Local Boy Scouts seek sailboat captain volunteers

The Boy Scouts of America Montana Council will host one of their summer camps on Melita Island on Flathead Lake. Every summer the island is host to hundreds of Scouts from all over the United States for a period of five weeks of camp. The camp provides training in scouting skills as merit badges or rank advancement.

Many offers are related to aquatics and water, such as sailing, canoeing, motorboating, fishing, water skiing and more. For the adults, the island has three large sailboats over 20 feet long and offers leisure and educational cruises to keep them occupied while the Scouts are busy learning their skills.

This is the first year that camp is back in full swing after the Covid-19 pandemic. In order to fulfill the adult sailing cruises, the council needs competent sailing captains. Experience in sailing and handling a boat of 20 to 25 feet is necessary. Boat Captains may use their own boat for this providing it is over 20 feet. Slips and moorings are available.

Volunteers spend a week at camp and are compensated with a tent to sleep in, meals every day, and a good time helping the Scouting program. Their job is to take one of the boats with two to four adults on board out on the lake for approximately 2 1/2 hours in the morning, and again in the afternoon. The rest of the time they can do as they like. If a captain would rather not stay on the island, a shuttle back to the mainland is available morning and night. The camp has space available for RV parking should the sailors prefer to stay in their own rig.

Summer camp begins July 8 and continues for six days a week until August 12. If any sailor or sailboat captain is interested in this opportunity, call 406-250-7004.