About Sea Scouts
Sea Scouting has the same Purpose and Values as any other Scout Troop, and delivers the same Programme, but with a nautical twist.
All young people in Scouting have the opportunity to enjoy water activities, but in Sea Scouting, considerable emphasis is on these activities, and many aspects of naval and nautical traditions are incorporated.
Sea Scouting is available to young people from the age of 10½ through Sea Scout Troops and Explorer Sea Scout Units.
Our Beaver and Cub Scouts follow a similar programme as other Beaver Colonies and Cub Packs, albeit with water-based activities being included in the programme to build water confidence, gain an understanding of Water Safety and begin to develop core skills.
Activities
The Group regularly gets involved in a wide range of water and land-based activities including kayaking, canoeing, sailing, bell boating, stand up paddle boarding, traditional rafting and powerboating to archery, shooting, and Tomahawks. We also find time for many of the traditional scouting activities, such as camping, hiking, Pioneering and other activities within the Scouting Programme.
Flag
The Sea Scout flag is dark blue, bearing the Scout symbol and motto.
During meetings we raise the Red Ensign.
Ceremonial information
The colours ceremony at the start of meetings and events, and the sunset ceremony at the end, are conducted using a red ensign rather than a Union Flag. You never break an ensign, you simply hoist it with dignity, and not normally to the masthead, but to a gaff (which may not always be practicable in the small Scout headquarters building).
There are slight variations in the details of proceedings, but this is typical and good practice.
When the Duty Patrol are ready the hoist the ensign, the still is sounded on a bosun’s call, and the Troop salutes. When the ensign is secured, the carry on is piped, and the salute is ended.
Sea Scout Salute
By convention, most Sea Scout groups adjust the Scout salute just a little, to make it more consistent with naval tradition. The hand is kept horizontal, shortest way up, shortest way down.