Visit the San Francisco Sea Scouts Open House This Weekend

One of the questions we love to ask sailors is, “How did you start sailing?” The answer is often family or a yacht club junior program, but one of the most frequent answers we hear is the Sea Scouts. It’s been around forever and continues to be a fantastic way to introduce youth to the Bay and sailing. And the value to kids extends far beyond sailing. This weekend the San Francisco Sea Scouts are giving youth a perfect opportunity to discover sailing as they host their annual Open House on Saturday, August 28.

Organized into two co-ed groups — 11- to 13-year-olds and 14- to 20-year-olds, the scouts meet year-round while actively engaging in sailing, rowing, competing against other clubs from all over the West Coast, taking overnight trips and cruises, and learning how to maintain the club’s antique wooden boats.

Tamara Sokolov, skipper of Viking (the girls’ program), said the scouts have enjoyed a very busy summer.

“For the first time in decades our membership is over 100 members through the development of our Junior Sea Scout program, Makani (middle school-aged program). We’re so excited to expand and give kids more opportunities to get out on the water.”

And looking ahead, the group is full of enthusiasm for what’s still to come.

“We’re hosting another open house for interested families this Saturday. Our programs meet weekly and are excited to welcome new scouts to the group,” Tamara explained.

“Our fall season is jam-packed with fun activities,” Tamara added. ” A weekend of camping and dinghy sailing on a lake, Fleet Week BBQ, a safety training weekend at Coast Guard Sector San Francisco, and prepping for our winter competition with other Sea Scouts from around California.”

If you have young people in your family or your neighborhood, or if you know anyone who does, we encourage you to go along to the Sea Scouts’ open house this weekend in San Francisco.

The Open House is on Saturday, August 28, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 3500 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco.

Parking is limited around the Sea Scout base and Muni Pier. You can try parking in the Fort Mason area along the path displayed. There is a nice trail that goes through Black Point and ends right at the base. Also, Muni has many bus lines that drop off within a very short walk to the Sea Scout base.

However you get there, have fun!