Scouts Learning Sea Skills

Saturday, Sept. 18, was a perfect day for sailing in Alamitos Bay. It was also a perfect day for attending the open house at the Boy Scouts of America, Long Beach Area Council.

As guests arrived, they were greeted by the warm smile of Albert Guerra, president of the Area Council. Guerra said the organization’s annual event has occurred at the Sea Base Aquatics Center, located at 5875 Appian Way, since 1964.

As he spoke, he escorted visitors to various tables, each offering information and demonstrations of what skills and experiences are offered in the Sea Scouts program.

The co-educational maritime program has existed since the 1970s, for youths 13-21 and is designed to promote personal development through skills, experiences and relationship building.

The maritime program consists of a squadron, made up of six different boats, varying in size, including three sailboats and three powered vessels.

At one table sat Jeanne Draper, an instructor for Poseidon, a sailing boat skippered by Bill Reed. Draper explained the Poseidon was used as an introduction to Sea Scouts, where participants learn basic sea skills, including boating safety, boating knots, as well as operation and maintenance of onboard equipment.

Draper added, participants also learn “Boating codes, navigation systems and ship courtesies – part of the traditions of the Navy.”

One attendee was Ben Masick, 22, a Long Beach port worker. Masick, who reached the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts, credits the Sea Scouts program for changing his life. “I fell in love with the water. I now can make a living out of it. I love it.”

According to Margo Nieuwendijk, whose daughter Zoe Adler is a current Sea Scout, “I’ve seen her really grow up. She’s developed leadership skills, become organized and more helpful around the house. I think anyone who has a child should let them go and try it.”

Zoe Adler explains how she learned about the program. “I was around 10. Jessie Ridgeway was 13 or 14. I admired her all the way until I joined Poseidon and I still do,” adding, “it’s an environment of camaraderie, inclusion and friendships.”

The mother of Noah Matus, who is both an Eagle Scout and a Sea Scout, shares the same views. According to Shayla Matus, “They really work as a team. It’s really about teamwork, leadership and fun. The older scouts teach the new ones,” She added, “They become more independent in the Sea Scouts.”

In addition to the Poseidon, the other sailing boats in the present-day squadron include the Maui Diamond and the Far Niente, which is skippered by Don Urquidez.

The powered boats in the squadron are the Emma E., SeaWolf and Freedom, respectively.

Guerra shared with guests a new development in the maritime program, starting in January of 2022. According to Guerra, the Sea Scouts will begin a monthly angling program, “open to Sea Scouts and scouting families,” on their newest powered boat, “Freedom.”

Guerra stressed these developments are the result of donations and donors who have supported the Sea Scouts over the years. The Sea Base repairs the donated vessels and then uses proceeds from the sale of these donated boats to sustain the year round programs they offer.

Guerra cited two examples of generous donors, including John Miller, a longstanding member of the Long Beach Yacht Club and a local shipyard owner. Miller, who passed away in 2018, donated the Maui Diamond, a 70-foot ketch sailboat, which Guerra skippers.

A second donor Guerra thanked was the Cardinal Paint and Powder company. The Emma E. was donated to the Sea Scouts through the Stanley Wayne Ekstrom Foundation. Ekstrom’s mother and father founded Cardinal Paint and Powder.

According to Lawrence Felix, a company representative, the Emma E. was named for Ekstrom’s mother and is presently skippered by Johnny Bradford, respectively. Felix added, “Stanley would’ve loved this. He wanted kids to learn to have the total experience of boating.”

He went on to praise the leadership of the Area Council and Johnny Bradford, “The community is lucky to have him. He’s teaching our young people to love and respect our oceans.”

Guerra explained that despite nearly sixty years of existence, many people in the community are unaware of the Sea Base and opportunities available to the public, noting, “A lot of people don’t know we’re here.”

He pointed to one example of how the organization plays a role in serving the community. “The Long Beach Auxiliary uses our facilities to teach all types of courses, including boat handling,” among others.

Sea Scouts is largely successful due to the particular efforts of the Bradford family. In 1963, Lee Bradford, Sr. started the program. Five years later, his son Lee (II) took over and remained Skipper for the next 48 years, retiring in 2016.

Johnny Bradford, who works as a diesel mechanic at Duthi Power Service, is the third family member to play a significant role in the organization. He grew up in the Sea Scouts program and is filling the void where his father left off. As a third-generation member and leader, Johnny credits the Boy Scouts and Sea Scout maritime program with shaping him into the man he is today.

As he takes a moment to reflect on the years he’s been involved, he says, “I learned how to fix anything. I know how to make things work. When you’re stuck out in the middle of the ocean, you have to be self-sufficient to make it back,” He added, “It also helped me with self-esteem and purpose. I also have lifelong friends from this program.”

The future is bright for the Sea Scouts program, as is the future of students like Zoe Adler and Noah Matus. Adler, a student at Ernest McBride High School, says she will attain a Bachelor of Science in nursing and pursue a career as a Navy nurse, working in triage trauma. Matus, says he will complete a degree in aerospace engineering and “... become a Navy or Air Force pilot, then an astronaut.”

With Sea Scouts like these, the future of the organization is bright and exciting and something parents and the local community can be proud of.

Volunteers are welcomed to contact the Boy Scouts of America, Long Beach Area Council office for future events at (562) 427-0911.