Photo by Joseph Pinto.
Troop 3 crew heading to the BSA Florida Seabase: Front from left, leaders Rob Kluk, John Campoli, Dominic Livoti, Jr, and Randy Ritter, 2nd Row: Scouts Quintin Simjouw, Matt Pinto and Jeremiah Charles. 3rd row: Kevin Flora, Andrew Kluk, Jacob Blacha. Back row: Logan Bottone, Alex Robertson, Alex Oleschuk and Ben Smith.
DERBY — Members of Boy Scout Troop 3 Derby and their leaders set sail Friday (Aug. 6) for an educational adventure on the high seas.
According to Scoutmaster Randy Ritter, 10 scouts and four leaders from Troop 3 departed at 5 a.m. Friday for a 10-day trip to Florida, where they’ll be sailing, snorkeling and fishing on two, 40-foot sailboats in the Florida Keys.
The adventure, which offers much more than just fun in the sun, is part of the National Boy Scouts of American Sea Base High Adventure Program, and aims to “build character, foster citizenship and develop physical, mental and emotional fitness,” according to the program’s mission statement.
“The trip is a team-building exercise as everyone must work together as one,” Ritter said via email just before he and the scouts set off. “The scouts (attending) are among our junior leaders who will be running the troop in the coming year, so it will be great getting them to work together.”
Ritter said the scouts will gain important skills through following the ship captain’s orders as they raise the sails, scrub the decks, snorkel and cooks meals (that they catch) together. They’ll also learn how to navigate, read a map, learn the parts of a ship, incorporate teamwork as they raise and lower the sails and take turns on “anchor watch” throughout the night to ensure the anchor doesn’t slip.
Scout Logan Bottone, 14, a Derby resident, said he’s looking forward to his time on the high seas, especially catching and cooking his dinner.
“I’m really looking forward to fishing for barracuda,” Logan said via email.
For Ritter, this is the fourth trip he’s made with Troop 3 scouts. He is excited for the scouts to experience an adventure of a lifetime. The scouts were originally planning to venture to Derby, England this summer, but the trip was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions with international travel. Each scout raised $2,000 through various fundraising activities to fund the trip. Ritter said the sailing trip is by far a favorite among scouts who’ve gone before.
“I’m hoping the team building between the scouts helps prepare them for the scouting year ahead,” Ritter said. “I’m also sure they’ll enjoy waking up to the sunrise, sleeping aboard the deck of the sailboat and watching the sun set at night. That and their snorkeling experiences are memories they won’t soon forget.”
Along with Ritter and the scouts, Troop 3 Committee Chairman Rob Kluk and Assistant Scoutmasters Dominic Livoti, Jr, and Johnny Camoli are onboard for the adventure.
Troop 3 Derby is one of the oldest, active scouting troops in the United States, founded at the 2nd Congregational Church in 1914, just four years after scouting arrived in America. Weekly troop meetings will resume Sept. 8. Youths 11 years and older are welcome to join. For more information, contact Ritter at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
