Exploring is a worksite-based program of Learning for Life a subsidiary of the Boy Scouts of America, for young men and women who are 14 through 20 years old. Exploring units, called “posts”, usually have a focus on a single career field, such as police, fire/rescue, health, law, aviation, engineering, or the like, and may be sponsored by a government or business entity. There are about 170,000 teens involved in this program across the United States. We are thrilled to have our own Exploring Post 2010 at Balboa City School. The original program was founded in 1959. The Explorer Motto is “Our best today for a better tomorrow!”
More about Exploring:
The Exploring program has a long history within the BSA. The program got its start in the 1930s as the “Senior Scout” Division for boys 15 and older. Explorer Scouts focused on advanced camping and worked on advancement leading to the Ranger Award. Sea Scouts and Air Scouts were nautical and aviation focused programs, respectively.
In 1949, the Senior Scout Division became the Explorer Division. Sea Scouts became Sea Explorers, Air Scouts became Air Explorers, and Explorer Scouts became just Explorers. The Explorer program became less of an advanced outdoor program, and more a broader program for young men, with the minimum age lowered to 14 years old. Explorers got a new advancement program leading to the Silver Award.
In 1959, the Explorer Program was renamed the Exploring program. Explorer advancement was dropped. In 1964, the Air Explorer program was eliminated, and the Sea Explorer program had changes made. The program was further changed to be more appealing to older youth, with career exploration becoming a bigger part of the program.
In 1969, the BSA allowed young women ages 14–20 to join special-interest Explorer posts, which caused many posts to be become co-ed. The continuing focus on career exploration was expanded to a major emphasis, and as the years progressed, Exploring focused more on career exploration posts, though outdoor and sports-oriented Posts still existed and thrived as well.
In the early 1980s, posts that primarily consisted of seminars at high school with guest speakers were designated as Career Awareness Explorer posts. This particular facet of Exploring was the fastest growing segment of Exploring and the BSA during the 1980s. In 1991, these posts were realigned into the new Learning for Life subsidiary, and the posts were then designated as High School Career Awareness groups and the youth were no longer considered to be Explorers.
In 1998, the Exploring program was completely reorganized and split into two program categories. All the career-oriented posts were moved to Learning for Life, while the rest became the new venturing program. Exploring continues to be a worksite-based career education program for young men and women 14 through 20 years old.
Balboa City School always has emphasized transition to life beyond high school. As an example, over 90% of our students go on to college. Students routinely report that BCS has prepared them for the rigors of the work world and post-secondary education. Part of the preparation includes our Outdoor Education Program and student accomplishments. In 2007 BCS reinitiated its tradition of extended field trips vis a vis sail training programs with its Spirit of Dana Point weeklong sailing experience.
It is with great excitement and anticipation that Balboa City School announced its oceano-graphic adventure sail aboard the tall ship Spirit of Dana Point. On May 20th 2007 twenty Balboa City School students boarded the Spirit of Dana Point and began the adventure of a lifetime: a five-day oceanographic expedition voyage on the coastal waters of Southern California and the Channel Islands. They travelled by train to San Juan Capistrano where they took shuttle vans to the Ocean Institute in the Dana Point Harbor. After a day of shipboard and biology instruction aboard the Spirit of Dana Point and in the Ocean Institute’s labs and classrooms the students they set sail for Catalina Island for a week of science, sailing and adventure.
Equipped with collection devices, holding tanks, microscopes and all of the equipment found in a modern oceanographic laboratory our students studied coastal marine life and the ocean environment that is its home. Using one of the Ocean Institute’s remotely operated robot submarines our students observed the life and physical features of the ocean floor. Later while at each of various anchorages around Catalina Island students directly observed the coastal marine environment while snorkeling with instructors. Our students learned the ecology of Catalina Island during several hikes that were scheduled during the week.
Throughout the cruise and under the watchful eyes of the Spirit of Dana Point crew, our students were immersed in the shipboard life in which they learned navigation and coastal piloting skills, meteorology, tall ship sailing and history as well as the myriad of daily tasks such as watch standing (lookout, helm and vessel operation) meal preparation and vessel maintenance.
Preparation for this adventure cruise has already included:
- Sail training - on smaller boats
- Introduction to ocean science
- Swimming and lifesaving classes
- Maritime history and literature
Our Exploring Program works closely with our intern program and is able to inspire students to go beyond their self perceived limitations. Students have learned to become pilots, Emergency Rescue Divers, and even EMT’s through this and other programs. All these experiences pay off huge dividends in the classroom where academic confidence and motivation along with self esteem increases and leads to further success. Hence the very high level of student accomplishments the longer a student stays in our program. Please see student accomplishments section to further learn about BCS success stories.