[Philmont]: What Makes A Good Crew

I guess I should have checked the list when I sent out the e-mail on
"Avoiding One Year Wonder Crews".  I am on a couple of the lists and I originally
thought Mark's question dealt with forming Venturing crews.  The presentation is
about how to form successful Venturing crews that will stand the test of time. 
It deals with training crew officers and setting up an annual program that
works.  If you would still like a copy of the presentation, please let me know
that you want the Venturing Crew presentation.

I have had a little time to think over Mark's question about what makes a
good Philmont crew.  I would offer a couple of points.

1.  Good crews spend quality time together before their trek.  Sure Philmont
crews have shakedowns and planning sessions, but good crews go out for pizza
and a movie, or go bowling, or just have fun together. 

2.  Good crews have honed their outdoor backcountry skills so they can
operate on remote control when they hit their campsite.  Key skills are safe use of
stoves, water purification, cooking, cleanup, personal sanitation, bear bags,
and tarp set up.  Poor crews struggle when they get into camp because they
waste time doing in camp chores inefficiently. 

3.  Good crews get out of camp early.  Poor crews can't get out of camp
early, so they hike in the heat of the day and arrive at their program sites after
all the slots are filled.

4.  Good crews can read a map and use a compass.  Good crews prepare Time
Control Plan the night before and share it with the entire crew.  Poor crews
struggle with the map and compass.  In poor crews, only the youth navigater and
adult advisor know where they are going, how much change in elevation there will
be, where the next water source will be.  The rest of the crew simply follows
along.

5.  Good crews are in top physical and emotional shape, including the
adults.  Poor crews struggle along the trail and pull into their camp sites exhausted
so they cannot enjoy the program activities.

6.  Good crew keep communications open and honest with Roses, Thorns and Buds
and hold daily devotions.  Poor crews wait until an issue boils over and
scream at one another.

7.  Good crews let the youth lead and the adults take a back seat.  Poor
crews, the adult jumps in when the youth crew leader seems to fail and takes over.

8.  In good crews, everyone understands that "the crew come first" and
"everything is everybodies job".  In poor crews, personal tents go up before the
crew tarps or bear bags and crew members follow the duty roster, never offering
to do more than what is expected.

9.  Good crews develop a set of "crew rules" that outline what is expected of
each and every crew member.  Good crew rules are developed by the youth with
little input from the adults and serve as a behavioral contract.  In poor
rules, no one knows what is expected as a crew member, so that anything is
acceptable.

Cooper Wright
Associate Advisor, Crew 1519
Co-author of the Philmont Advisor's Guide

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As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
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cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
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Received on Sun Apr 10 19:05:54 2005