The next activity for contingent crews will be selecting their itineraries.  Philmont will ship the 2012 TREKS books in early/mid-March.  When they arrive, everyone on the contingent email list will be notified that they may be picked up at Sid Covington's house.  This has proven to be the most expedient way for crews to get them.  Crews will have approximately a week to examine the itineraries in the TREKS book and decide on 5 itineraries (in priority order) they would like.  They will then sign on to a website to enter their choices and receive their itinerary assignment.  More information on this process will be in the package with the TREKS book.

Often, the TREKS books arrive during Spring Break!  Crews should be certain that someone that will be in town is on the email list so they can pick up the crews package.

Medical Forms

Medical forms may be downloaded from the Philmont website at www.PhilmontScoutRanch.org.  They are not going to be mailed this year as they have been in the past.  Crew Advisors can download/print copies for each crew member or can distribute the .pdf version to each crew member -- these are "fillable" forms that can be saved.  Be sure to download and complete (with appropriate signatures) Parts A, B, & C.  Also download and print Part D to provide to the medical personnel conducting the medical examination.  They should check the box at the top of Part C that they were provided and read a copy of Part D.

Wilderness First Aid

There are only a limited number of these courses taught in our area and they fill quickly.  Click the button below for more information on the courses.

Payments

All crews should have made their final payment that was due February 2, 2012.  Updates to the crew information showing payment status will be made when they are received from the Council.  All crews should be fully paid at this time.

Expedition Number

The contingent has received its Expedition Number.  This is "625-D".  Each of the 16 crews is identified by two digits appended to this (e.g., 625-D-01, 625-D-14, etc.).  Crews and crew members MUST use this expedition number on all correspondence about the crew.  Troop numbers are meaningless at Philmont, there are frequently many troops from around the country with the same troop number at Philmont at any time.

Three areas that were problematic for crews in the summer of 2011 were Wilderness First Aid training, adults not meeting the height/weight requirements, and crews that had poor map and compass skills. 

• Numerous crew members (adult advisors and youth) were sent home for failing to meet the height & weight requirements.  This created problems with two-deep leadership, first aid training, delayed check-in, etc.  Please check with all your crew's participants to insure they will meet these requirements.  The requirements can be viewed in the General Information of this website or at www.philmontscoutranch.org.

• Crews should become proficient in map and compass use.  A number of crews became "lost" or "disoriented" in 2010 because they didn't have adequate skills, didn't take or consult their sectional maps, or relied on their GPS and/or iPhone.  Philmont is a wilderness area!  Crews will need to be able to navigate.  Skilled use of map and compass is critical.  Using GPS's can be helpful but, without basic map and compass skills, a GPS is no more than extra weight!  Philmont maps use the UTM coordinate system.  Crews should become proficient in using UTM, compass, and topographic maps.  Philmont is a great place to use a GPS but not the place to learn how.