Camp Kenya 2026: Sea Scouts Prepare for Majini Camp

Setting Sail for Camp Kenya 2026: Sea Scouts Prepare for Majini Camp

Preparations for Camp Kenya 2026 are well underway, and the Kenya Crew of Ship 802 recently gave youth from Troop 140 and neighboring schools a firsthand taste of what’s ahead with a special Sea Scout Weekend.

Nine youth took on the challenge of role-playing as Sea Scouts and helped the Majini camp staff test activities, lessons, safety procedures, and logistics planned for the first days of the Camp Kenya Sea Scout program.

Preparing for Adventure on the Tana River

One of the highlights of the upcoming Majini camp will be an overnight river rafting adventure through the foothills of the Aberdare Mountains. The planned route was tested in December 2025 under conditions designed to replicate the water levels expected during the December 2026 camp.

A two-person inflatable “ducky” boats designed for whitewater activities will be used for the adventure. During Sea Scout Weekend, participants began developing the boat-handling and river-safety skills they will need for this unique experience.

The youth also had the opportunity to put Sea Scout leadership into practice. They organized themselves as a Sea Scout ship, held elections, and took on shipboard responsibilities. The Boatswain organized activities, the Storekeeper issued boats, personal flotation devices, and equipment, the Weather Specialist briefed the crew on water and weather conditions, and the Yeoman maintained the Deck Log.

For many of the participants, it was their first introduction to Sea Scouts; and they quickly discovered the value of learning by doing.

Learning on the Water

Once on the Tana River, the volunteers learned hand signals, river safety, and basic boat-handling techniques, including how to recover from a capsized boat. These are among the skills Majini campers will learn on the first day of Camp Kenya and will also help participants work toward boat-handling requirements for the Ordinary and Able Sea Scout ranks.

The Scouts also practiced preparing their boats for an overnight adventure. After learning how to properly load and secure dry bags, they packed tents, sleeping bags, and clothing into waterproof bags and secured them to their boats. The additional weight required them to anticipate maneuvers, plan ahead, and even practice recovering a loaded boat after a capsize.

The highlight for many was taking their skills into a series of small rapids near the Savage Wilderness Rafting Centre. The Scouts practiced ferry crossings and steering in faster-moving water, gaining confidence with every run. Their enthusiasm was clear: after gaining experience on the rapids, the group was ready for more!

A Sea Scout Ship on Land

The weekend wasn’t all about the water. Before dinner, the youth raised the final mast of the landship and, using prepared scripts, conducted a landship ceremony and set the watch before welcoming aboard Skipper Alex Gros of Ship 802.

Sea Scouting truly became a transatlantic experience as the Skipper and other staff members participated remotely from England, Scotland, and Germany, joining the activities via Zoom on a mobile device carried by an adult volunteer.

The ship’s bell marked the end of each 30-minute period during the First and Second Dog Watches, including the signal for dinner and the final lesson of the weekend. At the end of the day, the ship’s Engineer assigned jobs to the crew, and everyone worked together to dismantle and stow the landship components.

Building Majini Camp Together

Throughout the weekend, the youth also participated in discussion and feedback sessions with the Majini staff. Their willingness to try the activities, ask questions, and share their experiences provided valuable feedback as the team continues refining the Sea Scout program and materials for Camp Kenya 2026.

Perhaps most encouraging was the fact that none of the youth had previous Sea Scout experience. They stepped aboard, learned new skills, accepted leadership responsibilities, and helped test a program that will introduce many more Scouts to the adventure of Sea Scouting.

The weekend demonstrated exactly what Scouting is about: learning new skills, taking on responsibility, working as a team, and having fun along the way.

Ready to Get on the Water?

You don’t have to wait for Camp Kenya to discover the adventure of Sea Scouting. Sea Scouts offers Scouts the opportunity to develop leadership skills, learn boating and maritime skills, and experience adventure on the water. If you’re looking for a new challenge and want to be part of a crew, consider joining Sea Scouts with the Transatlantic Council!