[Philmont]: Over already! Thanks

Hi All, Just returned from Trek # 21Saturday. Took me a few days to become "
reconnected " to the real world after hanging with 16 year olds for 14 days.
Had a wonderful time and would like to thank everyone on the list for all
there help. A few notes along the way :
      The worst burned area we saw was at Head of Dean. We hiked 40 minutes
up in to burn area to do conservation project of reseeding and strawing
areas to help prevent erosion and silt deposits in lower areas. Very black
and dismal, although grasses have begun to grow naturally in some areas
already and other areas we hiked through had 3' scrub oak coming back.
Hiking back to Head of dean we noticed that Baldy can be seen through the
dead trees. In many years this area will become a meadow with spectacular
views.
      We noticed our Ranger did not mention trash compacting so I chimed in
during his training to inform the scouts of the need to compact. We found
out at Miranda ( after a crew dropped off a heap of trash the size of a 5
gal. bucket) that Philmont staff can no longer stress trash compacting, it
is considered harrassment.( I almost fell of my chair ) Plus, they are not
allowed to refuse any trash no matter how massive.
     Advisors coffee each night at staffed camps was wonderful. Cookies at
some, doughnuts at Clarks Fork! A great place to meet new Pholks, swap
stories, get rid of fuel your last day, and ask staff all those questions
you always wanted to ask. I must say the staff were very friendly at every
camp we went, even let you hang out on the swing . Our crew particularly
liked the staff at Head of Dean. They had board games for a relaxing
afternoon. Our crew played Risk and Uno. And they had a never ending supply
of Gatorade in a 5 gal. jug.
      Our crew got busted twice by what they referred to as the "Bear Nazis
", staff policing camp areas. How soon the crew forgot what they were
taught. First time 3 lipbalm were found in the fire ring. Second time was
not so bad , a non smellable Nalgene partially exposed from an unzipped
tent, and a bowl not put at the sump.
    Six crew members saw a bear, all I saw was a horned toad and of course
mini bears and Phildogs also known as mule deer. What I also saw was nine
youth bond together like I have never seen on any other scout adventure. We
had a Council contingent with youth from 5 different areas and different
backgrounds. These fine young men set aside all their differences and became
a family of scouts working together as a "fine tuned " team to accomplish
all the tasks and conquer all the quests. They came away with a feeling of
pride and accomplishment ,and also of brotherhood towards each other.What
more could an advisor ask for?
   Mark Waggoner, crew advisor and scout friend Crew 622M3 Canton,
Massillon, and Wooster, Ohio

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Received on Tue Jul 8 21:22:45 2003