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Florida Sea Base is anxious for your arrival and participation in the Sea Exploring Program for the upcoming season. To aid in your preparation for the trip, we would like to go over some programmatic and physical aspects of the week that you will spend with us.

Upon arrival at the Sea Base you will be greeted by your Program Mate and given a tour of the Base, a swim review, snorkel lesson, and take an optional crew photo. Your first meal will be dinner at the quarterdeck, after which you will meet with the Mate of your vessel. You will prepare for a 6-day and five-night adventure of exploring the Florida Keys on a large sailing vessel. You will sleep the first night in a Sea Base bunkhouse. The next morning your crew will have breakfast and provision your vessel with gear and food. By 10 a.m. you should be off and sailing on your journey to Key West and back. You and your fellow members will take turns cooking in the Galley and cleaning the boat, along with sailing and providing a nightly anchor watch. Because the sea never sleeps, we use a watch system not only to keep an eye on our vessel, but also to run it smoothly. You will drop fishing lines in the water as you travel to hopefully catch a meal.

The week's schedule depends on the weather and the crew's ability. On your first day towards Key West you will stop to snorkel some of the best coral reefs in the Florida Keys. On your first night aboard your vessel, you will be at anchor in a safe harbor. When you arrive at Key West you will be granted shore leave to explore the historic town. On you last day, you will return to Sea Base around 2 p.m. to unload gear and clean the vessel. This is the night of your big Luau dinner and closing program. Your crew will perform skits and receive the Florida Sea Base patch. Your last night will be spent in the bunkhouse before your a.m. departure.

Try to travel light and bring only what you need. Remember, these sailing vessels can be cramped for space. This is not a pleasure cruise, but rather it is a working vessel. The quarters can be cramped and hot, so be prepared to sleep on deck. This will be a great adventure that you will remember for a lifetime. You will be doing actual hands on sailing, including navigating with charts, raising and lowering of the sails, taking turns on the helm, and swabbing the decks.

Because of the number of people involved and the close quarters in ship board living, you need to ensure that all of your gear fits into one small duffel bag with crushable sides...definitely no larger than a pillow case. While you are under way on your vessel you will troll for many types of large fish. If you are a gung-ho fisherman, you may want to try your hand at bottom fishing in several of the anchorages. The Florida Sea Base supplies all the necessary rods, reels and tackle.

SWIM TEST AND REVIEW

The Florida Sea Base is the premier aquatic High Adventure facility of the BSA. The programs involve strenuous activities that tire even those who are in the best physical condition. You must complete the standard BSA swim test prior to you arrival. If you cannot pass this test without problems, you may want to reconsider participation. Upon your arrival to the Sea Base, you will participate in a swim review to assess your swimming skills. The heat and physical activities can tire you out fast, so arrive at the Sea Base in good physical condition.

BEING PHYSICALLY FIT

Every participant in the Florida Sea Base High Adventure program needs to be physically fit for the strenuous demands that will be placed on their body. Get in shape! Stay in shape! You will be in the water a great deal, so to prepare, go swimming often with your crew at your local pool. Do some light exercises to increase your stamina. You will be frequently lifting your body in and out of the water to boats and docks. You have dedicated a lot of your personal time and resources to come to Sea Base. Get the most out of your experience by being ready - physically and mentally.

Persons weighing over 300 pounds are ineligible to participate in Florida Sea Base High Adventures.

All participants must meet eligibility requirements.

WHAT TO BRING

All of the items on the following "What to Bring List", except the pad and sleeping bag, should fit in a bag the size of a pillowcase. If you can't stuff it in a small bag, you have too much stuff!!

NOTE: Make sure you can successfully pass the BSA Swim Test.

NOTE: Make sure your name is on the crew roster your leader is going to send us.

NOTE: Don't forget to bring a photocopy of front and back of insurance card.

PARENTS

Do not send mail. Sea Base offers programs to hundreds of Scouts on the sea, on the land, and on an island. We cannot deliver mail from home to Scouts unless it is mail of urgency, i.e. glasses, medicine, etc. left at home. In case of an extreme emergency, contact can be made with the following numbers: 305-664-4173 Days or 305-664-7766 Nights.