Do you enjoy Sailing? Just want to try it out? You’re invited to attend our Spring Boy Scout ‘Merit Badges Afloat (MBA)’
Sponsored by Sea Scout ‘Ship 1942’ – National Flagship
When: Saturday 8:00am, April 16 to Sunday 4:30pm, April 17, 2016
(NOT an Overnight Event)
Where: Washington Sailing Marina, 1 Marina Drive, Alexandria, VA 22314 (Off of the GW Parkway, just South of Ronald Reagan National Airport)
Cost: $60 per Boy Scout with all meals provided both days for all participants
Details: This event is open to any teen 1st Class (and above rank) Boy Scout and age 13 and older. Those attending the entire event will earn the Merit Badges of Smallboat Sailing, Weather, & Oceanography. One Adult per Troop is asked to stay but that duty can be handed off between multiple adults. Boys who register must attend the full time on both days!! Please do not sign-up for this merit badge training if you can’t be there for the full time. Space is limited to 40 boys total – First come, first served. Every year the past 25 years, Sea Scout Ship 1942 has put this on to FULL Capacity. Payment is required with registration form. A waiting list will be maintained by Sea Scout (Ship 1942) after the event is full. Refunds will be given for cancellations received prior to April 1st 2016 ONLY IF YOUR SPOT IS FILLED with someone on the waiting list. NO REFUNDS will be given for cancellations on or after that date. An e-mail confirmation will be sent to the Troop leader or parent, once registration has been received.
Boys Bring: Rubber-soled shoes with closed toe and heel (NO flip flops or water sandals), Rain jacket and/or sweatshirt, sunscreen, hat, water bottle, sunglasses, & Mess kits. Boy Scouts ‘Be Prepared’ as it’s cool on-the-water with the Spring breezes blowing that time of year (especially early in the morning). Come with layers.
Troop Leaders: Bring up to date BSA Medical Form PLUS permission slip for each Boy Scout attending. You will need to turn in a copy of these forms to the adult-in-charge of the event, so be sure to keep the original for your own records. No Boy Scout will be allowed to participate without these forms on file. We do ask that at least one adult from each Troop represented, stay the during the day time (this duty may be divided up among several different adults throughout the weekend).
Questions? First read the FAQ section below. If your question is not answered there, feel free to contact Skipper Tom Ballew (Skipper of Sea Scout Ship 1942) at tballew [at] cox [dot] net. Only a check received reserves the actual sailing slot.
FAQ’s from Sea Scout Ship 1942:
- What if it rains that weekend?
The event will be held rain or shine. If weather conditions are unsafe for sailing, other activities will be done on land until the weather conditions improve. All Guide to Safe Scouting requirements will be followed. In the unlikely event that the workshop is cancelled due to severe weather conditions, the payment will be refunded. A rain proof jacket is a must.
- Can my son just come on one day and earn just one of the Merit Badges?
No. Activities from each of the three merit badges are covered on both of the days, so if a Boy Scout attends just one day he will have completed only part of each of these merit badges. This is because we will have some boys out on-the-water and some boys doing land activities at all times to make the best use of all our seven sailboats and give each Boy Scout the best sailing experience.
- Will my son actually get to sail?
Yes, he will spend a great deal of time on-the-water, in one of our seven 19’ Flying Scot sailboats. There will be very experienced teen Sea Scout sailors on every boat as his Sailing Instructors plus one of our long-time sailing experienced Sea Scout adult leader, but the boys attending the Merit Badges Afloat event will be allowed, and eventually expected, to handle their boat.
- Is there a limit to attendance as to the number of Boy Scouts from any one Troop?
YES. A Scout may come as an individual, or a Troop may only sign up five (5) Boy Scouts from any one Troop to attend our Spring offering of Merit Badges Afloat. If a Troop wishes to send more than 5 Scouts, great – we put on this MBA event twice per year (Spring & Fall).
- Can the adults attending, sail as well?
No, unfortunately we must limit this event to boys only due to the number of sailboats we own and will have available for our use; but you are more than welcome to stay and take a 1,000 Kodiak picture moments.
- What are the overall qualifications of the adults-in-charge?
Sea Scout Ship 1942 adult leaders have hundreds of years of combined sailing experience. They are certified Boys Scouts of America National Camping School ‘Aquatics Instructors’ and American Red Cross Waterfront & Pool Lifeguard and Wilderness First Aid Instructors and every one of their 42 BSA / GSA Registered Adults has up-to-date Youth Protection Training.
TO REGISTER FILL OUT THE PDF FORM HERE , and return the payment (check to “BSA Troop 55″) and registration form to Mr. Ye (yejeff [at] hotmail [dot] com) before January 20th, 2016. Troop 55 can only send up to 5 scouts to this event. Space is limited, so sign up early! first come, first served!
