Tuesday June 20 – Snorkeling Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary

Our snorkeling adventure began with a one hour delay for a thunder storm cell that was right over base. Rain does not stop a Sea Base outing but lightning does.

The crew passed the hour by playing battling tops with spinning dimes and quarters. Forrest also added Troop 105 numerals to the list of Scenic Trails Troops under the Council Shoulder patch on the Galley wall. Troop 1 has the first position under the council patch. The new council patch had been added to the ceiling in line with the original council patch and an Indian Drum Lodge pocket flap patch was on the wall below the council patch.

Once the storm had passed, two Keys Adventure crews and two Sea Base Scuba crews boarded the dive boat and headed for Looe Key. Captain Jeff was in command of the Scout Master dive boat.

Snorkeling at Looe Key was fantastic. Our first tie up and snorkel was on a stretch of reef where large marine life liked to stay. The crew saw sharks, 4’-5’ Barracuda, 5’-7’ Tarpon and hundreds of Parrot Fish, Snapper, Angel Fish, Butterfly Fish and large schools of Doctor Fish.

The second tie up was on a stretch of reef where smaller marine life stayed and the coral was fantastic.

We spent 45 minutes to an hour at each Looe Key location and had a great time snorkeling. Diving was fun but it was exhausting.

Captain Jeff started the Scout Master back to Brinton Center and all crews had lunch on board. While taking a short cut to the channel passage, the Scout Master ran aground. Captain Jeff good naturally announced an Emergency Beaching Practice Run. The crews got off the Scout Master and in a few minutes the dive boat was afloat and headed for the channel. All crews returned to ship and had a pleasant ride to base.

Tuesday June 20 – Flag Raising

The Crew from Troop 1 and Troop 105 presented the colors, raised the flag and led the Pledge of Allegiance for the Brinton Center Base.

The crew was up in plenty of time because a Crew Member from an Ohio Troop sharing our bunk house had left his alarm clock, set for 6:45AM, locked in his troops cupboard. His crew was on BIG MUNSON ISLAND so there was no way to turn the alarm off.

Monday June 19 – Random Thoughts and Quotes From the Crew

Doug death attack – Crabs 3 – Doug 1.

The Iron Chefs should open a restaurant together.

Doug was assaulted by a hermit crab last night.

Doug drank sea water thinking it was fresh water.

That was JOLLARIOUS!

Dry the salt wart and use it as a cooking herb.

I want to stop for fresh fruit.

Bugs were annoying and sargassum smelled very bad.

Doug and Kurtice almost threw up because of the smell.

I can’t believe he pinched me!

Key Deer and fawns would walk right through our camp like we were another animal.

True roughing it. I peed on a Gumbo Limbo tree.

Hey Zach…

I miss my lawn.

I had fun on the island. Except for the Sargassum.

Try the lemon-lime gator aide mix on your oatmeal.

Slept in!

Over…kurrrch

Monday June 19 – Night Snorkel

The crew had a nice dinner back at base and after a short rest we packed up for a night snorkel. We drove to a protected cove near Bahia Honda State Park and got in the water. Our snorkel was briefly interrupted because we lacked a dive marker but as soon as we had one we were back in the water.

The night snorkel was great fun. Thousands of tiny fingerling fish would gather around us and our lights. You would have to move the fish out of the way as you snorkeled.

The night snorkel was also great for seeing lots of crabs moving on the coral.

The night snorkel was topped off by a distant thunder storm that provided quite a light show in the sky on the horizon. While directly above us, the stars and constellations shined in blazing glory.

Monday June 19 – BIG MUNSON Nature Hike

After breakfast, Zach led the crew on a nature hike of BIG MUNSON Island. During the hike, Zach reviewed the history, wild life and fauna of the island.

We saw how the Red Mangrove Trees are adding land to the island. How crews are trying to save Gumbo Limbo trees blown over by hurricanes. The Gumbo Limbo trees are righted, tied off with ropes and a couple of feet of sargassum is piled around the base of the tree.


We got to see the oldest tree on the island, a 3,000 year old Silver Palm. We also got to see the third biggest Button Wood Tree in the world. The Button Wood Tree would be the largest Button Wood Tree in the world but it has been hit by lightning three times.

Our hike took us to the salt flats in the center of the island and also home of the islands emergency helicopter pad.



The crew had hoped to kayak the maze of Red Mangrove in the middle of the island but low tide prevented it.

We hiked back to camp, had lunch and prepared to hike our gear back to the floating docks for pick up and our return to the Brinton Center.



The boat ride back to the Brinton Center left us with one of the great memories of the Adventure. We were just entering the marina when Doug placed one of the five gallon drinking water bottles to his lips. Everyone else in the crew knew the drinking water was gone and the water in the jug was sea water from the wade out to the floating dock. No one said anything until Doug had taken a big drink – and promptly spit it back out. A good laugh was had by all.

Monday June 19 – BIG MUNSON ISLAND Morning

We did not have watches but from the height of the sun and the warmth of the morning, the entire crew slept in a bit on Monday morning. There was no rush, we were on island time.

The camp fire was restarted and slowly all crew mates emerged from their tents and a new days adventure was started.



Kevin and Forrest were cooks for breakfast. Kurtice and Doug were clean up. While a fine oatmeal breakfast was being prepared, Doug and Kurtice had time to explore the camp and the nature that surrounded it.

Sunday June 18 – Random Thoughts and Quotes From the Crew

Kevin felt much better after chumming his lunch.

That was JOLLARIOUS!

I wasn’t born to fish.

I was born to fish.

It took a long time until we actually got to fish.

The boat ride waves were fun.

The boat ride was great and I caught two Dolphin Fish. A 30” and a 34”, I was excited.

Schools of Dolphin Fish!

Stop wiggling and I’ll take the hook out.

Follow the birds to the fish!

Hey Zach...

Captain Frank and the Black Fin.

If I Were Not a Boy Scout…

The MUNSON shuffle for 200 yards to shore.

The smell! The Key Deer! The Hermit Crabs! The Poison Trees!

We ate Dolphin Fish and Alfredo made by Iron Chefs Kurtice & Doug.

OUCH! IT PINCHED ME!

Rhyme Master Doug Dougie Doug…

Mr. Schlak, he’s cool, used chalk when he taught school…

Is that Paddy Cakes?

Sargassum, SARGASSUM smells.

Kerrch…Over…kurrrch

Sunday June 18 – When Hermit Crabs Attack

It was dark and after our great dinner when the great HERMIT CRAB assault occurred. Doug cried out, “It pinched me!” We will leave this entry with the final post to the crew accident report: Laceration, right index finger. Antibacterial cream and bandages applied.

We will speak of this no more – fat chance!

Sunday June 18 – BIG MUNSON ISLAND

Captain Frank dropped us and our catch off on a floating dock about 300 yards from BIG MUNSON ISLAND. Our dry bags and snorkel gear were on the floating dock waiting for us. The crew agreed that Zach, Kurtice and Doug would fillet and bag the fish while the rest of the crew waded our gear ashore. (7 dry bags, 7 snorkel bags, 2 five gallon bottles of drinking water, 3 three gallon Jerry jugs of water for clean up and four fishing poles)

Wading to shore you get to go through about 10 yards of floating sargassum. The sargassum greets all BIG MUNSON ISLAND visitors with its aroma from well before the floating docks.

Once all the gear and the crew were ashore, Zach led us to our camp site. It was about a half mile hike from where we had come ashore. It was a hot day and it took two trips to get all of our gear to camp. Tents were picked, gear was put away and camp chores were decided on. Doug and Kurtice would cook, Kevin and Forrest would start a fire and clean up after the meal.

Before we started dinner and a camp fire, the crew attended Chapel on the beach of BIG MUNSON ISLAND. The Chaplin also provided information and readings that allowed Mr. Schlak to complete requirements towards earning his Duty to God Award. Be sure to ask Mr. Schlak about the Duty to God Award patch he earned at Sea Base.

Key Deer were in camp when we arrived and roamed in and out of camp at will during our stay.

Returning from Chapel, it did not take Iron Chef Kurtice and Iron Chef Doug very long to have the camp stove going and the makings of a great meal underway. Iron Chef Kurtice would be preparing Mahi-Mahi using his secret seasonings and cooking techniques. Iron Chef Doug would be preparing noodles Alfredo, using his own secret ingredients and sauce preparation techniques.

Forrest and Kevin quickly gathered kindling and fire wood and with a little help from Mr. Schlak, started a great camp fire. Once the fire started, the bugs left our camp!

Iron Chef Doug and Iron Chef Kurtice prepared the best meal that was served during our entire Keys Adventure. Everyone had seconds, most had thirds and a couple of crew mates had fourths! Everything was eaten and it was great.

After dinner we sat around the camp fire, told stories, talked about future plans and other possible adventures. Zach suggested we hike down to the beach to sit by the ocean for a while.

On the hike we saw florescent plants and many hermit crabs. Zach pointed out the Poison Wood trees and Night Shade plants that should be avoided at all times.

On the beach, more stories were told. The stars were amazing. A few songs were sung and then Doug took over and entertained everyone with his wit and sing-song rhyming abilities. Mr. Neff laughed so hard he cried.

Zach mentioned several possibilities for adventures on BIG MUNSON for the next day. The crew agreed to review their options again in the morning – after everyone was up and fed.

Sunday June 18 – Fishing with Captain Frank (American Frank that is.)

The day would end with our crew being dropped off at BIG MUNSON ISLAND so the day had to begin with the packing and final check of all dry bags and snorkel bags for the island. We also had to take off our wrist watches because we were now on ISLAND time. We took our gear to the pagoda next to the docks and then attended flag raising. Before we went to the galley for breakfast, we returned to the pagoda to load our gear onto a Dusky that would drop it off on the floating docks at BIG MUNSON ISLAND.

Captain Frank, skipper of the Dusky Black Fin, suggested we go out and troll for Dolphin Fish. We would need to go out far enough to find floating mats of vegetation or see birds feeding on bait fish at the surface. We went a long way to find both.

The boat ride was an exciting part of the day. The combination of 3 to 4 foot swells, a 250hp outboard motor, a fearless crew and an eager Captain meant the crew had many opportunities to catch air riding in the bow of the boat. The Captain knew he had a crew that could take the ride out to the fish when the youth accused him of missing big waves on purpose. When you hear the outboard motor whine because the prop is out of the water, you know you have caught some air. The only time we would slow down was to let the oil pump keep up with the motor that got a little warm with the water intake being out of the water for large portions of the trip.

Captain Frank put us on Dolphin Fish a.k.a. Mahi-Mahi. Dolphin Fish keepers have to be at least 20 inches long from the tip of the nose to the fork in the tail. We caught five keepers on the day with Kurtice landing 34” and 30” beauties. Everyone caught many Dolphin Fish and had a good time.



After trolling for Dolphin Fish, we spent about an hour reef fishing for snapper. Several Yellow Tail Snapper were caught but none were big enough to keep. Kevin enjoyed chumming during this part of the trip because it made him feel much better. His caring and sensitive crew mates were quick to drop fishing lines into Kevin’s chum stream.



After several radio calls from the Brinton Center asking when we were coming in from fishing, Captain Frank finally called for all lines to be brought in and poles put away. We took a short ride to BIG MUNSON ISLAND. We were only two hours late…

Saturday June 17 – Random Thoughts, Songs and Quotes From the Crew

Captain Tim Rocked

Doug was excellent at steering the boat.

Hey Zach.

Oh Mr. Johnny Ver Beck how Could You be So Mean…

Sailing with a pod of eight dolphins was really cool.

I tanned on the boat.

This was the best day.

Oh it was sad, Oh it was sad, when the GREAT SHIP WENT DOWN…

For being my first time sailing, it was awesome.

It was incredible, especially with the dolphins.

Navigation by compass and by landmark was one of the lessons from Captain Tim.

Announcements, announcements, ANNOUNCEMENTS, Zach has another one…

Fine singing brings in dolphins.

Over…kuuurrrrrch.

Saturday June 17 – Sailing

We had a hardy breakfast and with snorkel gear in hand we boarded our transport boat to the 32-foot sailing ship The Calypso.

Captain Tim was in charge of the Calypso and our crew. He informed us that the starter for the engine had gone bad so we could only go by wind and sail. Being low tide, we agreed to allow the Dusky powerboat to tow us from our mooring and into the sailing channel.

The crews’ first lesson was how to raise the anchors. Kurtice and Doug freed and raised the anchors like old salts and we were under tow.

While we were under tow, Captain Tim gave the crew lessons on sailing ship terms and gear. He then taught the crew how to raise and secure the main sail and how to raise and secure the jib sail.

The Calypso was ready to sail as soon as we were in the channel and had open water to work with. Captain Tim then gave the crew lessons on navigation by chart, by compass and by sighting landmarks. Captain Tim then turned the Calypso over to the crew and on the first watch, Kevin manned the helm, Doug navigated and Kurtice and Forrest tended to the sail and the jib. Using a chart of the area, the crew agreed to make sail for the light house at American Shoal. On our way to American Shoal all youth crew members took a turn at the helm and as navigators. We sailed a steady course all morning.



Steady but light winds made for smooth sailing and navigation. It did not take long for the crew to break out into song. The spotting of a large Sea Turtle interrupted singing. Singing resumed once the turtle had passed but was interrupted again when dolphins were spotted in the distance.

Soon we were ready to drop anchor off the light house at American Shoal. We had lunch and got into our snorkel gear. The crew snorkeled around and under the light house for almost and hour. Various sea life and coral formations were seen. Among the sea life the crew saw were several types of Parrot Fish, Yellow Tail Snapper, several types of Angle Fish, Tri Fins, Yellow Sting Ray, a Nurse Shark and many other sea creatures and corals.



We returned to the Calypso and prepared to sail back to her mooring spot. Kurtice and Doug handled anchors once more and Kevin and Forrest prepared the sails. The wind had lessened and was not blowing in the most favorable direction for our return trip. The crew tried different sailing duties at first but then settled in on Doug at the helm, Kevin navigating and Kurtice and Forrest working on their tans.



Mr. Schlak started to sing and soon the crew joined in. It did not take long until a pod of 8 to 10 dolphins joined our crew and swam with the Calypso breaking the water at her bow. The excitement of the watching dolphins ended the singing. The dolphins and the Calypso parted ways and the crew returned to the task of getting the ship back on course. Captain Tim sat back and gave the crew navigational and sailing tips but he never told them what to do. He would offer suggestions to check on certain things when we would drift a bit off course. The only time Captain Tim took over the boat from the crew was when his SEASONED straw hat blew off and floated in the ocean. His quick work with the wheel and the sails had the hat back on board in no time at all.



Mr. Schlak started another song and before the second verse, the dolphins had joined us again. Everyone agreed that Mr. Schlak’s singing was the key to the dolphins swimming with the Calypso.

Using suggestions about land marks, day markers, compass bearings, orienting and reading a chart, Doug identified visual landmarks that allowed him to keep us on a steady course for home. Kurtice, Forrest and Kevin were back up navigators but Doug had the helm and was always on course.



The crew was having such a great time sailing that they requested Captain Tim radio the Brinton Center and request a late arrival so the crew could try to sail through the Buckeye Pass. Fortunately, the Brinton Center constantly monitors the weather and they declined our request for a late arrival.

We continued to sail for home until the wind completely abandoned us. Captain Tim radioed the Brinton Center and a Dusky was sent out to tow us back in the channel.

Once we were under tow again, Captain Tim instructed the crew on how to lower, stow and secure the mail sail and the jib sail. The Calypso was ready to drop anchor as soon as we had returned to the mooring sight. As the crew left the Calypso and boarded the Dusky, the rain started to pour down. A few lightening strikes were seen in the distance but none were close to us. The rain poured down for our five minute ride back to base.



During the entire day of sailing, the youth crew ran the boat. Captain Tim, Island Mate Zach and the adult crew leaders let the main sail in or out a couple of times, adjusted the jib once or twice and took the helm only to retrieve the Captain’s hat and to avoid an encounter with green Channel Marker 17…

Back at base, Zach passed out our dry bags.