Categories
Events Road Trip

18-19APR25 Tall Ship and Liberty Ship Overnight

The Basics

WhoMaritime Explorers, Sea Scouts, and their families from the following units:
MEC-1024 (Penn Run, PA)
SSS-4481 (Bedford, PA)
SSS-940 (Stroudsburg, PA)
SSS-1510 (Lake Hopatcong, PA)
WhatA one-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Participants will take part helping sail the Pride of Baltimore II, spend the evening aboard the Liberty Ship SS John Brown, and learn about life aboard each vessel.
When18-19 April 2025
WhereBaltimore, MD
WhyTo learn about our nation’s maritime history, inspire our future mariners, and have fun!
HowSign up and trip details as per information below.
PLEASE SIGN UP BY 07 MARCH 2025

General Itinerary

Tall Ship Day Sail

Our day will begin with a two-hour day sail aboard the Pride of Baltimore II, from 1300-1500.

While aboard, attendees will get to experience what it is like to actually sail tall ships, learn the history of the vessel, and learn about Baltimore’s rich maritime history.

Liberty Ship Overnight

Following our time aboard the Pride of Baltimore II, we’ll proceed to the the Liberty Ship SS John Brown. Following our safety briefing, we’ll get settled in, have dinner, sleep overnight, have breakfast, and take tours throughout the ship (including the Engine Room and Bridge!).

Be sure to see the next section below regarding important details about the berthing (i.e. sleeping) and messing (i.e. meal) arrangements, among other important things to be aware of.

Details

For All Attendees

Here are some important details about the trip applicable to all attendees:

  • Clothing & Safety: Both vessels are operating vessels of historical significance, and participants will get a lot of ‘hands-on’ experience aboard each. What does that mean?
    1) Be sure to dress appropriately for the weather. Closed-toe shoes are required at all times (including the berthing spaces aboard the John Brown),
    2) Due to their age and configuration, neither ship is a ‘cruise ship’. There are not accessibility accommodations, and certain hazards such as steep ship’s ladders (i.e. stairs), pinch point, and head-bangers exist. It is imperative that all attendees comply with the instructions that provided by each vessel’s crew to ensure their safety.

    3) Any minors not registered with the Maritime Explorer Club or the Sea Scout Ships must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
  • Berthing: While the final berthing arrangement may vary depending upon the make-up of the final group, we expect it to look something like this:
    Male Explorers/Sea Scouts – Will be berthed in the #2 Tween Deck Troop Accommodations, which has berths stacked seven high. They’ll get to experience what it was like to sleep as troops during their weeks long voyage to one of the WWII theaters of war.
    Female Sea Scouts – Will be berthed in the ’12-man room’, a space arranged similar to the #1 Tween Deck Troop Accommodations.
    Families – Families will be berthed separately in staterooms in the deck house, with each room accommodating 1-4 occupants.
    In the event that additional space is required, some attendees may be required camp (i.e. set up their own tents) in the #1 Tween Deck space.
  • Cost & Availability:
    Note: There is a limit of 35 attendees for the Pride of Baltimore II. Following accommodation of the MEC-1024 and SS-4481 attendees, spots will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

    Maritime Explorer, Their Families, and SSS-4481 Sea Scouts that Participated in the November Sailing Center Cleanup – Thanks to the generosity of our Associate Sponsor Mr. Arthurs, the first 20 attendees signed up from this units attend at no cost. Beyond that, the fee is $35 per attendee, which covers the costs collected by the SS John Brown.

    Other Sea Scouts & Families – The fee is $35 per attendee, which covers the costs collected by the SS John Brown.
  • Meals: Meals will be arranged on a per-unit basis. See your unit leader.
  • Parking: All persons attending the overnight portion of the event must arrive at the pier prior to 1800 to avoid being locked out. For security purposes, the pier gate will remain closed until the following morning. In the event of an unplanned late arrival or an early departure, you will need to contact your unit leader so that we can ensure the proper arrangements are made.
  • Drug-Free/No Smoking: Due to security requirements aboard the vessels, no drugs or smoking is permitted aboard.
Click Here to register

For Unit Leaders

To help coordinate our efforts for this exciting event, each unit will be responsible for the following:

  • Leadership – Each attending unit should include at least two registered adults with current YPT certificates and training. Each unit will be responsible for the conduct of their attendees.
  • Paperwork – Each attending unit shall ensure that the they have a completed copy of Parts A&B of the BSA Health form for each attendee on hand, as well as any other paperwork your unit may require (i.e. permission slips, etc.). Additionally, each until will have to complete a copy of the John Brown’s Hold Harmless Agreement, which is available upon request from the MEC Sponsor.
  • Meals – Each unit will be responsible for their own meals for Friday’s dinner and Saturday’s breakfast (including food and paper products). The Troop Mess does include a range, oven, cookware, and refrigeration facilities if such provisions are needed (please let the MEC Sponsor know if you would like to use these facilities). Based on our discussions with the ship, we highly recommend ‘easy’ meals for each of these meals.
  • Payment – Each unit will be responsible for bringing payment for their attendees attending the overnight portion of the trip. The John Brown permits this as they recognize that there often last-minute changes in the number of attendees.