1. Instructors: George Crowl
Elective
Maritime Tradition
This PowerPoint is provided for those who may not have appropriate training aids available in a ship or location. This generally follows a companion lesson plan available at I expect you to modify it to fit your situation and teaching style. I am more concerned that Scouts learn than this fit a specific style. I am, however, a fan of the Effective Teaching model. Teaching EDGE is somewhat simplistic in its approach, but that has some advantages.
Note: These lesson plans may also be used for teaching in the ship. For administrative convenience, they cover the entire specific numbered requirement (except one, where Galley is covered separately!). Individual Sea Scout Academy lessons may only cover part of the requirements. Similarly, ships may find that even just a portion of a subrequirement is all that can be done during a particular ship meeting. Adapt these lessons as needed to fit your youth and your situation. Share these plans with your youth who are teaching.
Philosophy: Sea Scout Academy’s primary purpose is to teach the material to the Sea Scout. If the Sea Scout demonstrates mastery of parts of the subject, then the instructor should annotate on the class roster what has been passed, in the instructor’s opinion. Skippers have the right to re-examine any Sea Scout in any requirement. (Knots are not a good subject to give a pass in.) SSA may schedule only portions of ORD-8.
Instructors: George Crowl

2. Requirements & Comments
1. Boatswain’s Call – Use the Sea Scout Manual DVD for this requirement
1, 2, 3. Drill – Use Marine Corps Drill Manual, referenced in the lesson plan, for all three levels of this requirement.
2. Maritime History – See the lesson plan for a start. This body of knowledge is so wide that a Scout has wide choices.

3. Requirements & Comments (2)
3. Celestial Navigation – See a separate file where this subject is treated at length. It is available from It will be posted here when some illustration issues are fixed.

4. Elective Level 3 (Quartermaster) Communication – Code Flags
This PowerPoint is provided for those who may not have appropriate training aids available in a ship or location. This generally follows a companion lesson plan available at I expect you to modify it to fit your situation and teaching style. I am more concerned that Scouts learn than this fit a specific style. I am, however, a fan of the Effective Teaching model. Teaching EDGE is somewhat simplistic in its approach, but that has some advantages.
Note: These lesson plans may also be used for teaching in the ship. For administrative convenience, they cover the entire specific numbered requirement (except one, where Galley is covered separately!). Individual Sea Scout Academy lessons may only cover part of the requirements. Similarly, ships may find that even just a portion of a subrequirement is all that can be done during a particular ship meeting. Adapt these lessons as needed to fit your youth and your situation. Share these plans with your youth who are teaching.
Philosophy: Sea Scout Academy’s primary purpose is to teach the material to the Sea Scout. If the Sea Scout demonstrates mastery of parts of the subject, then the instructor should annotate on the class roster what has been passed, in the instructor’s opinion. Skippers have the right to re-examine any Sea Scout in any requirement. (Knots are not a good subject to give a pass in.) SSA may schedule only portions of ORD-8.
Instructors: George Crowl

5. Course Outline
3. Draw the International Code flags and pennants from memory and give the single-letter meanings (Alpha = Have diver down, keep clear) of the flags. Show how to use the book International Code of Signals.
Drawing the code flags can be a memory challenge. Two Scouts can learn this much faster by writing to each other in code flags. I watched it and participated, it works. Encourage the Scouts to develop any mnenomic system that works for them. They have to do it daily for it to take hold.
A good aid is Quizlet. Go to Search for code flags. The first one that came up, annerizzy (/ /), seems good. There are many choices. There is a flashcard option above it, you can go through – Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, etc., - and “flip” the card to see if you have the right flag and its meaning.ard option above it, you can go through – Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, etc., - and “flip” the card to see if you have the right flag and its meaning.T

6. Code Flags Draw from memory Give phonetic name Single letter meaning
Alpha Oscar Zulu
Diver down Man overboard Require a tug A

7. N L
Here are all the code flags, should the be useful to you. The default setting is to not show them, since they are probably not too useful in this PPT version.

8. Learning Code Flags
Two people learning together is more effective than one studying alone
Write notes to each other in code flags
Requires red, yellow, blue, black (and white) pencils
quizlet.com, search for code flags, several varieties of programs
Try a flag hoist with real flags
Many ships have a handmade set of code flag flashcards. If you don't have them already, make up a set that your Scouts can use. Remember, the Scout must draw each flag from memory, so flag recognition and knowing the short meaning are only part of the task.
Drawing the code flags can be a memory challenge. Two Scouts can learn this much faster by writing to each other in code flags. I watched it and participated, it works. Encourage the Scouts to develop any mnemonic system that works for them. They have to do it daily for it to take hold.
A good aid is Quizlet. Go to Search for code flags. The first one that came up, annerizzy (/ /), seems good. There are many choices. There is a flashcard option above it, you can go through – Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, etc., - and “flip” the card to see if you have the right flag and its meaning.
Actually going through a flag hoist will probably be an eye-opening experience. Take advantage of any land flagpole or berthed halyard to practice.

9. International Code of Signals
Not just for Code Flags, may be Morse
Good for all languages (Russian, Chinese, Arabic, etc.)
Published by each nation in their language(s)
Same meaning for each letter set
Download free, or many hard-copy vendors (Google)
Read the instructions
The instructions in the International Code of Signals are very good. Have them learn the general pattern of the signals given. Then give the Scouts a message out of Chapter 2, and have them look it up. Tell them a message you want them to send from Chapter 2, and have them work it out. The Scouts are not expected to be experts in the ICS, but they should be able to work out problems in it.
The International Code of Signals can be downloaded free or bought from several commercial vendors. Google it, click Product Catalog and several vendors will be displayed.
The instructions in the International Code of Signals are very good. Have them learn the general pattern of the signals given. Then give the Scouts a message out of Chapter 2, and have them look it up. Tell them a message you want them to send from Chapter 2, and have them work it out. The Scouts are not expected to be experts in the ICS, but they should be able to work out problems in it.
The International Code of Signals can be downloaded free or bought from several commercial vendors. Google it, click “Product Catalog” and several vendors will be displayed.

10. Pub 102 Organization Ch 1 – Signaling Instructions
Ch 2 – General Signal Code
Ch 3 – Medical Signal Code
Ch 4 – Distress and Lifesaving
Have the students read much of Chapter 1, then pose a problem in Chapter 2. Go over the categories in Chapter 2 with the students.

11. Pub 102 Message Series PI – You should maintain your present course
PK – I cannot steer without assistance
PO – You should pass ahead of me
KM1 – Shall I take you in tow?
KQ1 – I am ready to be taken in tow
KR1 – I am commencing to tow
This exchange may be viewed as a possible scenario. One ship tells the other ship that they are not going where they are supposed to go. #2 says “I need steering assistance,” then says “pass ahead.” #1, being quick on the uptake, says “Can I tow you?”, and #2 says “I'm ready!” They connect, #1 says “I'm starting to tow” and they steam happily off into the sunset.

12. Questions? R