Tom writes each week about topics related to Galveston Real Estate.
Driving into Galveston have you ever wondered what the beautiful LEED certified building is at the mouth of Offats Bayou? Located at 7509 Broadway, the Sea Scout Base-Galveston and Community Sailing Center consists of a five story, 60,000-square foot building with sleeping quarters, dining hall, classrooms and base voices. The grounds include an outdoor chapel, a large pool for swim checks, scuba certification and recreation. On the water, dock spaces were built for a sizable leet of sail and powerboats. he shoreline infrastructure was designed specifically for hosting 200 to 300 Scouts for shipboard adventures of up to a week or longer.
An amazing husband and- wife team has transformed their vision of teaching young people about the sea into a multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art Sea Scout Base in Galveston, and it is an incredible largess for our city. The visionary founders and benefactors of this wonderful community based project are Charles and Rosemary Doolin. Their mission states, “Sea Scout Base Galveston is a high adventure marine and maritime destination offering aquatic education programs that instill lifetime leadership, teamwork skills, and independence in body, mind and spirit.”
They have ensured that both scout and non-scout programs are included. For example, the “BaySmart Express” Program will provide educational opportunities for school kids and Cub Scouts as well as a training platform for maritime students to gain their sea time toward Merchant Mariner credentials. Additionally Galveston College culinary arts students receive valuable hands on experience while facility rental fees help support our scouting, sailing, marine and maritime education programs.
The Galveston Community Youth Sailing Center, a US Sailing sanctioned organization, will use the facility to teach sailing, with a special emphasis on adaptive programs for the disabled. his Community Sailing Center is a US Sailing-sanctioned Community Sailing center offering memberships for individuals and families. All instructors are US Sailing Certified licensed captains. Nautical skills are taught and practiced during weekly US Sailing classes, Open Sail Saturdays and Schooner Sundays. GCYSC invites Galveston Island to enjoy a wonderful and affordable opportunity to share a love of the ocean across generations through true community sailing.
“There’s a place for everyone here from the novice with no experience to Bareboat Certifications,” Capt. Mike Janota, Community Sailing director, said. “GCSC is offering this Island something it has missed for a long time: True community sailing.”