Sea Base Update

sea_base_300x300There are 10 days left to register for Troop 24’s high adventure in the Florida Sea Base in June 2017; the registration deadline is the Thursday, September 22 Troop Meeting, with the first installment of $415 per person also due on this date.

Click here for all the previously posted details regarding who/ what / where / how / cost / etc, or…

Troop 24 has space for a crew of 18, which includes both adults & scouts.

One important update is that Seabase has a scholarship opportunity for up to $300 per scout.  Click here for a link to the scholarship form which requires an essay and leader recommendation.  The scholarship application is to be submitted early next year, and the award decision is made by Seabase, not Troop 24.

Scouts can also utilize proceeds from selling popcorn to help defray the cost of the Seabase activity fee.

2017 Sea Base High Adventure Registration has begun

Thank you to all the families that attended the organizational meeting for this trip on Monday evening sea_base_300x300(August 22).  Registration for this trip has now begun, and note that our maximum crew size for this high adventure opportunity is 20 people, which includes adult leaders.  Registration will take place on a first-come, first-paid basis, with a registration and initial payment deadline of Thursday, September 22. 

  • Who:
    • Scouts must have graduated from the eighth grade and at least 14 years old
    • Must swim 100 yards (official BSA swimmer test), and stay afloat for one minute.
    • Minimum 4 adults as certified BSA leaders (max 50% of participants 18 or older)
    • First class rank
    • Crew size of 18 minimum to 20 maximum
  • What is a Sea Exploring Adventure
    • Designed for larger groups, offering your crew the opportunity to experience a sailing adventure of yesteryear. These are large vessels, 75 feet or more, normally gaff-rigged topsail schooners, fully equipped and prepared to provide an unforgettable adventure snorkeling the beautiful Keys’ reefs, fishing, and hands-on sailing as well as a port-o-call in Key West.
    • During the weeklong odyssey, you will snorkel several reefs as you sail among the fabulous Florida Keys.  Along the way, you will troll for mackerel, barracuda, and mahi-mahi, hoping to supplement the ship’s stores.
    • Among the highlights of your adventure are sailing to a small archipelago of islands, fishing, snorkeling, and maybe even catching some lobster (in season). If you’re expecting a “cruise” and someone serving your meals, this is not the adventure for you. It is a rugged extended voyage on a large vessel. Everyone pitches in with the sailing and cooking chores. You’ll do on-board navigation, star study, and lots of snorkeling and fishing—but you won’t be waited on.
  • When:
    • Sunday, June 25 to July 2, 2017; eight days & seven nights
    • Troop 24 has made a $100 deposit for a group of 18. Per person deposit of $415 ($7,475 total) due on October 1. Balance due in early spring 2017.  The initial payment is due to Troop 24 by Thursday, September 22.  We ask that families make checks to troop 24 for the $415 by this date, and Troop 24 will remit a single payment to Seabase.  Scouts can apply popcorn credits to cover the cost of this event.
  • Where:
    • Islamorada Florida, mile marker 73.8 in the Florida Keys 90 miles from Miami Airport
    • Seabase Website: http://www.bsaseabase.org/Adventures.aspx
  • How: 
    • Fly from Chicago airport (TBD) early morning, connect with local charter bus to the Sea Base
    • Return from Seabase to Miami on bus, then fly to Chicago for evening arrival.
  • Cost Estimates:
  • Sundry is an estimate to cover meals in transit, commemorative item (t-shirts, sun hat, patch, etc.)
  • Ground transport is group charter bus to/from Miami airport to Islamorada
  • Excludes spending money for on-site camp store, etc.
  • Does not include airfare to / from Chicago, but Expedia shows the following (as of 8/22):
    • $284 base fare direct from ORD to MIA on United for a 7:30am departure
    • $258 base fare direct from ORD to FLL on United for a 7:50am departure
    • Note – Southwest can currently only book into April 2017

Questions? – email Jim Jerz: jiminov AT hotmail DOT com.

Click here for scout registration.  Click here for adult registration

2017 Seabase Organizational Meeting – August 22

sea_base_300x300Save the date of Monday, August 22 at 7pm in the RPC Social Hall for a meeting of scouts interested in attending Troop 24’s 2017 trip to Seabase in the Florida Keys.  Scouts and parents should both attend this meeting;  we will cover cost, logistics, and other considerations.  See this previous post with some initial program details:

Please note that official BSA requirements are that scouts must be of age 14 or older by June 2017 to be eligible to participate in this program.  Troop 24 scouts that wish to participate should all be of First Class rank by the time of the trip.

If you have any questions before August 22, email – jiminov@hotmail.com.

Seabase 2017 – Info to help you plan!

Voyager TraceAs presented at the spring Court of Honor, Troop 24 is planning a high adventure trip in the Florida Keys next summer.  The Florida Seabase is a BSA owned and run facility that offers older scouts the opportunity to experience a nautical trip of a lifetime.  Troop 24 has a reservation for a crew of 18-20 scouts & adults on a Sea Exploring adventure on a 75 foot topsail schooner.

The following information should help you and your scout decide if this is a trip he (and maybe you) want to take:

  • Who:
    • Participants must be 13 years old and graduated from the eighth grade or 14 years old
    • Must swim 100 yards (official BSA swimmer test), and stay afloat for one minute.
    • Minimum 4 adults as certified BSA leaders (max 50% of participants 18 or older)
    • First class rank
    • Crew size of 18 minimum to 20 maximum
  • What: The following descriptions are from the Seabase website
    • Designed for larger groups, offering your crew the opportunity to experience a sailing adventure of yesteryear. These are large vessels, 75 feet or more, normally gaff-rigged topsail schooners, fully equipped and prepared to provide an unforgettable adventure snorkeling the beautiful Keys’ reefs, fishing, and hands-on sailing as well as a port-o-call in Key West.
    • During the weeklong odyssey, you will snorkel several reefs as you sail among the fabulous Florida Keys.  Along the way, you will troll for mackerel, barracuda, and mahi-mahi, hoping to supplement the ship’s stores.
    • Among the highlights of your adventure are sailing to a small archipelago of islands, fishing, snorkeling, and maybe even catching some lobster (in season). If you’re expecting a “cruise” and someone serving your meals, this is not the adventure for you. It is a rugged extended voyage on a large vessel. Everyone pitches in with the sailing and cooking chores. You’ll do on-board navigation, star study, and lots of snorkeling and fishing—but you won’t be waited on.
  • Where:
    • Islamorada Florida, mile marker 73.8 in the Florida Keys 90 miles from Miami Airport
  • When:
    • Sunday, June 25 to July 2, 2017; eight days & seven nights
    • Troop 24 organizational meeting in August as financial commitments are due in October 2016
  • How:
    • Fly from Chicago airport (TBD) during early morning, connect with local charter bus to the Sea Base
    • Return from Seabase to connect with local charter bus and fly back to Chicago for evening arrival.
  • Cost:
    • $837 to $930 per person program fee (depends on group size)
    • $100 estimated bus charter fee
    • $100 sundry other for meals in transit, T-shirt, etc.
    • $1,130 total estimated cost 
    • Excludes $200-350 estimated airfare, which families will book on their own

Are you interested or have questions?  Email Jim Jerz.   Stay tuned for the details of the first organizational meeting in late August.

 

Save the Date for Florida Seabase 2017

sea_base_300x300Mark your calendars for eight days beginning Sunday, June 25 2017 as Troop 24 will be returning to the Florida Seabase for epic high adventure.  Our troop has been allocated space for a crew of 18-20 participants for the Sea Exploring adventure.  Here is a description of this program from the official Seabase website:

  • Designed for larger groups (either a council contingent or a larger troop), offering your crew the opportunity to experience a sailing adventure of yesteryear. These are large vessels, 75 feet or more, normally gaff-rigged topsail schooners, fully equipped and prepared to provide an unforgettable adventure snorkeling the beautiful Keys’ reefs, fishing, and hands-on sailing as well as a port-o-call in Key West.
  • For a hands-on sailing adventure voyage, one that is exciting, ruggedly challenging, and excellent for larger groups, pack your sea bag for the Sea Exploring program. This is an eight day event and the contingent will be back in Riverside by July 3.

The eligibility requirements for participants are that they must be thirteen (13) and graduated from the 8th grade or fourteen (14) years old to participate in all programs. We are going to be gathering information to estimate cost and then plan a meeting of interested scouts in the near future.  If you have any questions in the interim, please email Jim Jerz.

Scouts Off to Seabase

Scouts and leaders left for Seabase this morning. This photo was taken at 4:12 a.m.! Some of them look awake.

off-to-seabase-2015

Swim Tests for Seabase and Tesomas CORRECTED DATE JULY 11

Swim tests are required for all scouts and adults attending any BSA summer camp. This includes scouts who have already earned a Swimming Merit Badge, and anyone who intends to put even their toes in the lake. Again this year, the Riverside Swim Club has generously agreed to hold the tests there. Every scout should plan to come to the Swim Club on one of the dates listed below. The Swim Club address is 100 Bloomingbank Road, Riverside. If you are not a member, just tell the person at the front desk that you are there for the boy scout swim test. Please try to attend the first opportunity available; do not wait until the last minute!

Thursday, June 25 at 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, June 27, at 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, July 11, at 10:00 a.m.

Final Chance for Sea Base 2015

We still have two openings for Scouts to participate in our Coral Reef Sailing Adventure next Summer.

This weekend is the last chance for Scouts to participate in Troop 24’s Sea Base Adventure over the Fourth of July next summer (July 1 through July 9). In order to go on this exciting sailing, snorkeling, fishing extravaganza you must sign your Scout up this weekend and make a $500 dollar deposit before Monday, September 29 (Scouts must, at the time of the trip, be 13 or older and graduated 8th Grade, 1st Class or higher, and have the Swimming Merit Badge).

If your Scout would like to come along to the Florida Keys or if you have questions about the trip please get in touch with Michael Murphy before Monday (the sooner the better, there are only two spots available on a first response basis). You can reach me most easily via email at mjmurphy64@gmail.com

Michael Murphy

Sea Base 2015 Update

We are getting down to the wire on commitments for Seabase 2015.

We have filled two of the three available boats. We have room for eight more participants (one of whom must be an adult). Don’t miss out on a great opportunity to cruise the Florida Keys.

To go on this Seabase adventure with Troop 24 you must put down a $500 deposit by Monday, September 29 (checks only, no WePay for this one).

Email me at mjmurphy64@gmail.com if you would like to be a part this high adventure outing.

I’ll be at Thursday’s Troop Meeting to talk about Seabase to anybody interested, or feel free to email me.

If you did not receive a Seabase email this morning you are not on my current list of participants. If you think you ought to be on that list, email me and we will sort it out.

Michael Murphy

Seabase July 1-9, 2015

Troop 24 is Going Sailing in the Keys!

Troop 24 is going on a high adventure trip to BSA’s Florida Sea Base on Lower Matecumbe Key in the Florida Keys (Islamorada, Florida) over the Fourth of July weekend of 2015. Why are we bugging you about it now? Because we need to confirm our spots and pay our 50% deposit by October 1.

Who Can Go: Boys who are 1st Class or higher, have finished 8th grade and have the Swimming Merit Badge. We have spots reserved for up to 18 boys. We will also need six adults to accompany the boys (you do not need to be an Adult Leader to accompany the trip).

Where Are We Going: BSA’s Sea Base High Adventure Camp in the Florida Keys on Lower Matecumbe Key, Islamorada, FL.

What Are We Doing: We are going on a Coral Reef Sailing adventure. We will be spending the week on 40-50 foot sailboats. We will explore the Keys and associated Coral Reefs, snorkeling and fishing as we go (no SCUBA on this trip). The entire trip will be overseen by an experienced captain and there will be an opportunity to learn basic sailing skills.

When Are We Going: July 1 to July 9, 2015 (the adventure runs from July 2 to July 8, 2015, with the additional time being travel). Our tentative itinerary starts and ends at the Ft. Lauderdale airport with travel to and from Ft. Lauderdale being arranged separately to allow planning flexibility (there will be an organized group from Chicago or you can use frequent flyer miles, drive your self, travel by Portkey, etc.). When we know who is going we will work out the final itinerary as a group.

What Is It Going to Cost: Well, that’s the big question and we only have an estimated answer right now. The cost will vary based on the number of participants. If we fill all of our slots, we expect the cost not to exceed $1,250 per person, plus the cost of airfare to Ft. Lauderdale (currently $325, but the cost for next July is unknown). The cost will go up the smaller the group gets, a small group may be several hundred dollars more. These are preliminary estimates and we think the total cost will be closer to $1,000 per person in the end.

There will be an informational meeting during the September 18 Troop Meeting. If your son is even a little bit interested in going on this once in a (Scout’s) life trip, please come to the meeting or talk to Michael Murphy (mjmurphy64@gmail.com). We will need a commitment to the trip by Monday, September 29. Commitment will be in the form of a check to the Troop for the initial, nonrefundable, deposit of $500.

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