In a "perfect" world, each Philmont backpacking crew would have 10 youth
members and 2 adult members. That would allow the maximum number of
youth to participate in the Philmont experience. However, it is best to
"be prepared" for the unexpected as losing that second adult can
necessitate a whole lot of scrambling in order to meet Philmont's rules
on 2-deep leadership.
My personal experience in helping to arrange several trips to Philmont
for our troop during the past 15 years has taught me it is best to try and
have at least 3 adults age 21 or over in each crew. Having an 18-20 year
old is nice too as this individual can substitute as the "second adult" if
needed, or he can be listed on the roster as a youth crew member too.
There are other crew dynamics to consider. Some of them are as follows.
A Philmont backpacking crew can have UP TO 4 adults age 21 or over. The
minimum crew size is 7 while the maximum crew size is 12. A crew must
have a majority of youth members so here are the MAXIMUM number of
adults age 21 or over that can be in various crew sizes:
Crew of 7 = 4 youth members/3 adult members
Crew of 8 = 5 youth members/3 adult members
Crew of 9 = 5 youth members/4 adult members
Crew of 10 = 6 youth members/4 adult members
Crew of 11 = 7 youth members/4 adult members
Crew of 12 = 8 youth members/4 adult members
Each Philmont crew must have at least 2 adult advisors. If the Philmont
crew is from a troop, at least 1 member must be an adult age 21 or over
while the other adult can be age 18-20. As stated above, the maximum
number of adult crew members age 21 or over is 4.
Venturers are considered youth members until age 21, and that's how
Philmont treats them as far as Youth Protection rules are concerned. A
co-ed Philmont crew must have an adult female advisor at least age 21
AND an adult male advisor at least age 21.
As far as Youth Protection guidelines, a 15 year old Venturer can share
a tent with a 20 year old Venturer of the same sex. But a 17 year old
Boy Scout cannot share a tent with his 18 year old brother who happens
to be an Assistant Scoutmaster.
And now, a little humor.......
Consider this scenario with a parent having three sons registered in a
troop, ages 15, 17 & 18 and going to Philmont this coming summer. The
parent asks the Scoutmaster several questions about tenting arrangements
and showering facilities at Philmont.
Parent: Can the 15 year old tent with his 17 year old brother?
SM: Yes.
Parent: Can the 15 year old tent with his 18 year old brother?
SM: No, but he might be able to do so if you sign a legal document
making the 18 year old the 15 year old's guardian during the trek.
Parent (with strange look on his face): Okay, I'll consider that.
Parent: Can the 17 year old tent with his 18 year old brother?
SM: No, but we can try the guardian thing again.
Parent: But they share a room at home.
SM: They can't do that at Philmont.
Parent (with an even stranger look on his face): Okay, let's move on.
SM: Fine.
Parent: Well, with whom can the 18 year old tent?
SM: Any other adult leader.
Parent: You mean my 18 year son can't tent with his 17 year old brother
but he can tent with a 50 year old adult?
SM: That's right.
Parent (after shaking head several times): Okay, one other question
about tenting.
SM: Okay.
Parent: The 17 year old turns 18 during the trek; what happens then?
SM: Then, he'll have to move into a tent with an adult.
Parent: How about with his older brother?
SM: Fine.
Parent: So, if the 17 year old starts out tenting with his 15 year old
brother, he will have to move in with his 18 year old brother or another
adult when he turns 18?
SM: Correct.
Parent: Okay, let me think about this for a few days. I believe I
understand but I'll let you know if I have additional questions. Can we
move on to showering arrangements?
SM (with great anticipation): By all means.
Parent: Can the 15 year old shower with his 17 year old brother?
SM: Yes.
Parent: Can the 15 year old shower with his 18 year old brother?
SM: No.
Parent: How about if we do the guardian thing?
SM (after thinking a bit): No, I don't think so.
Parent: Can the 15 year old shower with his 17 year old brother and
other 17 year old boys in the Philmont crew?
SM: Yes.
Parent: But he can't shower with his 18 year old brother?
SM: That's correct.
Parent: Can the 17 year old shower with his 18 year old brother?
SM: No.
Parent: If we do the guardian thing?
SM: No.
Parent: But they go to church camp and shower together there; why not at
Philmont?
SM: Can't do it at Philmont; BSA Youth Protection rules.
Parent: But they are on the same baseball team at school and they shower
together after each practice and game.
SM: Can't do it at Philmont; BSA Youth Protection rules.
Parent: So, whom can the 18 year old shower with?
SM: Any other male camper at least age 18.
Parent: Even you?
SM: Yes.
Parent: And other 50 year old adult males?
SM: Yes.
Parent: I think I'll save some time and not ask about the showering
arrangements after the 17 year old turns 18.
SM: Thanks!
Parent (while walking away and muttering): Thanks for the info, I
believe my 17 and 18 year old sons will forget about going to Philmont
with the troop and go with their Venturing Crew instead. He turns
around and asks the Scoutmaster, "Do you know if Venturing has similar
rules on tenting and shower arrangements?"
SM (while running away): Aaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeee!
YiS,
-- Calvin H. Gray Scoutmaster, Troop 405 Associate Advisor, Venturing Crew 405 Georgetown, Texas I used to be an Owl (WM-62-2-98 @ Philmont) http://www.troop405.org/ ------------------------------------------------------- Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe at http://usscouts.org/lists/ Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp ------------------------------------------------------- Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com ------------------------------------------------------- As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. -------------------------------------------------------Received on Tue Apr 13 10:15:15 2004
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.8 : Wed Jul 26 2006 - 11:59:30 CDT