Sea Scouts


So before I go into all the awesome stuff that we do, I am just going to give you some background on Sea Scouts. Sea Scouts is a part of Venture Scouts which is a part of Boy Scouts of America (BSA). It is like Boy Scouts but centered around the ocean and sailing, not to mention coed and more run by the kids than Boy Scouts is (so yes, I'm a Boy Scout). 


On Saturday the 11th, the Sea Scouts ship was volunteer at the Damariscotta Pirate Rendezvous. We fought pirates, played music, and did crowd control (my favorite.... not). Anyway, here are some pictures. I don't have pictures of everything unfortunately.




Pirate Festival

Selling CDs. Tad wouldn't cooperate. There's a surprise!

Our first CD, Celtic Knot. (we have a chanty band (pronounced 'shanty')

Sally, our harpist

Bethany and Jenni, fiddlers (well, Bethany is actually a  cellist, but she can fiddle too)

Jesse

the whole band together

Elizabeth and Zac

Elizabeth, our awesome Bodron player (I don't think that is spelled right)

Zac and Sally playing "Butterfly"

 Bowdoin

So the Sea Scouts went sailing on the schooner Bowdoin these last four days. It was an amazing experience and the captain and crew were awesome. So, no further ado, here are some pictures.

Francine, the deck hand

Captain Jergenson... who is awesome

Mrs. Chesley, chaperon

Cap'n Mac & Capt. Bob, the life boats

Mr. Chesley, chaperon

the original compass, pretty cool

a lighthouse

Oh Jessica...

Elizabeth

Jesse... always sooo cooperative

Elizabeth, 'cause, you know, she is just so photogenic!

Franzi

MaryCatherine

Elizabeth

Elli and Zac

From here on, the pictures were taken by Mr. Chesley, the scout chaperon. 

Someone was having just a bit too much fun getting the ship ready

Jim Nelson, Skipper (of the scout ship)

PIZZA!

lots and lots of food

Elizabeth...again

Bowdoin

Left to right: Jesse, Jessica, Rachel, Elizabeth, MC, Franzi, Joseph

Rowan, the captain's two year old

The cook makes good cookies

Getting Cap'n Mac aboard

Mr. Emmet (left) and Zac

Love this one. I'm on the left, Franzi on the right

Furling the sails

Easing down the foresail

That is a big anchor

All of us listening to Mr. Emmet play his Ukulele. :)

Franzi

You didn't know it took so many people on one line did you?

All our stations in case of emergencies

We all had to take turns doing Bow Watch. Looking out for lobster pots and anything else that could potentially harm the boat

Mr. Emmet had to go aloft to fix stuff

The Nathaniel Bowditch, Bowdoin's sister ship

The one with red sails is the Angelique. You can go faster with red sails

Fixing the Propane tanks with Mr. McLeod

Mr. Shoettle, the first mate

Washing dishes...

MC

BREAKFAST!

Captain Eric and Captain Jr. 

We did deck wash everyday using a fire hose

Telling Red Herring riddles to the crew

The Captain... blowing bubbles? yep!

Zac got tired

Joseph, we were polishing the binnacle, not playing with it!

Polishing the compass thingy

Daddy! It's my turn now!

No, just no. Give Franzi her glasses back

There were a lot of Windjammers out for the parade

The Nathaniel Bowditch.

 The Nathaniel Bowditch was named for Nathaniel Bowditch, author of The American Practical Navigator. He was a pretty amazing man. Nathaniel Bowditch is Bowdoin's sister ship as well.

Lobster bake on Cabbage Island

Baby Gavin!

Captain and family

Franzi and MC dancing a jig

Bowditch with all her flags flying

"Guys, can I come out of the hole now? .... Rachel, can I please come out of the hole?" --Jesse

Left to right: Francine, Mr. Emmet, Mr. Shoettle, Mr. McLeod, and Captain Jergenson

Mr. McLeod firing the mini cannon with the big sound. :)

Last sail of the trip

Big, scary battle ship

It is very satisfying to have your picture taken by every tourist on an over crowded boat

Singing Chanties

Top Row left to right: Joseph, Mr. Emmet
Next Row left to right: Mr. Shoettle, Francine
Next Row left to right: Mr. McLeod, Franzi, Jessica, MC, Sally, Rachel, Elizabeth, Jesse, Zac, Tad, Mrs. Chesley, Capt. Jergenson, Mrs. Jergenson with Gavin
Last Row left to right: Skipper Jim, Rowan, and Mr. Chesley

All in all it was an awesome trip, even including having deck watches in the middle of the night and doing dishes, soles and bowls, and deck washes. I am definitely going back next year! A reporter and photographer came with us and wrote an article for The Portland Press Harold. Here is where: http://www.pressherald.com/news/sea-scouts-master-the-skills-of-camping-at-sea-_2011-06-23.html