About Us

Sea Scout Ship 7916 of Occoquan, VA welcomes new members and adult volunteers. We are a co-ed group of 14 - 21-year-old youth that is part of the Venturing program of Boy Scouts of America. Venturing offers older Scouts the opportunity for high adventure, and Sea Scouting focuses on maritime adventure. As with all BSA programs, leadership skills and character development are built in features of Sea Scouting. Occoquan VFW Post 7916 is our chartering organization, the town's Mayor, Earnie Porta, is our Committee Chair, and our unit took its name, Blue Heron, in honor of the Occoquan town symbol. Our unit has received support from the local community including the Carefree Boat Club, Prince William Marine, Mom's Apple Pie Bakery, Leesylvania State Park, Woodbridge Sailing School, the Occoquan Town Council, and numerous individuals.

Our Ship has only been chartered since August 2007, but we are a very active unit that is already making a "splash" in the Boy Scouts of America National Capital Area Council, having received the "Wardroom Award" for achievement when only 4 months old, making us a serious contender for the 2009 Ship of the Year award. In addition to hosting regular sailing ventures, service projects, training courses, fundraisers and social activities, Sea Scout Ship 7916 has excelled in obtaining a significant number of vessels in a short period, currently having 7 sailboats ranging in size from 13' to 27'.

Although it is not uncommon for Sea Scout Ships to include a high percentage of female members—about 1/3 of our members are female—our unit is also unusual in the fact that our leader is one of the few female skippers, as well as that about 75% our Scouts are homeschooled. Skipper Seaborne has also been a homeschooling mom since 1995. The members of Ship 7916 are mainly interested in sailing, although we participate in plenty of on-shore adventures as well. Past activities include: attending the annual Sea Scout Winter Training event at Catoctin Mountain Park; game and movie nights; painting the hull of SSTV der PeLiKan and of one of our own boats, Amanda Grace; a weekend cruise aboard der PeLiKan; a fundraiser car wash; volunteering at the Occoquan Arts & Craft Show; a week-long cruise on the Chesapeake, and a weekend spent taking First Aid and Boating Safety courses from the head of the local U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps unit (where we also had the opportunity to spend the night aboard the destroyer USS Barry).

Ship 7916 holds regular meetings at 7:30 p.m., usually on the first Tuesday of each month at:

VFW Post 7916
204 Mill Street
Occoquan, VA

The post is located across the street from the Occoquan waterfront. Get directions. Go in the front door, straight ahead, and through the door that leads upstairs. Prospective members and adult leaders are welcome at any meeting. Emailing the Skipper beforehand is a good idea, in case the meeting has moved to a different date. Be prepared to introduce yourself and let us know how you found out about the Ship.

For more information, email Skipper Shay Seaborne at Skipper7916@gmail.com.