NCAC Sea Scout Ship 1176 took to the water for the first International Scouting Jamboree-on-the-Water with a day cruise on the historic tall ship Providence in Alexandria, Virginia, on July 14, 2024. They were joined by sister land Troop 1176, along with friends and Scouts from various other Units. Scouts worked with the Providence crew to hoist the sails and practice other sailing skills, such as coiling lines. Ship 1176 also took the opportunity to swear in two new Sea Scouts as ship members while on the water.
The Providence is the designated official flagship of the first international Jamboree-on-the-Water for 2024. It is a 12-gun, 110-foot-long sloop-of-war, which is a full-scale replica of the first ship authorized to serve in the Continental Navy and the first American command for John Paul Jones, father of the American Navy. The current Providence was built for the 1976 American Bicentennial and has been in various tall ship festivals, as well as movies, including two “Pirates of the Caribbean” films.
The original Providence was a merchant ship called Katy and owned by John Brown of Rhode Island, one of the brothers for whom Brown University was named. Katy and another vessel were the first two ships authorized by the Continental Congress to start the American Continental Fleet during the Revolutionary War. Katy was on a secret mission for General George Washington at the time, searching for gunpowder in Bermuda. After returning from its mission, Katy was renamed Providence and officially commissioned to become one of the first and most renowned ships of the Revolutionary War. The Providence is harbored in Alexandria as part of the John Warner Maritime Museum. Plans are underway for expanding Scout programs with the Providence.
Jamboree-on-the-Water (JOTW) is a “join-in” Jamboree where Scouts all over the world can join in and organize an activity on the water, at the same time, wherever they are in the world and share their experience online. Scouts can sail the ocean or a lake, go on a motorboat, canoe, or kayak outing, or visit a local pond, lake, pool, or beach and undertake any water activity involving ships, boats, canoes, kayaks, paddleboats, or swimming (even underwater SCUBA diving). Scouts can also do an educational project or pursue a water-centered Merit Badge.
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More information about Jamboree-on-the-Water here