and beer...

[stomachmonkey]

Good for Max.

You do realize though,...........this leaves you..............home alone..............all summer............with just the two.....................woman.

My back yard fridge is always stocked with beer.

If you need to get away help yourself.

[Nickshu]

Awesome, I've heard Seabase is awesome. I took 11 scouts (with my son) up to Melita Island in Montana last summer, that's a really neat place too. Next summer we're going to Northern Tier, can't wait!

[fanaudical]

Seabase also has an "Island Adventure" option - War canoe across open water to a small, remote island for a week. My son did that one a few years ago. Staffing a BSA summer camp is a great experience.

My troop has had trips out to Philmont and Seabase. Northern Tier has been planned but fell apart twice. I've never been to any of then (couldn't make the timing work out). I've been an adult leader in the BSA for the past 17 years. Best job of my life was being Scoutmaster. Second best was being a Troop Guide at Woodbadge. Am staffing one week of our council's NYLT this summer - should be fun.

[M.D. Holloway]

His Scoutmaster asked him recently if he would like to be an Assistant Scoutmaster for his troop now that he is 18. He hasn't committed to it yet. Its most likely a lot like being Vice president - you don't do a whole lot until the big guy needs a stand in.