Re: [Philmont]: Philmont Advisors Guide

At 01:47 PM 3/18/2006, you wrote:
>I have a question for those who have hiked Philmont in the last two
>years. Did you read the Philmont Advisors Guide? If so how useful and
>accurate did you find it? I have purchased and read the guide. The
>information looks good to me but I don't have any recent experience
>at Philmont.

Kevin,
We have used it on each of our treks since 1999 (99, 00, 02,04, 05,06
(*some were troop trips and some were council contingent trips that we were
involved with)). I have found the information to be rock solid. Each year
they update it with new information gleaned from the previous season. The
only thing that would cause discrepancy is if Philmont implemented a
policy/procedure change for the coming season. The editors would likely not
know about it. In most cases Philmont may not even publish it in their
literature, in advance. Crews are taught the current technique and policy
by their ranger. The Philmont Advisors Guide warns of this and tells
advisors to be receptive and supportive. Fortunately, we on this list start
learning of any new changes from crew returning from early season treks.

Over the years I have read and re-read the guides that Philmont sends (the
Philmont Guidebook to Adventure, the Council and Unit Planning Guide, and
Treks book) and find that the Philmont Advisors Guide presents the same
information, but in a more user friendly format. I once had a leader balk
because the book was not "official" until I showed him that contents takes
the "official" stuff and compiles 3 or more resources into one, expands on
the information, adds real-world experience, and put it into an easier to
access format. This guide explains the "right" way to prepare for and do
Philmont - not just the opinions of the authors, but the teachings of the
Philmont Scout Ranch.

Yours in Venturing,
Rick Neff
Advisor, Crew 31
State College, Pa.
Philmont Treks - 99, 02, 04, 07

-------------------------------------------------------
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 Sun Mar 19 19:36:33 2006