Philmont 2010 Council Contingent

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Philmont 2010Council Contingent
www.sccovington.com/philmont

• Contingent Advisor Sid Covington925-1231
  (cell)sid_c_at_swbell.net
• Scout Advisor Rick Denison617-8627, 944-7751
  (cell) rdenison_at_bsamail.org

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Agenda tonight

• Philmont
• Contingent
• Travel plans
• Financial
• Trek planning
• Participants/Rules
• Equipment/Stuff
• Itineraries
• Shakedown/Preparation
• Communications/Information
• Questions

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What is Philmont?
1.7 million acres Larger than Rhode Island
or Delaware

• Philmont is a BSA high adventure base for camping
  and training.
• Philmont is a working ranch
• Cattle Horses
• Burros Buffalo
• History
• Early Ponil (Anasazi) people
• Jicarilla Apache/Moache Ute Indians
• Claimed by Spain
• Beaubien-Miranda

• Double H High Adventure Base
• Florida Sea Base
• Northern Tier Canoe Base

Maxwell Land Grant
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What is Philmont?

• Philmont is a BSA high adventure base for camping
  and training.
• Philmont is a working ranch
• Cattle Horses
• Burros Buffalo
• History
• Early Ponil (Anasazi) people
• Jicarilla Apache/Moache Ute Indians
• Claimed by Spain
• Beaubien-Miranda
• Waite Phillips
• Boy Scouts of America

You get toexperience this withPhilmonts
programs!
Maxwell Land Grant
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Where is Philmont?

• North Central New Mexico near Colorado border
  735 miles from Austin!
• On edge of plains in the Sangre de Cristo (Blood
  of Christ) mountain range.
• Elevation ranges from 6,500 to 12,441
• Headquarters is 4 miles south of Cimarron, NM

Circa 1913
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What do you do at Philmont?

• Philmont Experience
• More than backpacking!
• Programs

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What do you do at Philmont?
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What does Philmont look like?

• Numbers
• In summer 2008 23,352 campers.
• 350/day arrive, 350/day depart
• 350/day head to the backcountry, 350
  people/day return from the backcountry
• Up to 1,500 people in base camp at any time
• 4,000 people in backcountry at any time.

• Valle Vidal 40,000 acresNo trails, 3 4
  camps
• Turner Ranch 20,000 acres, Trails, 2 camps
• Barker Wildlife Area 10,000 acres Trails, no
  camps
• Philmont 137,493 acres330 miles trails, 120
  backcountry camps
• Total 210,000 acres Scouts can use!

• Countrys
• Valle VidalRolling country, spacious meadows,
  limited water, large Elk population, buffalo,
  LNT, no trails, no permanent facilities
• North CountryHighest elevations (Baldy), gold
  mining, dramatic vistas
• Central CountryMuch elevation change, dense
  forest
• South CountryNarrow valleys, more creeks, best
  fishing, warmer

• Your itinerary determines
• Where you will go,
• Which programs you will participate in,
• Which camps you will visit,
• Which mountains you will climb,
• How many miles you will hike.

Mr. Cs House!
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Philmont Vocabulary/Lingo (You too can speak
Philmont)

• Ranger
• Backcountry
• CHQ/Camping Headquarters/Base Camp
• PTC/Philmont Training Center
• Tent City
• Trailbound
• Homebound
• Yum-yum Bag/Oops Bag
• Floaters/Sinkers

• Trek/Expedition
• Bear-muda Triangle
• Programs
• Itinerary
• Camps
• Staffed
• Trail
• Dry
• Day
• Expedition
• Bears/Mini-bears

• 12 day Backpacking trip
• Other ways to go to Philmont
• Cavalcades (8-day horseback)
• Ranch Hands (8-day working, 8-day Cavalcade)
• Rayado Trek (20-day backpacking)
• R.O.C.S. (21-day conservation school/backpacking)
• Trail Crew Trek (14-day work/trek, emphasis on
  Hornaday Award, LNT Trainer, outdoor and
  leadership skills)
• OA Trail Crew (7-day Service, 7-day backpacking)
• Autumn Adventure (Any length, can be adult only)
• Kanik (Winter weekend program)
• Mountain Man/Woman Trek (5-day trek while parent
  at Training Center)

Rangers Very well trained. Very
competent. Sometimes wrong! Never in
doubt! Always have an answer!

• Facilities
• Camps
• Sumps
• Bear Cables
• Commissaries
• Purchase Fuel
• Food re-supply
• Trading Posts
• Cantinas
• Red Roof Inns
• Pilot/Co-Pilot
• Pilot/Bombardier
• Catholes

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Philmont Crew

• A Crew goes on a trek at Philmont.
• The Crew may be created from either a Boy Scout
  Troop or a Venturing Crew (may be coed youth)
  at Philmont, they are all referred to as a
  Crew.
• By definition, a Crew is 7 to 12 people with a
  majority of youth and a maximum of 4 adults (21
  or older). Adults may be male or female.
• A Capitol Area Council Contingent Crew is 12
  people with a maximum of four participants that
  are 21 years old or older.

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Council Contingent

• Capitol Area Council resumed sponsoring
  contingents in 2000.
• Councils request slots prior to unit sign-up.
• We have one of the largest contingents of any
  council.
• Conducted as a service to units to allow more CAC
  Scouts to be able to experience Philmont.

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Council Contingent

• Council makes reservations for Contingent
  selects participants from applications.
• Contingent travels to/from Philmont together.
• Contingent is checked in as a single group by
  the Contingent Advisor.
• Crews plan/select own itineraries, do their own
  shakedown, training, etc.
• Crews are totally independent of one another on
  trail.

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Council Contingent

• Crews are completely responsible for their
  crewmembers while enroute at Philmont not
  Philmont, not the Capitol Area Council.
• Crew Advisors are responsible for assisting the
  Bus Leader with video selection.
• Crew Advisors are responsible for the behavior of
  their crewmembers (youth and adult).
• You CANNOT vote someone off the island.
• If a crewmember has to be removed from the trail
  due to behavior reasons, the entire crew will be
  sent home at their own expense.

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Contingent Organization
Crew
Crew is made up of
Crew Leader (youth)
The Crew Leader is in charge! The crew always
stays together on the trail!
Chaplains Aide (youth)
Crew Advisor (Adult)
Crew Members
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How are crews organized?
Good Crew Leadership Teamwork SUCCESS
FUN!

• Crew Leader
• Organize crew, assign duties/manage duty roster
• Selects itinerary with Advisor
• Provides leadership
• Check-in on arrival at camps
• Choose routes during trek
• Insure smellables properly stored
• Insure Philmont Wilderness Pledge upheld
• Chaplains Aide
• Supports Crew Leader
• Facilitates daily reflections/devotionals
• Tracks, obtains Duty to God Patches (if earned)
• Adult Advisor
• Selects itinerary with Crew Leader
• Counsel coach crew leader and crew members
• Arrange logistics (permits for shakedowns, etc.)

• Philmont Wilderness Pledge
• LITTER/GRAFFITI-Keep Philmont free of litter and
  graffiti.
• WILDLIFE-Respect all wildlife.
• TRAILS-Stay on Trails Do not cut across
  switchbacks.
• CAMPSITES-Use designated sites and leave neat and
  clean.

ADULTS Let the youth run the crew even when
its painful! We know you can do it better but
it just doesnt matter!
Thorns Roses ( buds)
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Travel Plans

• Travel will be on four 57 passenger buses
• San Antonio City Tours
• Bathrooms
• Video (VHS and/or DVD) players
• Snacks/drinks are provided
• Austin to Philmont
• Saturday, June 26, 2010 500 amThe bus will
  depart Austin at 600 am and drive straight
  through to Philmont, with stops for lunch (Texas
  Tech, Lubbock) and dinner (Highlands University
  of NM, Las Vegas). Arrival time at Philmont is
  approximately 930 pm (MDT).
• Philmont to Austin
• Friday, July 9, 2010 1045 pmThe bus will
  depart Philmont 630 am (MDT) and stops for
  lunch (Mr. Gattis, Amarillo) and dinner
  (McMurray University, Abilene) on return to
  Austin.

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Daily Trek Schedule

• Day 0 Travel Austin to Philmont CHQ/Tent
  City (or Meadow)

• Day 1 Camping HQ/Tent City (June 27)
• Financial Check-in Logistics (bring overall
  map)
• Medical Re-check Services (food, equipment)
• Equipment shakedown Crew Photo
• Museum tours (optional) Opening campfire
  
  may do
  morning of Day 2
• Day 2 Depart CHQ/1st Day on trail
• Day 3 2nd Day on trail, first full day
• Day 4 3rd Day on trail, Ranger Departs am
  (hike between camps, participate in
  programs)
• Day 11 Last Full Day on trail
• Day 12 Return to Camping HQ/Tent City
• Return equipment Financial check-out
• SHOWERS! Trip to Cimarron
• Souvenirs Closing Campfire
• Day 13 Travel Philmont to Austin

Meet Your Ranger
Arrival Day

• Ranger Training
• Hiking techniques
• Campsite setup
• Cooking
• Water purification
• Navigation

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Participant Expenses
Campers spend an average of 100 at Philmonts
trading posts.
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Financial Policies

• Each crew is financially responsible for 12
  participants (12 x 976 11,712).
• There will likely be Waite Genevieve Phillips
  Scholarship money available for youth
  participants (October, 2009).
• Let us know early if there are financial issues!

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Payment Schedule
Create a payment schedule for your crew that
collects money in advance of these payments!
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Contingent Participants
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Stuff! Where does it come from?

• Contingent provides
• Sectional maps
• Duffle bags
• Shoulder strips
• Philmont provides
• Tents
• Dining fly poles
• Food (trail base camp)
• Cooking equipment
• Cleaning gear
• Water purification
• Bear bags ropes

• Crew provides
• First Aid kit
• Backpacking stoves
• Ground cloths
• Tent stakes
• Water carriers
• Crew tee shirts
• Individuals provide
• Backpack
• Clothing
• Rain gear
• Boots
• Sleeping bag/pad
• Water bottles

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What kind of stuff do we need?
1947 Equipment!
1940 Equipment!

• The equipment has (fortunately) changed over the
  years!

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What kind of stuff do we need in 2010?
This is the REALLY important stuff!

• Campers spend an average of 100 at Philmonts
  trading posts. If major items such as jackets
  are desired, more money will be needed.
  (http//www.toothoftimetraders.com)

• Spices
• Bowl, spoon, cup
• Water bottles (3 or 4 - 1 qt)
• Pocketknife
• Flashlight
• Compass maps
• Rope/Cord
• Stuff sacks for dining fly poles, ½ tent, tent
  pins, bear bag contents

• Good rain gear! Rain suit no ponchos!
• Backpack with rain cover
• Over-the-ankle boots
• Sleeping bag with pad sleeping clothes
• Shorts crew tee shirt(s)
• Lots of socks liners outer
• Long pants, long-sleeve shirt
• Camera
• Spending money

You really dont need all that stuff!
GPS recommended ifgoing to Valle Vidal. Load
campsite intermediate waypointsbefore leaving
home.
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What about the other stuff?

• Philmont-provides
• Cooking/cleaning gear
• Trail Food
• Two-person Tents
• Crew provides
• Backpacking Stoves
• Tent pins

• Bear bags/rope
• Water purifier (Micro Pur)
• Dining fly poles

Bring carabineer, cord, and stuff sack for
oops bag.Bring extra rope carabineers if
you are going into the Valle Vidal.
Coffee isnt included in food packages. Pick up
at Advisors meeting in base camp Day 1.

• Ground cloths
• First Aid Kit
• Water containers
• Sectional Maps

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Scout Uniform (youth adult)

• Wear Class-A Uniform while traveling for base
  camp activities.
• Can remove uniform shirt wear crew tee shirt
  while bus is moving Class-A when off bus.
• Class-A Uniform

• Registered with Troop
• Tan uniform shirt
• Scout belt
• Scout long pants -or-Scout Shorts with
  Scout socks

• Registered with Venturing Crew
• Green uniform shirt
• Crews official pant (long or short)
• Crews official socks (with shorts)
• Crews official belt

Primary Registration

• Will leave in duffle bag in locker while on trail.

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Crew tee-shirts

• Each Crew designs its own tee-shirt.
• Include Contingent logo on sleeve or breast
  (artwork on website).
• Typically have at least two shirts per
  participant.
• Tee-shirt ideas
• Topo map
• Trek map (from Treks-2010 book)
• Crew designed logo/slogan
• Philmont logos (arrowhead, brands, etc.)
• Some crews do hats too! Some do Polo-type
  shirts.
• One crew in 2006 used Hawaiian shirts leis
  were noticed!
• Tee-shirt is likely to be the best Philmont
  souvenir.
• May want to have extra shirts for gift for your
  crews Ranger.

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Logistics Tee Shirt Winners
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Contingent Activities

• Meeting 2, October/November 2009
• Review 2009 Contingent
• Review logistics/schedules
• Distribute Planning Guide
• Distribute Medical forms
• Discuss Itinerary selection
• March, 2010 (Pick up at Sid Covingtons house)
• TREKS 2010 books
• Guidebook to Adventure books (packing lists)
• Philmont Overall wall map
• Meeting 3, April/May, 2010
• Distribute Duffle Bags
• Distribute topographic maps
• Distribute Crew Advisor parent information
• Collect final paperwork

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Planning Timeline
On contingent website in Crew Advisor binder.
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Philmont Rules

• Participants MUST meet age requirements
  Participants must be at least 14 by September 1,
  2010 Philmont will not make any exceptions to
  the age requirement!
• One person (preferably two) per Crew must be
  currently certified in Red Cross Wilderness First
  Aid one person currently certified CPR (adult
  or youth, doesnt have to be the same person).
• Participants MUST meet height/weight guidelines.
• Participants MUST use 2010 Philmont Health
  Medical Record form physical within 12 months.
• Recommend at least three adults per crew, maximum
  of 4 (for Philmont crew count purposes, an
  adult is a person over 21).

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Itinerary Selection

• Be cognizant of the desires and capabilities of
  your Crew.
• Weigh selection toward programs that the crew
  wants to participate in.
• Consider Distance Difficulty.
• Consider Elevation maximum daily change.
• Area
• South
• Central
• North
• Valle Vidal

Will make itinerary selection in March, 2010!
Ask your crew what they want to do where they
want to go!
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Shakedown/Preparation

• Do what works best for your crew!
• Train for Day 11, not Day 1
• training is mandatory it is absolutely
  essential that the crew spends time together,
  learning the skills they will need while on the
  trail at Philmont. Remind the crew that the
  purpose of these training sessions is not just to
  get in shape or learn how to hike, anymore than
  ball practice is to learn to throw and catch.
  The purpose of the training is to learn how to
  work together as a team rather than a group of
  individuals hiking together.
• Focus on equipment, skills, teamwork, not
  conditioning!

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What did previous leaders say?

• Do your shakedowns with the Philmont crew only.
• Dont try to combine with troop
  campouts/activities.
• Have the right equipment.
• Make sure that everyone in your group has a
  proper backpack rain cover and good rain suit.
  We had some boys get the 3 plastic Wal-Mart rain
  suits and they got ripped up the fist day. By
  the 2nd day, the duct tape exceeded the rain suit
  in coverage.
• Pack light and get very fit
• Don't try and go on the cheap. Buy good
  equipment.

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Problems Observed

• Many participants (not just in our Contingent)
  were not adequately prepared for Philmont
• Mentally/emotionally/physically
• Equipment
• Crew Advisors MUST take a strong position to keep
  people from going to Philmont who should not be
  there.
• THIS IS NOT JUST A LONGER SUMMER CAMP IT IS
  DIFFICULT, DANGEROUS, AND CAN BE
  LIFE-THREATENING! PARTICIPANTS MUST BE ABLE TO
  HANDLE IT!
• Philmont will not/cannot make special allowances.
• Crew paperwork is extremely important and must
  be turned in to Crew Advisor ON TIME!

We can minimize risks but we cantcontrol
stupid.A Philmont manager, 2006
Have Participants (and Parents) sign a contract
attesting that they understand the difficulty,
risk, and danger of the trek and committing to
fully participate in shakedowns, preparation,
paperworkcompletion and submission, etc.
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Crew Preparation Suggestions

• Schedule Shakedown activities
• C.O.P.E. Course for crew
• Equipment shakedown(s)
• Technique shakedown(s)
• Campsite setup
• Bear Bags
• Water purification
• Cooking (Philmont style)
• Wilderness First Aid and CPR Courses
• Crewmember Contract
• Duty Roster

May want to havealternate participantsin
reserve.
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Shakedown/Preparation
Philmont Advisors Guide Cooper Wright
Wally Feurtado, Venturing Crew 1519, National
Capitol Area Council

• October or November. Meeting with crew and
  parents. The purpose of this meeting is to
  review the Philmont Pre-trek Training video,
  discuss equipment needs, go over medical
  requirements, and discuss emotional problems and
  learning disabilities. Ask crewmembers to bring
  their sleeping bag, backpack, and rain gear for
  your evaluation.
• March - classroom, full backpack, equipment
  shakedown.
• April - 1 to 4 mile hike, set up full Philmont
  campsite. Philmont-style cooking. May want to
  order Philmont meals.
• Mid May - 15 mile, 2-night shakedown hike with
  all personal and crew gear.
• Four weeks prior to departure - A second 15 mile,
  2-night shakedown hike with all personal and crew
  gear.
• Week before departure - Final backpack and
  uniform inspection.

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Information Distribution

• Tonight (meeting)
• Basic information
• Fall, 2009 (meeting)
• Crew Advisor Binder Information for Crew
  Advisors
• Placeholders for future information (medical
  forms, etc.)
• CD with various files
• Philmont 2010 Health Medical Record forms
• 2010 Council Unit Planning Guide
• Copy of the 2009 Guidebook to Adventure
• March, 2010 (pick up)
• Philmont Treks 2010 Itinerary Guide
• 12 copies 2010 Guidebook to Adventure
• Philmont Overall map (take to Philmont with
  you)
• April/May, 2010 (meeting)
• Duffle bags
• Sectional maps

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Communications

• E-mail to Crew Advisor, others on e-mail list.
• Web site
• http//www.sccovington.com/philmont
• Links to
• General Information
• 2010 Contingent
• Send email with questions to
  sid_c_at_swbell.net put Philmont 2010 your
  expedition in subject
• Phone
• Cell [phone]
• New Mexico [phone]
• Philmont [phone] x1231 (Logistics)

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Web Site Structure
Crew Information
Review this information frequently. It is used
to show your crew roster, financial status,
paperwork status, etc.
http//www.bsacac.org
Crew Roster
Travel/Tent Info
Paperwork Status(Red is not turned in)
http//www.sccovington.com/philmont
Crew Makeup
Financial Status
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Resources
Dont get obsessive! Dont set unrealistic
expectations! Relax and enjoy the
experience! Philmonts staff will make it work!

• Capitol Area Council Philmont Contingent Website
• www.sccovington.com/philmont
• National BSA Website
• BSA Philmont website www.scouting.org/philmont
  /
• Passport to High Adventure www.scouting.org/Boy
  Scouts/PassporttoHighAdventure.aspx
• Leave No Trace www.scouting.org/boyscouts/reso
  urces/leave no trace.aspx
• Teaching Leave No Trace www.scouting.org/boysco
  uts/teachingleavenotrace.aspx
• Guide to Safe Scouting http//www.scouting.org/
  HealthandSafety/GSS.aspx
• US Scouting Service Project
• High Adventure www.usscouts.org/usscouts/high
  adventure.asp
• E-mail Discussion Lists (Canoe Base, Philmont,
  Seabase) www.usscouts.org/lists
• Clip Art clipart.usscouts.org/library/index.as
  p
• Passport to High Adventure out of print
• Philmont Field Guide out of print

• Philmont Advisors Guide
• Published by Cooper Wright Wally Feurtado as a
  fundraiser for Venturing Crew 1519, National
  Capitol Area Council
• Order from websitehttp//www.bacphilmont.org/pag
  .html
• Seldons List www.lepp.cornell.edu/seb/philmont
  .html
• Philmont Staff Association www.philstaff.com/
• Jason Cotting (former Ranger) website
  http//anvilgear.com/jason/backpacking/main.php
• General Philmont information www.philmont.com/
• Philmont documents philmontdocs.watchu.org/
• Philmont PhilSearch www.philsearch.org
• Dan Yoders Philmont Itinerary Information
  www.danyoder.com/philmont/

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Questions?