RE: [Philmont]: Philmont staff questions

Here are the basic answers to your questions:
 
1) Do they have to commit to working the entire summer?
 
Lots of people have to get back a little before the end of
summer primarily due to school. Just state this on your
application and that will be fine. Philmont will sometimes
request proof of start date from your school just to make
sure (although sometimes they skip that). As long as you
are there for most of the summer, they will work with you.
If you just want to work for some little part of the summer,
a job is possible, but not likely. If something happens in
the middle if the summer and you have to leave, there's
nothing to stop you, but it reduces your chances of getting
hired in a later summer. Also remember that days off are
based on having a certain number of staff. If people start
leaving, those who are left have to cover for them. If
someone quits in the middle of summer, replacements are
harder to find, and the rest of their staff has to do extra
duty.
 
2) If so, is a break allowed?
 
While I have heard of people getting a couple weeks off in
the middle of the summer for things like National Guard duty
or various emergencies, I don't know of anyone who just got
a big break in the middle for a random reason. If you're
good at sweet talking, it may be possible though.
 
3) I assume there is a contract to sign?
 
Yes, but as with most of these types of jobs, the contract
can be terminated by either party at any time for any reason
(in other words you can be fired if you did something really
stupid, and you can quit if you want and still get paid for
the work you did up to that point).
 
4) What are the typical work schedules/days off for the 3
position types above?
 
There are no official work schedules that go from year to
year. They are set by the individual managers of each
department or camp. Most base camp jobs get tons of days
off. Dining hall staff has traditionally worked 4 days a
week and gotten 3 off. Trading post, activities, etc. get a
little less but still a good amount of days off.
Backcountry staff once again depends on the camp director
for that individual camp, but it is usually 6 days on 2 off
or 9 days on 3 off. Rangers get a lot less days off unless
you count the "hike-in" day. On the day a ranger leaves
their crew, they can usually do whatever they want (so it's
a day off, but you start it wherever you leave your crew).
They also get a few other days off in the summer, but not as
many as base camp jobs.
 
5) Are there backpacking opportunities for base camp staff?
 
Definately. I spent 3 of my 6 summers working in base camp
for just that reason. Backcountry staffers need to use
their days off to take showers, do laundry, etc. Base camp
people can do that on their working days, so they can use
all of their days off in the backcountry. When I worked in
base, as soon as I got off work on day, I would try to catch
one of the busses bringing campers or one of the food
delivery vehicles out to the backcountry (or have a friend
drive me to one of the turnarounds). From there I could
hike whever I wanted and either hike back into base or catch
a ride back with a truck or bus. I saw every camp (staff
and non staffed) and almost every trail on Philmont (but
they are always building new ones). When I worked in the
backcountry, I probably sae 4-5 camps the whole summer.
 
6) How often do the backcountry staff get to "civilization"?
 
Depends on your days off schedule on your personal
preferences. As I said, most schedules are 9 on 3 off, so
every 9 days you could get back to base camp and if you have
a car (or know someone who does), you can even go into town
(or one of the nearby larger cities). Personally, when I
was in the backcountry, I went to base camp just long enough
for a shower and laundry then I was back out on the trail.
Some people spend all their days off going to town and
hanging out in base camp. I used to pick up all my checks
at the end of the summer, because if you don't leave the
backcountry, you can't spend any money. It's all a matter
of preference.
 
7) Do you audition for the singing/musical instrument staff
spots in the backcountry where the campfires are held?
 
Not really. However, if a person has worked at Philmont one
summer and done well at campfires (or just played well when
hanging out at camps), they will easily get a campfire camp
the following year if they want. In effect that is sort of
an audition. There are usually a couple people at each
campfire camp that have no musical ability as well since
campfire is only part of the program.
 
8) What is the pay like?
 
I'm not sure if it's okay to say numbers or not. In short,
it's the highest paying camp I've ever seen, but if you only
count salary, you can make more money bagging groceries. If
you add the fact that you get free room and board all
summer, it's pretty good. If you add the intangibles, it's
amazing.
 
9) I believe your meals are covered, but what about on days
off?
 
You can eat in the dining hall in base camp whether you are
working or on days off. If you go hiking, you can get free
trail food (same as the campers eat). Backcountry camps are
supplied with plenty of food, so if you can cook, you'll eat
the best food on the ranch.
 
10) Anything else they would find interesting?
 
Get the application in early. Be specific (say things like
"rock climbing camp", not just "backcountry"), it will help
you get chosen over others. If you a first year, always put
at least one base camp position on your application. Many
first years get ranger, backcountry, conservation, etc. but
don't count on it. In general the more "cool" your job is,
the less days off you get (but I always thought of
backcountry work as 3 months off anyway). Those who drive
vehicles into the backcountry make it a high priority to get
base camp staff members out to visit camps if they want
(mainly as a future recruitment tool), so use that if you
can.
 
That's about all I can think of right now. Feel free to ask
more if you want.
 
John Wisinger
1997 Trading Post Warehouse Grunt
1998 Ponil Trading Post Manager
1999 Trading Post Warehouse Manager
2000 Trading Post Warehouse Manager
2001 Camp Director - Pueblano
2002 Roving Prospector (greatest job ever)
 
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-philmont@troop47.com
[mailto:owner-philmont@troop47.com] On Behalf Of Ed
Reitemeier
Sent: Monday, November 17, 2003 1:21 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list philmont
Subject: [Philmont]: Philmont staff questions

I have several Eagle scouts in our troop that are discussing
summer 2004 jobs at Philmont. They will be 18 next summer
and have trekked at Philmont. Can anyone answer some or all
of these questions they have. I know we can get this from
the Philmont office, but I would like to hear from some
past/current staffers. They would consider base camp,
ranger or backcountry positions. Do they have to commit to
working the entire summer? If so, is a break allowed? I
assume there is a contract to sign? What are the typical
work schedules/days off for the 3 position types above? Are
there backpacking opportunities for base camp staff? How
often do the backcountry staff get to "civilization"? Do
you audition for the singing/musical instrument staff spots
in the backcountry where the campfires are held? What is
the pay like? I believe your meals are covered, but what
about on days off? Anything else they would find
interesting?

Thanks, Ed Reitemeier

  _____

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Received on Mon Nov 17 20:06:06 2003