Sea Base 2012 Information



 

Where: Florida Sea Base

When: Tuesday August 14 - Monday August 20

Depart: TBD.

Return:  TBD.  

We have a listserv for the Sea Base trip. Please sign up for the listserv if you aren't already on it.

The Sea Base Participants Guide is a great resource to read through while preparing for the trip.

Information for parents

Deb Hill put together a nice information letter for scouts and parents:

Dear Scouts and Parents -

At the last meeting about Sea Base, I was asked to send an email about what people need to take to Sea Base for their adventure. First off, our troop will be doing the Florida Keys Adventure. Info is available here at: http://www.bsaseabase.org/Adventures/flkeys.aspx. Note, there is an extensive list about what the boys needs to bring, including how much spending money is needed.

But here's a few details we learned from last year:

  1. Summer weight sleeping bag, fleece bag or blanket: For all but one night, we will stay in dorm rooms with bunkbeds at Sea Base. It's air conditioned, which feels heavenly, but can feel a little cool during the night. You can use a summer weight sleeping bag, an fleece bag or sleeping bag liner or a blanket and be pretty comfortable. Last year a bunch of us purchased the BSA's summer weight sleeping bag from the ScoutShop and it worked out great - super small size that packs well. We will also spend one night on Munson Island - a true desert island and it's pretty toasty.
  2. Water socks: It's recommended that everyone have water socks - these are pull on neoprene socks that come to the ankle. They protect your feet from rub and wear when you're wearing snorkeling fins. We will snorkeling almost every day during this trip - so the booties are really needed worthwhile. They run from $8 to $15 and you can order them from places like Swimoutlet.com and find them at Dick's Sporting goods, etc. They come in S, M, L, XL, so you'll to know your kid's show size.
  3. Snorkeling set: It's not required, but is really nice to have your own snorkel set, which includes snorkeling fins, a mask, and mouthpiece and spout. It's nice to have your own because your spit into the mask to keep it from fogging up while you're under water. So, yeah, it's just wonderful to know it's your own germs and no one else's. These sets run from $18 to $40 depending on how fancy you want to get (it doesn't need to be anything but a basic set) and you can get them from WalMart, Dick's or SwimOutlet.com, etc. There are a lot of places that offer sets that come in their own zip up cases, which is especially handy. If you don't buy a set, Sea Base will supply a set - so this is very nice, but not a requirement. The sets come in different sizes, so know your kid's show size!
  4. Hat with a brim: The sun is intense down in the Keys and everyone MUST have a hat with a brim. Most of us purchased fabric hats that can pack well and that have a chin strap to keep them on during boat rides. Sunburn is one of the things we most have to watch out for on this trip - sunburned ears are terribly uncomfortable. Must have a hat with a wide brim to protect ears and back of the neck. A ballcap is not going to cut it.
  5. Strap on sandals: We're in and out of the water constantly during this trip, so strap on sandals are pretty much a necessity. They needn't be as expensive as Teva brand, but need to be sturdier than flip flops. The boys need to be able to wade through water wearing the sandals--with rocky, sandy, coral and marine animals underfoot. So it's about protecting the foot, quick dry capabilities, and shoes that stay on.
  6. Fishing license: We will spend nearly one full day doing deep sea fishing, and we'll do pier fishing a couple of other times during this trip. For boys and leaders older than 16, you will need to purchase a Florida saltwater fishing license. Three-day licenses can be purchased online - but you'll need to know the exact dates. Here's a link for that: http://www.takemefishing.org/fishing/license/location/state/FL?gclid=CL_96bCttK4CFQIRNAodyG5FQw
  7. Identification card: Every scout (and adult) needs to have a valid ID card. This can be a passport, driver's license or a state ID. If your son is not older enough for a drier's license, they can get a State ID Card for $10. Here is a link to information about that: http://www.dmv.org/nc-north-carolina/id-cards.php.
  8. Medical Form - Every person on the trip must have a valid and completed BSA Medical Form to attend. Sea Base reviews these forms literally seconds after we arrive at the facility, and anybody who doesn't have one needs to make plans to return home. Here's a link to the form: http://www.bsaseabase.org/Resources/Forms.aspx

And finally, the troop will have the opportunity to design a T-shirt for this trip that everyone will wear. If we all have the same shirt, we don't have to dress up in Class A uniforms for dinner - so this is REALLY nice. That information will come later.

If anyone has additional questions, I'd be happy to talk about my experience with the troop last year. It was really great!

Deborah Hill
Assistant Scoutmaster
919-452-4688

Medical Forms

Every Scout attending Sea Base must fill out the complete BSA Medical Form (parts A, B, C, & D). Your physical exam should be within the past 12 month period from August 20, 2012 (the last day of our trip).

You can find out more about the BSA medical requirements on this page.


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