Sea Scouts
Sea Scout units– called ships- are established all across the country on oceans, bays, rivers, and lakes. They provide limitless opportunities and exciting challenges that you won’t find anywhere else. Sea Scouts is a place to grow and learn, find adventure, and build long lasting friendships.
Sea Scouts is a co-educational Scouting America program for young people ages 14–20 that focuses on maritime skills, leadership, water safety, and adventure on and around the water. Participants develop boating skills, seamanship, navigation, and leadership while doing activities like sailing, cruising, diving, and water service projects. Ranks include Apprentice, Ordinary, Able, and the Quartermaster Award (the Sea Scout equivalent of Eagle Scout), emphasizing both skill and leadership development. For over 100 years Sea Scouting has promoted better citizenship and improved members’ boating skills through instruction and practice in water safety, boating skills, outdoor, social, service experiences, and knowledge of our maritime heritage.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Ranks
Apprentice
The Apprentice rank in Sea Scouts is the first step, focusing on foundational knowledge like safety procedures, basic seamanship skills, and understanding the Sea Scout ideals.
Ordinary
The Ordinary rank in Sea Scouts builds upon the foundation of the Apprentice rank, requiring deeper knowledge of seamanship, piloting, communication, and safety, along with active participation in ship activities and leadership roles.
Able
The Able rank in Sea Scouts signifies a high level of proficiency. It requires mastering advanced seamanship skills, earning the Lifesaving merit badge, completing a significant long cruise, and fulfilling leadership roles within their ship.
Quartermaster
The Quartermaster Award is the highest honor in Sea Scouting, equivalent to the Eagle Scout Award. It recognizes exceptional leadership, advanced seamanship skills, and a commitment to service, requiring significant accomplishments in areas like navigation, boat handling, leadership, and community service.
Sea scout pillars
Seamanship
The best part of Sea Scouts is cruising and mastering the skills you learn with your shipmates. On board a vessel you share hands-on experiences as helmsman and navigator, lookout and cook, sail handler and engineer. You and your shipmates will plan and conduct your annual cruise – summer camp underway. Imagine sailing the Caribbean, cruising to Alaska, fishing, swimming, diving, snorkeling or anything else your ship wants to do!
Scouting
Sea Scouts is youth led and adult mentored. You and your shipmates lead your Sea Scout program. Elected youth leaders plan and conduct the program and adult leaders guide and support your efforts as you learn important leadership and life skills. As you gain experience you will have the opportunity to contribute as a leader in your ship. Sea Scouts are recognized and rewarded for the things they learn and do.
Service
Sea Scouts take service very seriously. Sea Scouts perform various kinds of service from service to their ship, to community service. They participate service such as river or beach clean-up efforts, food drives, and youth programs. Sea Scouts also participate in flag ceremonies, and serve as honor guards at various community events.
Social
Sea Scouts provides opportunities to share experiences with other young people who share your interests. As your ship participates in fun and exciting activities like sailing regattas, rowing races, and rendezvous, you’ll learn and grow with your shipmates. You’ll even have the opportunity to meet Sea Scouts from other parts of your community, the nation, and even the world!
Jason S.
Council Boatswain
2026
Chris Manning
Council Commodore
2026
Sea Scout Quarterdeck
The Great Smoky Mountain Council Sea Scout Quarterdeck is composed of a team of youth officers from the council’s Sea Scout Ships and is supported by a Council Commodore. The Quarterdeck is largely responsible for strengthening Sea Scouting in the council, planning events, coordinating Introduction to Leadership Skills for Ships training sessions, and more. The Quarterdeck also carries out service projects for the council.
The Quarterdeck provides opportunities for adventure, leadership, personal growth, and service. It also opens the door to service on the Sea Scout Quarterdecks and VOAs of our NST, our Region, and the Nation.
Sea Scout Leadership Award
Annually, the Quarterdeck recognizes Sea Scouts and Skippers/Mates who have made exceptional contributions to Sea Scouts and who exemplify the Scout Oath and Law with the Council Sea Scout Leadership Award. Nominations are made each year between January and mid February.
Do you know someone who is worthy of this great award?
Click HERE to for more information!
Interested in Being Part of the Quarterdeck?
Would you like to serve the Great Smoky Mountain Council Quarterdeck? Or do you know someone else who would be great as an officer?
Previous Officers
2024- Layton T.
2025 – Jonathan M.
CBT Fleet
Boat 1
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Boat 2
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Boat 3
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