Girl Scouts Sail Nauticus
Girl Scouts discovered what it takes to work as a team to sail the Elizabeth River on Saturday, May 4. With the help of Sail Nauticus in Norfolk, Girl Scout Juniors through Ambassadors became members of the crew and learned the basics of sailing. Participants first took part in a boat orientation and safety overview, then enjoyed two full hours on the water sailing with the Nauticus crew. They learned boat safety, injury prevention, knot tying and how to rig and sail a Sunfish boat.
“I had a lot of fun out in the boat. I could definitely see myself doing this again,” said Girl Scout Senior Maylee M. “I think the best part was learning about how to work as a team with all of the different things we had to remember. It takes more than one person to get the job done.”
Sail Nauticus is a program sponsored by the Nauticus Foundation. It helps youth in Hampton Roads develop leadership skills and academic success through the art and science of sailing. Their programs include the flagship Sail Academy, sailing memberships, skills clinics, group outings, summer camps and more.
Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast has a long-standing relationship with Sail Nauticus, which regularly opens their doors to Girl Scouts in the area. GSCCC Gold Award Girl Scout Alum, a Council Board Member at Large, and a recognized Girl Scout Famous Former, Sarah Linden-Brooks, is the former director of Sail Nauticus. She helped plan the event and was on hand to show Girl Scouts the ropes as they set sail along the river! Sarah said sailing has been a passion of hers for many years and she is excited to share her experience and the thrill of sailing with girls of all ages – it also helps her relive the fun she found in Girl Scouts.
Did you know that Girl Scouts of the USA had a program called Mariner Girl Scouts that was launched in 1934? Initially, Mariners were one of several patrols that included Trailblazers (hiking and camping), Mounted (equestrian), Panorama (general), and Wing (air and flight), Mariners enjoyed water hikes, shakedown cruises, and GAMs (Gathering of All Mariners) while learning critical skills on the water. Our Council history includes supporting several Mariner troops!
Today, Girl Scouts continue to have interests in all of these areas, including water focused activities. Girls develop skills in swimming, safety, and rescue; canoeing, kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding, or boating; and weather and navigation. Girls also take action on oceans, lakes, and rivers; explore careers related to water and the environment surrounding water; and participate in associated local, regional, national, and international travel opportunities.
If you love being on the water, be sure to check out Sail Nauticus programs on their website, as well as GSCCC’s Blazing Blue Herons, a Council canoe team!
