CYC's Sea Scout Ship Privateer Builds Youth Boating Skills, Confidence, and Leadership

November 17, 2022

When Chicago teen Thomas Corter joined the Chicago Yacht Club’s Sea Scout ship, it changed the course of his life. A Boy Scout since grade school, by the time Thomas turned 14 he was looking for a more high-adventure scouting experience that still emphasized leadership and service. He found all that and more in the CYC’s Sea Scout Ship Privateer, the oldest Sea Scout ship in the country.

Thomas rose through the ranks of the Sea Scouts to become the ship’s boatswain and was named Sea Scout of the Year by the Chicago Yachting Association this fall. Now 18, Thomas is a first-year cadet at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City, Michigan, studying navigation pilotage, ship handling, and crew management with plans to captain a vessel on the Great Lakes one day.

Beyond shaping his career plans, Thomas said Sea Scouts built his confidence along with his leadership and communications skills. “Everything I know about teamwork and leadership really came from Sea Scouts,” he said.

And that’s the point of the program, said Mark Corter, Privateer’s skipper. “We use a nautical-based theme to teach leadership skills,” he said. “We try to teach the kids to be responsible mariners, to take care of one another, be adaptable, self-reliant, and accountable for the things they do – all while having fun.”  

Privateer was chartered with the Boy Scouts of America in 1923 as part of the Club’s commitment to marine education. Open to youth ages 14-21, Privateer is funded by the CYC Foundation. This year, the Foundation also introduced a new educational scholarship that will be awarded to an outstanding Scout from Privateer at the Foundation’s first “Meet the Kids Night” on Tuesday, November 29th.  

“Both the Club and the Foundation see Sea Scouts as an important part of our mission,” said Greg Miarecki, CYC Foundation President. “The Sea Scouts program aligns with the Foundation’s vision to provide kids with an opportunity to develop skills in boating – and we hope the scholarship will inspire them to continue their Sea Scout journey,” he said.

Members of Privateer learn everything from sailing and power boating to canoeing and swimming. While adult volunteers are present to oversee the program, the scouts drive the activities, Mark explained. “The kids decide what they want to achieve and it’s their responsibility to drive the program forward,” he said. “As the kids advance through ranks from Apprentice to Quartermaster, they take on more leadership roles and start to teach the younger kids how to do things.”

One of the newest CYC Sea Scouts, Chicago teen Stella DiGangi, was a strong swimmer but had never stepped on a sailboat before joining Privateer this past year. Now, she’s thinking about summer jobs on the water and maybe even a nautical career.

“I love sailing. It’s active, you get to be on the water and the teamwork is great,” she said. Stella is also looking forward to building her boating skills so she can teach other scouts as she advances through the ranks. “I’m excited to get to the point where I can teach other kids. I think that’s going to be really fun,” she said.   

Skipper Mark said a goal for this year’s Sea Scout ship is to draw more kids into the program. “Teenagers today are looking for something exciting. That’s why sailing fits in so well – sailing is inherently exciting. And getting kids out on the water, you start seeing the phones get put away. The kids are communicating with one another. They’re involved. They’re focused,” he said.

Mark also acknowledged the Foundation’s support in moving the Sea Scout program forward. “We really appreciate the Foundation’s support of Privateer, as well as the interest that Board members have shown in our kids. The Foundation is an instrumental part of Sea Scouts and we’re grateful for the support that so many donors have offered the program,” he said.