Named for the year in which the Sea Base first opened, The 1980 Club is a collection of SBAFA donors who contribute $19.80 to our cause each month. 

1980 Club members support the educational goals of current summer staff by funding the Nancy Wells Staff Scholarship. We know that no one gets rich while working at the Florida Sea Base. (If anyone did, they’d never leave!). We also know that working at a scout camp often makes paying for tuition difficult. In response to this, the SBAFA board developed and approved a scholarship designed to help deserving staff members get help towards their education goals.

1980 Club members help us provide practical supplies to Sea Base staff. Sea Base staff are not a homogeneous group - they hail from far-flung places and often travel extensive distances in order to report to their posts. We deliver welcome baskets to staff upon their arrival to help reduce the stress of living in a new place.

1980 Club members help us fund “staff sparkler” events, which allows current staff a brief reprieve from their duties and a chance to enjoy a hearty meal in the presence of their entire team. We believe that the success of the Florida Sea Base rests on the current staff’s ability to work hard and have fun together. Often times during the summer, current staff can feel run down and disconnected from one another. These annual events are meant to give them a “spark” that keeps them going for the second half of the summer.

1980 Club members help us provide customized drink wear for every current staff member in an effort to keep them healthy and hydrated. We see our drink wear as physical takeaway items that staff can use when they return to the “real world.” Many staff use them for years to come.