The Florida National High Adventure Sea Base is a high adventure program base run by the Boy Scouts of America in the Florida Keys.

The main Sea Base is located in Islamorada, Florida, on the end of Lower Matecumbe Key at mile marker (MM) 73.8. A secondary base, the Brinton Environmental Center, is located on Summerland Key at MM23.8. There is also an Out Island near Summerland Key that is only accessible via boat. There is also the Bahamas Sea Base in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Bahamas.

In addition to its use as a High Adventure program base, the Florida Sea Base also hosts conferences.

Sea Base blessing

Bless the creatures of the Sea Bless this person I call me Bless the Keys you made so grand Bless the sun that warms the land Bless the fellowship we feel as we gather for this meal Amen

Programs

Currently, the Sea Base offers the following programs:

• Bahamas Adventure
• Bahamas Tall Ship
• Out Island Adventure
• Coral Reed Sailing
• Sea Exploring (Keys Tall Ship)
• Florida Keys Adventure
• SCUBA Certification
• SCUBA Adventure
• Divemaster Training Academy
• OA Ocean Adventure

History

In 1975 a handful of volunteers from Miami, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia got together to develop a high adventure program using the waters in and around the Florida Keys as their foundation. They asked the then Camping Director of the South Florida Council, Sam Wampler, to coordinate trips to Freeport in the Bahamas. Sam, using his station wagon and a warehouse, operated this program until 1979. The committee unable to find a director for this ever growing program convinced Sam to become the first Director of the "Florida Gateway". Under Sam's leadership the National Council received a 1.3 million dollar grant from the Fleischmann Foundation. Following some extensive research, the Old Tollgate Motel and Marina was purchased. That original 6.3 acres (25,000 m²) became the beginning of what is now known as the Florida Sea Base.

Since that original gift, there have been several other grants and purchases which have allowed the base to grow. From 1990 to the present, the growth has been dramatic with the addition of a third dorm, a conference center, conference housing and a new maintenance building. The original restaurant was given a major facelift to create one of the finest kitchens in the Keys. A new chapel has been created and a 45 foot Corinthian catamaran has been purchased. In short, the Florida Sea Base has come of age. What was once a rundown motel, a real eyesore of the community, is now a beautiful facility serving thousands of young people.

The Florida Sea Base is the only facility of its kind in the world and is a jewel in the crown of Scouting's finest programs.

External sites

• Official Florida Sea Base site
• Florida Sea Base Conference Center