Philmont Boy Scout Ranch Backpack Trip

[Pam]

Hi geffric! Haven't chatted with you since last year when we swapped patches for Jambo!

My son did the Philmont Trek in 2003. He loved it! He plans on doing the Philmont Spring Break thing once he's in college.

Here's the website for the Philmont Tooth of Time Trading Post. They have TONS of stuff for sale. www.toothoftimetraders.org

I ordered some of the stuff ahead of time and had it shipped to the house - that saved on space for my son. (They flew to Colorado Springs first and did the whitewater rafting/Air Force Academy/Colorado Gorge, etc.

Another great website is:

http://www.danyoder.com/philmont/

He has fabulous photos - itinerary breakdowns by day with lots of information about each of the treks, etc.

I would recommend a Z-Rest folding foam pad. They are very lightweight and don't take up much space.

A digital camera is great - my son had one that just ate up AA batteries, which was a bummer. We now have a Sony camera that has lithium batteries and I would recommend one of those, you just get so much more battery life! A 1 gig memory card would give him lots of photos.

I third the suggestion of making sure he has those hiking boots well broke in!!

A good quality, lightweight rainsuit is a must! DS hiked in rain just about every day, one day they even had hail. He said the rain would come and go in spurts.

My son took those tshirts that wick the moisture, can't think of the name. I think it might be CoolMax - they were great. Oh - and he took new hiking shorts, etc. and I had no problem getting all of his clothes clean when he got home.

If you son has more than 1 Class A uniform (and I'm guessing that he does since he went to Jambo last year) I would suggest that he take 2 Class As with him so he will have a fresh, clean uniform to travel back home in.

Tell him to take a few bucks out on the trail with him for ice cream and root beer!

My son earned his Eagle in 2003 (same year as his Trek). He just turned 18 and is currently the Lodge Chief of his OA Lodge!!

 

[geffric]

Thanks Pam.. Nice to "chat" with you again.

 

[challada]

Mom of a tenderfoot here, so please understand my lack of knowledge (though I led Cubs for five years)....can I be so bold as to ask how much the cost is for something like Philmont? DS's troop is in a transition stage (several olders just moved on after Eagle and a number of new ones like DS are the most active) and I think it would be a good time for them to focus on a goal (besides Eagle which seems so far away to a bunch of 10 year olds). Some of the older boys are coming back to together to climb Rainer but they are not allowing the youngers to go w/them (restricted it to first class and above). Anyway, any suggestions would be great!

 

[buddy&wooz]

When our troop sent boys to Philmont a couple years ago it was restricted by age- I believe they had to be 13- and possibly by rank. They also had to do COPE training and pass a physical which included height v weight requirements. But it's possible they have a program for younger scouts.

I don't know the cost, we were lucky to be subsidized by a grant of some sort.

My middle son is hoping another trip will be arranged in the next year or so, he'd love to go!

 

[Pam]

challada,

There is a basic fee that Philmont charges - and then you have to add on transportation costs (which would vary from each Troop because of travel distances.)

Also, if the Troops do other sightseeing/events, that will add to the cost.

I think my son's total cost for everything (including airfare) was around $1400.00 in 2003.

I'm sure that Philmont has raised their rates since then.

My son has gone to National Jamboree twice, Philmont, NOAC, etc. He was able to fundraise all of the money for each of these events.

I believe that you have to be at least 13 or 14 years old to go to Philmont.

I was also my son's Den Mom throughout his Cub Scout years!

 

[momrek06]

how much the cost is for something like Philmont? !

First of all, that is so fabulous that you are looking into it NOW!!! This is a trip every scout should have the advantage of going on...that being said, my sons went in 1998, 2000 and 2002. They left from the state of MA and they did an entire cross country trek, stopping at many typical scout sites from Army bases to Niagra Falls to Chicago and St. Louis as well as Colorado and the Flying W Ranch and white water rafting to the Air Force Academy. My son who went in 1998 actually got to go inside NORAD but that has been closed for all since 9/11/01!
Anyway, for our boys at those times it was roughly $1500.00 per scout of which we planned it one year in advance of the trip and made monthly payments, all set up through the Troop. $1500.00 to see all that they did and climb Philmont was unbelievable. This would include housing for each night and entrance to any museums and ONE meal per day (outside of Philmont)! Everything at Philmont was INCLUDED in that initial $1500.00.
They even saw a Colorado Rockies game one time and also a Rodeo. As I recall, you need to contact Philmont in advance in order to reserve a spot for your Troop. Also, some of the scouts should have their First Aid merit badge AND have attended a CPR certification course.

 

[SideshowBob]

"For food, for rainment, for life, for oportunity, for friendship and fellowship, we thank Thee, Oh Lord"...

The Philmont Grace

Know this as a dinner grace, as SSB's Ex Ann was there every summer for many years, as family tied to Boy Scouts organization in a couple of ways. She worked in charge of "Tent City", or sumpin' like that for couple of years. She loved it there. A friend of her's "Steve Zimmer" still lives there, and I think in charge of museum, or the like. (wife Sherry, and couple of boys)

 

[geffric]

challada while the offical BSA high adventures are restricted to scouts over 13 or 14 and first class, our troop has done trips for all scouts too. We went white river rafting, skiing, and our largest trip was to the South Dakota scout camp ( Medicine Mountain) , drove out there and camped at the badlands toured mt rushmore ( even did the flag ceremony at Mt Rushmore). So many troop trips can include other scouts once the scouts and their parents express interest and will help support the adventure. When we went to South Dakota, we had almost as many parents as scouts.

Here is the link for family type programs at Philmont http://www.scouting.org/philmont/ptc/families/programs.html

 

[challada]

Thanks all! I don't expect a program that I can send a bunch of 10 year olds across the country and say "good luck", but I would like to see these boys starting to plan and this would be a good goal. I think the cost is probably out of our range as this group doesn't fundraise and financials are a mess (apparently no one has seen hide nor hair of the treasurer in the last year). It's out of pocket just for summer camp here.

I'll start looking at some ideas to bring to the group of boys and see if they are interested in making a plan.

THANKS
C

 

[momrek06]

Thanks all! I don't expect a program that I can send a bunch of 10 year olds across the country and say "good luck", but I would like to see these boys starting to plan and this would be a good goal. I think the cost is probably out of our range as this group doesn't fundraise and financials are a mess (apparently no one has seen hide nor hair of the treasurer in the last year). It's out of pocket just for summer camp here.

I'll start looking at some ideas to bring to the group of boys and see if they are interested in making a plan.

THANKS
C

Ahh..that is a shame about fundraising and financials. I certainly hope the Troop remains afloat. I will say, for the most part the PARENTS of the Philmont-bound Scouts paid their own way. There were some fundraisers but most of ours were for Troop-wide use...not for selected Scouts traveling where other Scouts could not...hence the payment plans. We also have a fabulous 150 acre Scout Camp that scouts from all over Central Ma are welcome to spend their summers at...either just enjoying the summer OR actually working on selected merit badges for rank advancement. They hold their Greenbar program there as well as "tap out" the newest OA member of your Troop. Really an awesome place and opportunity for all Scouts to meet and get to know each other from all different towns.

 

[Byrd]

Both of my sons have been when they were scouts. You have gotten great suggestions. The only thing I might add is have him take extra boots or shoes to be left at base camp for him to wear on his return trip home. The ones they wore on the treck needed a rest and airing out!!!!

 

[DisneyTarheel]

Thanks for reminding me how old I am getting!

I went the summer of '83 and had a blast.

I still remember the ghost stories on top of Urraca Mesa.

We did the bus tour, staying overnight at National Guard armories along the way. Do they still do that?

One funny memory: A guy in our group was too embarrassed to tell his girlfriend he was going away to a scout camp, so he told her he was going to the beach. Poor guy had to lay out in the sun each day to work on his tan so he didn't get busted when he got home.

 

[geffric]

Thanks all! I don't expect a program that I can send a bunch of 10 year olds across the country and say "good luck", but I would like to see these boys starting to plan and this would be a good goal. I think the cost is probably out of our range as this group doesn't fundraise and financials are a mess (apparently no one has seen hide nor hair of the treasurer in the last year). It's out of pocket just for summer camp here.

I'll start looking at some ideas to bring to the group of boys and see if they are interested in making a plan.

THANKS
C

Fundraising need active parents.In some troop, the parents find it easier to just write checks then spend their time planning and coordinating the fundraising. Our troop has low dues and $5 camping trips every month so that everyone can afford to be active in the scouting program. So we do fundraising. Our biggest fund raiser is our pancake breakfast, also, we sell popcorn and wreaths, last summer we sold water at the 4th of july parade, we have sold candy, we do a car wash each June and make $500 with a $match from walmart. ( we split the earned monies up among the scouts that participated by length of time they were there. None of the money is used for the troop, it is to help the scouts pay for summer camp.)

There is a book that has all of the BSA camps listed by state. A trip to a different summer camp is fun; The boys can go anywhere and do anything, need parents to help coordinate. I am committe chair, If you want any discuss Troop fund rainsing et al, pm me.

 

[wfloyd]

I have been there twice and loved it each time. We went on the Northern trek and climbed Baldy each time. The amount of free time depends on how difficult a trek you are on. We would choose ones that were a total of 80-90 or so miles total so we would have time in the afternoons to wander around and do whatever activities are at each camp. We would see others that had 120+ mile treks and all they did was hike to each camp. I had a great time and would love to go back again.