Local youths take scouting to the seas
Scouting is often associated with land-based activities like camping and hiking, but one local group is taking those lessons out to sea.
Sea Scout Unit 1659 is led by Bryan Talley and the Scouts sail out of South Shore Harbor on the vessel Whitney’s Dream 3 in and around Galveston Bay.
The Sea Scouts are members of the Boy Scouts of America and learn all the nautical skills the Coast Guard requires for boys and girls ages 13-21 to conduct sailing on sea, rivers or lakes.
Among many of the skills learned are navigation, water safety, boat maintenance and how to compete in regattas.
Talley and his wife, Traci, who live in Spring, have been teaching Sea Scouts for 10 years.
The couple are trained unit leaders and are dedicated to the Sea Scouts.
“I’d say it lends itself more to a passion,” said Bryan Talley. “We make a difference with these kids.”
Sailing teaches leadership, Talley said.
“When you take six to eight kids out on a sailing vessel, it teaches them to take charge. It also instills skills in leadership, communication, science, teamwork and social skills.”
Talley, with mechanical engineers and volunteers Marcus Sexton and Art Volkmann, is working on refurbishing a 36foot, 1965 Alden sloop in the garage of a former Olde Oaks fire station in Spring, which they remodeled two years ago in order to house Sea Scout meetings.
“Although refurbishing the sloop is not part of the curriculum, the act lends itself to the curriculum, such as mechanics, construction and instrumentation,” Bryan Talley said. “It also helps Scouts with their rank advancement.”
There are 19 Scouts in the group, hailing from Aldine, Spring, Tomball, Klein and Huntsville. They sail out of Kemah. At a recent meeting at the fire station, Traci Talley and a number of teens worked on canvas fabric spread out over the floor.
“We’re getting the sails ready,” Traci Talley said.
“Right now, we’re taking out two rigs for our sailboats.”
They also worked earlier this year on decorating two boats for the annual “Yachty Gras” regatta in Kemah, which is part of the yearly Mardi Gras celebration.
The proceeds of this year’s Yachty Gras event went to the Sea Scouts.
Yachty Gras executive director Dr. Maurine Howard was impressed with the young people’s seafaring acumen.
“Everyone that met them was very impressed with their professionalism and dedication toward learning seamanship,” said Howard. “They were fantastic to work with, and I’m sure we will work with them again.”
Traci Talley said the Sea Scouts give kids a good foundation.
“We really feel that Sea Scouting gives youths a good foundation for their future,” she said. “They learn teamwork, leadership, and skills that they can carry with them for life.
“Plus, they make lifelong friends from all around the world. Three of our girls went to Switzerland last year. The Sea Scouts program offers a variety of experiences that most youths do not get.”
The Talleys’ unit was voted the National Flagship in 2010, which coincided with the Boy Scouts of America’s centennial.
The National Flagship Award according to the Sea Scout website, is “a trophy awarded by the BSA to a ship and its chartered organization.”
The boat’s name is added to a perpetual Sea Scout plaque on permanent display at Boy Scout headquarters in Irving.
The trophy is kept in a glass case in the meeting place in Spring.
“It’s a very prestigious honor,” said Bryan Talley. “It’s really important stuff.
“Most people here in Spring don’t know about us, that’s the thing,” said Talley. “We don’t get any money from the BSA for the awards. We raise money parking cars for the Shriners, placing flags at various places for the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Flag Day.”
Fifteen-year-olds Bridgette Talley, daughter of the Talleys, and Maddie Charlton have been Sea Scouts since they were 13.
”I plan on being in the Sea Scouts until I have to leave,” said Charlton, referring to the cutoff at age 21.
“The Sea Scouts made me more comfortable around people ... like, I was kind of really shy when I first got into it, but I met new people when I got in the ship, and it boosted my confidence.” Bridgette Talley agreed. ”Sea Scouts has basically given me a second family,” she said. “I plan on staying in touch with these people for the rest of my life.”
For details about Sea Scout Unit 1659, contact Talley via email at skipper1@aol.com. For details: www.seascout.org. znc