Troop 79 and the Sea Scouts on Lake Michigan

What better way to kick off the Scouting season than with an overnight at 31st St. Harbor courtesy of the Chicago Sea Scouts! Besides our own Troop members, we also hosted about a dozen Chicago-area Webelos Scouts and their families to learn about T-79.

Our guests were treated to a cookout, games plus a tour of a working Coast Guard search and rescue boat.  But then it was time to hit the water for real. Between a 28′ Catalina sailboat and the Sea Scouts with their high-powered Boston Whaler, the Webelos seemed to have a great day out on beautiful Lake Michigan.

By late afternoon all the Webelos families had gone home, and will hopefully consider Troop 79 when the time comes to bridge over to Boy Scouts. Afterwards, most of our Scouts went for an early evening cruise, while others kayaked around the harbor.

What an experience, watching a beautiful sunset over the city skyline from the deck of yet another Sea Scout boat, then settling in for the night on a 40′ ketch; some on deck and some below.

The next morning it was time to pack up, eat breakfast and head home.  Not our typical camping experience, but that’s partly what made it so memorable!  Thanks again to the Sea Scouts and Mr. Keats for so generously including their fleet in the overnight.