Sea Base Awards and Certifications Scouts Can Get At Sea Base

 

Are you going on the Florida Keys Sea Base high adventure? There are a number of awards you can achieve while on your trip!  Here's an overview of the awards that you are very likely to be able to get while at Sea Base!

Sea Base awards are primarily performance- and participation-based, not competitive or nomination-driven like some merit badges or Eagle Scout.

 They focus on completing specific requirements, demonstrating skills/attitudes, and crew-wide effort during the trek.

• Crews work together to meet requirements, the whole crew earns it together if the standards are met.
• Staff/mates/captains/chaplains observe and verify completion on-site.

Sea Base provides checklists or evaluation forms for most awards . Crews (or individuals) complete tasks, demonstrate competencies, and show Scout spirit/leadership. Note that "awards" are not the same as "merit badges" or souvenir patches. See this page for merit badges which can most feasibly worked on during a Sea Base trek, and click here for souvenir patches.

Here is how to earn them

1. Adventure-Specific Awards

These are earned through participation, preparation, youth leadership, responsibility, and positive attitude during specific Sea Base programs.

1. Click on the link (the name of the award below) to review the specific requirements
2. While on the adventure, be sure each scout who wants the award completes the requirements.
3. Upon return to Sea Base, go to the Ship Store and fill out the paperwork at the check-out counter.
4. Purchase the badges at tghe Ship Store at base camp.  If you forget, you can order them online at the Sea Base online ship store. The cost of the patches ranges from about $1.50 for the smaller ones to $3.50 for the large ones.

• Out Island Adventure: Castaway Club Award:
  Earned by Out Island Adventure participants (e.g., Big Munson Island, Indian Key) by demonstrating:
   paddling skills, mastering snorkeling, successfully managing campsite and vessel responsibilities,
  proper fishing techniques, Leave No Trace principles,
  navigation, and nature knowledge (e.g., identifying mangroves and harmful plants).
   
  
• Keys Adventure: Cayo Hueso Club Award (Club Cayo Hueso):
  Available for Keys Adventure crew members who exhibit a positive attitude, elect a youth leader, complete all base responsibilities, and master program elements including
  Key West photo scavenger hunt,
  coral nursery work, kayaking, snorkeling,
  sailing, island time, and fishing.
  One person noted that "our mate decided who earned this or did not",
   
• Any Sailing Adventure: Captains Club Award (Sailing-specific):
  Earned by participants in sailing adventures (Florida, Bahamas, St. Thomas)
  for demonstrated seamanship and Scout spirit. The ship’s captain evaluates the crew members on snorkeling, sailing/crewing skills (terminology, steering, sail handling), fishing, cooking/cleaning/personal care, vessel responsibility, and overall Scout Oath & Law adherence.
  Certificates are typically provided; patches available for purchase.
  Sometimes captains give them out.
   
• Fishing Adventures: BEC Angler's Award:
  Earned by participants in Fishing Adventures by mastering angling techniques and conservation rules.
   
• Citizen Science / Marine Eco Expedition Awards:
  Awarded to crews who actively participate in ecological preservation, data collection (e.g., REEF fish surveys), and marine research/STEM activities.
   
• Any Adventure: Duty to God Award:
  Encourages participants to reflect on and celebrate creation through evidence of higher purpose in oceans, reefs, and marine species encountered. Available to individuals and units; patches sold at the Ships' Store.

2. National Aquatics Awards

You can fulfill the practical requirements for these during your trek, which can then be purchased/completed at the Sea Base Ships' Store. Demonstrate practical skills during the trek, verified by qualified staff/counselors or your scoutmaster, crew leader, etc. See the eexample of what we earned on coral reef sailing at right:

Eligibility: basically, if you meet the requirements to be on the Sea Base trip, you are eligible to then complete the specific requirements.

• BSA Aquatics Awards:
  Includes
  • Snorkeling BSA:  Proves proficiency in basic snorkeling skills, safety, and comfort in open water.
  • BSA Kayaking,
  • BSA Stand-Up Paddle Boarding (SUP), and
  • BSA Scuba.

3. Conservation Awards

• S.C.E.N.E.S. Ambassador Award (or Project S.C.E.N.E.):
  Available to any Scout who completes environmental learning activities on their trek (such as waterway clean-ups, marine debris removal, coral husbandry, or fish counts) and presents on the experience to their unit or council. Involves pre-arrival projects, advocacy, and tools like the NOAA Marine Debris Tracker app. You can complete the S.C.E.N.E.S. Online Form after completing the requirements.

4. High Adventure & Multi-Base Awards

If you plan to complete multiple Scouting America High Adventure bases, you can work toward:

• Triple Crown Award: For participating in three of the National High Adventure Bases (Sea Base, Northern Tier, Philmont, or the Summit Bechtel Reserve).
• Grand Slam Award: For attending all four National High Adventure Bases.

Souvenir Patches

Anyone, any scout or adult, can buy and wear these. They are sold in the Sea Base Ship Store, found just to the right of the checkout counter. Also in the online Sea Base Ship Store.

 

 

Additional Notes

• Sea Base does not offer structured merit badge programs, but many activities support pre-work on related badges/ranks (e.g., Sea Scout ranks, Venturing awards). See this page for the best Merit Badges to work on at Sea Base.
• You can purchase the patches and certificates at the Ships' Store at Sea Base.