By Trisha Walker
Columbia Gorge News
THE DALLES — Sea Scouts from The Dalles attended the Nor’Wester Regatta on April 10-12, an annual competition in seafaring skills held at Camp Rilea, an Oregon National Guard training center on the Oregon Coast.
Madelyn Pincock, Rachael Pincock, Kenni Strunk, and Ashten Murphey made up this year’s group from SSS Freedom No. 399 in The Dalles. Two former The Dalles Sea Scouts also attended: Annika Baumgarten, now an adult volunteer and event photographer, and Logan Baumgarten, Western Oregon University student who served as Regatta Boatswain, or overall youth leader.
The local group joined Sea Scouts from Beaverton and Eugene in Oregon, and Battle Ground, Vancouver and Seattle in Washington.
“Despite being the least experienced group, the four youth from SSS Freedom did well in several events,” said Sea Scout adult volunteer Raz Mason. “They tied for first in identifying 30 parts of a sailboat, second in uniform inspection and safety events, and third in Gumby suit — quickly putting on a cold-water immersion suit — and the Sea Scouts Quiz.”
Teams compete against each other, as well as for points to achieve the standardized national rankings of Sloop, Schooner, and Clipper — the highest level.
“The lesson I learned from Regatta is it’s not about winning; it’s about the journey along the way,” said Storekeeper (or first year participant) Strunk.
“It’s about the fact that you came here and tried something new,” Boatswain’s Mate Rachael Pincock said. “Sometimes it’s good to be pushed out of your comfort zone; it’s really easy when you feel safe.”
How to join
Sea Scouts began in 1912 and has always been a part of the Boys Scouts of America — now, Scouting America. Each summer, SSS Freedom Sea Scouts go on a week-long Summer Cruise on the Columbia, plus attend maritime learning events around the Northwest.
In addition to preparing for the Regatta, the SSS Freedom performs a variety of service activities such as patrolling as the safety boat for the July 4 fireworks barge, removing weeds along the river for The Dalles Irrigation District, cleanup for the Port of The Dalles Marina, first aid stations during marathons and bike races, and assisting the Lions Club with traffic control during the downtown trick-or-treat event, Mason said. Scouts also do swimming activities and whitewater rafting.
She added that in The Dalles, the SSS Freedom owns a powerboat training vessel, the 36-foot-long Independence, and has access to two sailboats in addition to kayaks and rowing dinghies.
Youth ages 14-20 from The Dalles and surrounding areas are welcome to join. The group meets Tuesday nights, with occasional Thursday night meetings. There is an online hybrid option, and activities and special events are often held on weekends.
“I was a Sea Scout in The Dalles as a teenager and have been an adult leader in the program for more than 25 years,” said Skipper Deidre Baumgarten, adding the program was restarted in The Dalles in 2019 to serve youth in the Gorge. “Sea Scouts offers unique opportunities to teens and adult volunteers that they may not find anywhere else.”
“When you live in a place like the Columbia Gorge, you can take for granted all the water recreation opportunities and assume that everyone has been boating or paddling on the river,” said Hood River adult volunteer Jackson Beckman. “Sea Scouts gives youth the chance to have direct experiences on the water and make a lifelong connection with boating and the outdoors.”
To learn more, contact Skipper Baumgarten at 707-363-5353 or sssfreedom399@gmail.com.
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