With the focus on violence, homicides and young people in Richmond, everyone agrees that youth need productive outlets for energy and places where they can be mentored by responsible adults and learn vital life skills. I know of no better program than the Richmond Sea Scouts sponsored by Northland Nautical Foundation.

The Richmond Sea Scouts have the only youth program in Richmond that takes full advantage of Richmond’s unique status as a waterfront city. The program, based at Marina Bay, is open to both boys and girls between 14 and 18 years of age and is recruiting Richmond youth. See http://hometown.aol.com/sssnorthland/ for details.

The organization has a wonderful 102-foot former U. S. Navy ship that is temporarily out of commission while a diesel engine is being repaired. A number of local businesses have pitched in to help, but the organization needs $15,000 to complete the repairs. See attached press release.

For now, Northland has accomplished the following:

• Disconnected the broken engine on board, and placed it on a special Teflon coated platform and rack so it will easily slide out the hull. The kids helped do all of this last week.
• A tentative appointment this Friday September 8th, early morning, to be towed up the Cutting Channel by FOSS Maritime to the Manson Construction dock off West Cutting Blvd. Bay Ship & Yacht will then cut our hull open, and Manson will take the engine out to a truck, which will bring it back to our warehouse. The complete overhaul & rebuilding can then begin.
• Sold one of its sail boats last week for an additional $1200. Northland has raised $2,600 so far but need much more a.s.a.p. to order gaskets, bearings, parts, etc. See the attachment for details. The immediate need is for money to order the parts now.

Northland teaches just about everything involving boating and maritime skills, safety, navigation, engineering, piloting, commissary, along with a lot of discipline. There are currently three veteran Sea Scouts who have gone on to further study at the California Maritime Academy, three in the US Navy, one in the US Coast Guard, and one in the US Army.  

Northland is a classic youth maritime experience and training program that was originally chartered by the Boy Scouts of America in 1933. It is a 501c3 non-profit California corporation and a registered charitable organization. 100% of all donations are tax deductible and directly support our program. There are no paid members of our organization.

For information, contact:

Executive Officer is Doug Haight: 510 685-7243
email address is SSSNorthland@aol.com
mailing address is:
Northland Nautical Foundation
P.O. Box 5165
Richmond California 94805

Or phone Jon Sargent, 510 449-7770

See Newsline Feature: Sea Scouts