A voyage like no other

Youth Sea Adventure

A Legendary Experience

Formerly named Heritage of Miami, our vessel Wonder has been hosting unforgettable Scouting voyages in the Florida Keys for over 30 years.

Trip Length: 6 days, 5 nights

Age range: 12+

Crew Size: 18-20

Adults required: 2 for 16+ age youth, 4 for 12-15 age youth.

Cost: $21,000

Explore the reefs, wildlife preserves, and history that surround Key West aboard a classic tall ship. Our youth group trips balance character building and leadership with once-in-a-lifetime fun. How often can you walk the plank from the bow of a pirate ship and land directly in the waters of a tropical reef? Students organize and prepare meals, set sails, steer, clean the ship, and stand watch. We almost always see dozens of sharks when we anchor at a lemon shark breeding ground. On the final day, your group has the opportunity to explore Key West.

Come see why kids who did this program on our ships 20-30 years ago are coming back as adults with their own kids to relive the magic.

What We Offer

Exceptional Curriculum

Our programs combine the time-tested itinerary of the classic “Sea Exploring” Scout program with some of our “Greatest Hits” from the longer trips we offer at the Voyaging School. Our voyages include oceanography (net deployments and sampling), a focus on seamanship, and extensive sail handling. Students stand watch and get a taste of what a multi-week voyage would feel like.

Reduced Cost vs. Sea Base

The “Sea Exploring” program offered by Sea Base through Scouting America will cost $28,000 in 2026 for a 7 day, 6 night adventure where 4 nights are spent on the ship. Our program in 2026 costs $21,000 and features 5 nights on the ship. If you add an extra night on the ship in Key West, you could end up spending 6 nights on the boat!

More Time on the Ship

We ask groups to arrive on Sunday, come directly to the ship, and stay aboard Sunday night. This allows us to get started immediately after breakfast on Monday morning, which means more time on the water! We spend the final night (Thursday) on the dock in Key West, allowing groups Thursday afternoon and evening to explore Key West. If you would like to stay on the boat Friday night to accommodate travel plans (or just spend more time in Key West), you can add Friday night for $3,000.

Best-in-Class Safety

All of our staff receive the same youth training that is mandated by the Scouts. Additionally, Voyaging School staff are both mariners and teachers, which is not typical for crew in the Florida Keys. We bring all of the training and safety equipment from our multi-month programs to our shorter sails.

Florida Keys Itinerary

  • Day 1—Sunday

    Travel day and arrive to the ship. Groups usually spend this day on flights and travel to Key West. We can help arrange transportation if you fly into Miami or Ft. Lauderdale and don’t forget there is a ferry from Ft. Myers to Key West too.

    You are welcome to arrive to the ship at any time to drop your luggage.

  • Day 2—Monday

    After breakfast, we will do a thorough ship’s orientation and review the cruise track for the week. Then we are off the dock for emergency drills and our first reef. We will spend the afternoon snorkeling at a reef, jumping off the plank, and swimming in the crystal clear waters of the Key West National Wildlife Refuge. We will anchor for the night inside the refuge.

  • Day 3—Tuesday

    We will begin our day with a short voyage and fishing along the way. Once we arrive at Marquesas Key, you can swim to shore and explore the beach, which is part of a protected wildlife sanctuary. In the evening we will anchor near a popular lemon shark hangout and be able to observe the sharks from the deck.

  • Day 4—Wednesday

    After hauling back our anchor, you will put your sailing skills to the test with a series of challenges we call “Deckhand Olympics.” Today will be another day for reef exploration and a bit of marine biology: we will deploy a net from the ship and investigate the results. Once the sun sets and the sky darkens, we will have a stargazing session on deck.

  • Day 5—Thursday

    Our final morning of sailing from anchor back to the dock in Key West. We will aim to arrive in Key West after lunch to give you time to explore this fun island town. Groups usually choose to do dinner ashore for the final night before sleeping aboard the ship at the dock for the last night of the program.

  • Day 6—Friday

    It is time for a final breakfast and goodbyes. Groups depart by 10:00am filled with an amazing sense of accomplishment—you just had one of the best adventures of your life.

Brass Tacks

Are you affiliated with Sea Base or Scouting?

No, we are not affiliated with or endorsed by Sea Base or Scouting America.

Every year, Sea Base contracts with ship owners to provide the vessels and crew to operate their Sea Base High Adventure programs. Our vessels have been hired by Sea Base for over two decades and our crew have sailed on these programs extensively. We have taken what we’ve learned from sailing with hundreds of troops, made changes, and reduced the cost to increase access to the amazing experience of voyaging in the Florida Keys aboard a tall ship.

Does our youth group have to be a scout troop in order to come on one of these trips?

Absolutely not! Part of our goal in creating these trips is to expand the opportunity to groups outside of scouting. Your youth group can be single-gender or mixed gender, religious or non-affiliated. No matter what, there is no kid’s version of the ocean. Your students will be forced to learn more about themselves, each other, the ship, and the ocean in this real-world adventure. The ocean is such an extraordinary classroom that we are building an entire school around it.

  • This 6 day, 5 night program costs $21,000. Groups arrive on Sunday and depart the ship on Friday morning. You may add Friday night aboard the ship for an additional $3,000, but your group must be off the ship until the evening and the ship will remain at the dock. This is to accommodate travel itineraries or to allow an additional day to explore Key West. Many groups have used this as a beach day at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park Beach.

    • Meals from Sunday evening through Friday morning. Youth are responsible for preparing, cooking, and cleaning meals with support from their adult chaperones.

    • Accommodation aboard the ship. Groups should bring their own bedding (sleeping bag, pillow, sleeping pad, etc.). It’s best to prepare like you will be camping. Hammocks are a popular choice.

    • As much coffee, tea, water, Gatorade, and snacks as you like.

    • Use of our equipment, including two paddle boards, fishing gear (we handle the licenses) and an epic rope swing.

    • A fully licensed, trained, and experienced captain and crew. We staff these voyages with two captains to ensure redundancy and two deckhands.

    • Instruction in sailing, seamanship, sail handling, oceanography, and other related topics while we are underway.

    • All fuel and dockage costs associated with the trip.

    • A crewed 6.5 foot dinghy with outboard engine for going ashore.

    • The commitment to share as much knowledge and passion as we can during the time you are aboard. You will see the ocean and the Earth like you never have before and we promise to be there with you, answering every question you have.

    • A shower or air conditioning once we leave the dock. This is not a luxury yacht, it is a replica of the working topsail schooners of the 1800s.

    • Airfare to/from Key West.

    • Ground transportation to/from the ship.

    • Breakfast and lunch on arrival day (Sunday).

    • Meals on Friday, the last day of the trip, except for breakfast, which we do provide.

    • Snorkel gear. Please bring your own!

    • Access to the ship before 3pm on Sunday (except to drop bags) or after 11am on Friday. The program kicks off at 8pm on Sunday.

    • Going aloft into the rigging. This requires additional training that is not practical to include in these voyages.

    • Internet or cellular access. There is no cell coverage where we are going. Our shipshave a Starlink connection for navigation, ship’s business, and emergencies, but it is not available for guests. You should plan to put your phone on Airplane Mode for the entire voyage (and love it).

    • Weather-appropriate attire. You should review our packing list thoroughly.

    • Alcohol, marijuana (in any form), and illegal drugs as defined by the Coast Guard and US Federal Government. While state regulations vary, our vessels are regulated by the Coast Guard and maintain a strict drug-free environment. Violating this rule will result in a call to the Coast Guard and immediate removal from the ship.

    • Disrespectful or abusive language towards your shipmates. We also ask for no swearing aboard the ship as we cultivate an environment of learning and exploration.

    • Disobeying or circumventing the captain. Orders from the captain are given for everyone’s safety and should be followed expediently. Debriefing on why something happened is encouraged after the fact so we can all learn.

    • Jumping off of the ship at any time except when explicitly authorized by the captain.

  • We will be publishing an updated packing list soon. Here is the list we send crew when we voyage on the Great Lakes. Some of this is not relevant to the Florida Keys (e.g. heavy wool sweaters) but you still need to pack warm gear.

Ready for Your Adventure?

Please email us to begin the reservation process. We have availability from May-August 2026. Based on the demand for the “Sea Exploring” program offered by Sea Base, we expect these slots to fill quickly.

reservations@voyagingschool.org