[Philmont] Rangers (was: What I'd do, if anything, different!)

This was written by Stephen Braunlich, member of our Venturing crew, member
of the support team (and only BSA registered youth) for the American Frontiers
 Journey (americanfrontiers.net) that walked across America, and a four time
Philmonter (1- trek, 3-staff). He has served as a Ranger, a Rayado Ranger,
and now a Training Ranger on the role of advisors and rangers.
 
 
"The other day I came in as a replacement for a Ranger who had to come off
the trail for health reasons. The advisor for this crew came from my council
and was very proud of the fact that he had been out to Philmont on 12 treks.
This was his baker’s dozen.
Although he had prepared the crew well enough, his conduct on the trail was
the model of that which makes Rangers wince at having to take out a crew with
the “experienced” lead adviser. I’m writing this reflection not so much as
an attack on him, but to provide advice to those advisers who have been here,
and want to be good representatives of their Troop or Crew, their Council,
and all advisers who have previously been to the Blessed Plot.
The most important thing an experienced adviser needs to have is humility.
You may have written a book on Philmont, or in this case, several e-mail
missives, but the fact of the matter is this: you’ve been away from Philmont for
at least 9 months… probably more. Policies, camps, trails… everything… changes
 from year to year, and what you did last year does not necessarily hold for
this year. Thus humility becomes the best disposition to take. Trust what the
Ranger and backcountry staff tell you, because they know this year’s Ranch
better than you do. Indeed, they may even have more Phil-experience than you
do, and almost certainly have more Phil-experience in the last 3 or 4 years.
Take a 6 term adviser, for example. Having taken that many 12-day treks, he
had you would have 72 days of Phil-experience in your life. Your typical
Ranger will have had that much experience in one summer on staff; if they’ve gone
on a Rayado trek or a couple of regular treks they would have passed that
point in July. More importantly, their experience and trail time is concentrated
in the last 3 months. The Ranger will have tested and seen many ways of
doing things, and though there are more than one way of doing things, the Ranger
usually knows the best one.
Now this is not to say that the advisor’s experience is in vain. It can be
terribly useful in assessing those things that do not change. For example,
naming peaks and wildflowers. An experienced adviser can also do an excellent
job of preparing a crew for the physical rigors of the trail and getting a crew
used to some of the Philmont policies. It is important, however, that they
also reinforce with crews that those policies may change and they need to go
with whatever the Ranger says. Many Rangers appreciate hearing about how
Philmont used to operate, provided that those stories aren’t told in such a way as
to disparage the current “Philmont way”.
Beyond humility, it is also important that the experienced advisor also be
mindful of the Philmont goal of turning boys into men. An advisor who has been
out here frequently has undoubtedly seen crews make many mistakes, whether
its choosing a trail or choosing how to cook a meal. That said, those mistakes
are how crews learn and its important for advisers to let crews make them.
This is all the harder for the experienced advisor, making it all the more
important for them to remember that the moment they placed their boot hit the
backcountry the youth were 100% in charge, save for safety concerns.
This is simply a brief reflection on the role of the experienced advisor, and
 for advisers in general. Following these simple guides will do more to
impress your Ranger, and engender a greater thanksgiving on his part than any
T-shirt or ice cream could. So while Philmont exists for the youth, if you’re
also interested in impressing a Ranger that’s the way to go."
A thought for today.
Cooper Wright
Warrenton, VA

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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.
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Received on Sun Jul 22 13:42:49 2007