Northern New Jersey Council
Orange Mountains District
25 Ramapo Valley Road
Oakland, New Jersey 07436
Phone: (201) 677-1000
www.nnjbsa.org

Ken Smith,

kensmith@bsamail.org

Senior District Executive

Elaine Miller, Assistant
Direct (973) 589-8002, ext 18
FAX (201) 677-1555

2010 Scout Schedule

updated 04.27.10

Troop 15 to

Seabase Coral Reef Adventure

photo site: http://seabasecoralreefsailingtroop15.shutterfly.com/

For the first time in Troop history, seven members of Troop 15 attended Seabase in Islamorada Florida and sailed in the Coral Reef Adventure. Our boat was a 41" Morgan Out Islander named The Juan Cadiz, and captained by Tom Gaunt, an eight year veteran at Seabase. There were approximately 30 boats in harbor, representing all the programs Seabase puts on plus SCUBA diving. Members of the crew were Austin Harrison, Charlie Hill (Crew Chief), Steven Magee and Michael Pellicane, and included three fathers, David Harrison, Fred Hill and Jim Pellicane.

With a small threat of Tropical Depression Anna coming toward our course, the scouts took every position of the boat, in addition to being on the look out for omnipresent lobster pot buoys. Each scout sat at the helm, and learned and sailed each point of sail. Along the majority of the trip, Mr Pellicane and the scouts fished off the stern, catching several fish including Yellow Fin Tuna, Ahi Tuna, Barracuda, and a Bonnet Head Shark. There were two fishing contests during the week, one for edible fish, the other for inedible fish - we lost the edible competition by one inch and the inedible by 12 inches, but we won for the largest shark catch of the week at 37". On the third day we went back to port, and spent 90 minutes in four stations, starting with a volley ball match, a banana/tube ride on the back of a very fast boat (lost my teeth), a fiercely competitive, small sailboat challenge (Hunter 170's) and kayaking. The crew predominately ate meals on the Juan Cadiz but when at port, on land with another 120 scouts from all over the country including Washington, DC and Portland Oregon. The scouts were also responsible for preparing every meal while on board, and for clean up. On the last day of sailing/snorkeling, the captain insisted we earn our Seabase patch, having to dive in choppy, 16' water on the Atlantic side for a small capsule which contained our patch (you can smell the salt water in the patch today). The last night there was a Luau on land, which involved several prepared skits, and impromptu skits tossed out at the adults. Fun was had by all, and our scouts from Troop 15 had the best skit / song, the Ode to Captain Tom, performed to whole crowd. The trip was perfect in every way, as the storm did not affect our snorkeling and fishing, and no one was hurt or even suffered a minor cut or stumped toe - until the last day, the day to return home, when our original flight was cancelled eight hours before departure. Regardless, we persevered and made it home safely before 1 AM - a fabulous trip, that must be tried by all scouts from Troop 15.

Troop 15 End of Year Advancement Award Dinner Photos!