Sea Scouts (within Jackson Park Yacht Club)
Frank and Tess Garner (below) were the first African American couple to join JPYC. Frank was invited to join by a concerned JPYC member who wanted Frank’s group of supervised kids to participate as Sea Scouts to be and to able be able to use the washrooms at the club. Frank later became the club’s first African American Commodore.
Sea Scouts is a specialized program of the Boy Scouts of America. It is organized to address a youth members’ boating skills and promote knowledge of our maritime heritage.
Sea Scout units, called “ships,” focus on sailing and cruising either sailboats, power vessels or paddle sports. During the boating season, Sea Scouts learn to maintain and operate vessels, with a focus on learning the safe and proper methods of handling boats. Sea Scouts also learn the meaning of buoys and lights, how to take advantage of wind and tide, and how to drop anchor or approach a dock.
Most ships hold formal meetings conducted in either full dress or work uniforms. Swimming, lifesaving, first aid, Coast Guard Auxiliary Sailing and Seamanship, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation courses are taught with the ship by their own youth officers or other adult mentors. The state safe boating course is also offered to their members by many ships. Occasionally movies are shown, regattas between crews are held, or inter-ship rendezvous are arranged.
JPYC has sponsored a Sea Scout Ship for many years off and on. Richard and Rosemary Snow led the group in the late 80s and early 90s.
Johann Hudson and Reginald Rush followed.
Currently, Stephanie Burton-Taylor is leading the group of Seas Scouts, Sea Scout Ship 5212.
Sea Scout units, called “ships,” focus on sailing and cruising either sailboats, power vessels or paddle sports. During the boating season, Sea Scouts learn to maintain and operate vessels, with a focus on learning the safe and proper methods of handling boats. Sea Scouts also learn the meaning of buoys and lights, how to take advantage of wind and tide, and how to drop anchor or approach a dock.
Most ships hold formal meetings conducted in either full dress or work uniforms. Swimming, lifesaving, first aid, Coast Guard Auxiliary Sailing and Seamanship, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation courses are taught with the ship by their own youth officers or other adult mentors. The state safe boating course is also offered to their members by many ships. Occasionally movies are shown, regattas between crews are held, or inter-ship rendezvous are arranged.
JPYC has sponsored a Sea Scout for over 50 years. Through our Sea Scout Ship 5212 we use sailing as a tool to teach leadership skills to youth 14 -21.
Ms. Burton Taylor is an undergraduate of Indiana University in Bloomington Indiana, and also a graduate student of Roosevelt University. Burton- Taylor has worked at Indiana University as adjunct professor she’s also worked at Purdue University and the University of Wisconsin. Stephanie started her nautical journey with the Jackson Park Yacht Club in 2015 and has served on various committees and has served as the chairperson of the Jackson Park safety committee. Ms. Burton-Taylor served on the entertainment committee, is a member of the Chicago Harbor Safety Committee and she has been a harbor host for the American Great Loopers Association for Hammond, Indiana and Jackson Park since 2023. In 2024 Ms. Burton-Taylor won third place in the Chicago Venetian night parade as skipper of “Just B Cuz “ sailboat . She has served on various crews for sailboat racing and is currently activate leader of Sea Scout Ship 5212 at JPYC.
Commodore Frank Garner and his wife Tess organized the first group of Sea Scouts within JPYC.
Current Scout leader Stephanie Burton-Taylor