[Philmont] "Quality" of Staff at A staff camp in 2003

My son and daughter have both served on staff at Philmont. I have been
on 4 treks and 1 AA. In 2003 my wife joined me with a crew made up of
boys from 3 different troops. We spent the night early in the trek at
Uraaca camp. I had told my wife and the boys what a good show the staff
put on the last time we were there. Of course knowing the staff changes
annually you never know what to expect but I expected better than what
we got.
 
It was raining, so the "campfire" was held on the porch of the cabin.
Not many attended but the porch was full. The staff as is the case at
several of the staffed camps was co-ed. The staff gave all of us a cup
of hot chocolate and that was about all I enjoyed about that "campfire."
I was embarrassed by the sexual innuendo and perverted remarks made
during the program. Apparently the staff had an inside joke going on
and randomly during the program, one of them would hike his leg and act
like he (or she) was farting. Another one would make some sound and
then the staff would all laugh. There were the usual "out of shape"
advisor jokes but laced with 4 letter words that were totally uncalled
for. We were sitting at the end of the porch, blocked in and would have
left if not for that.
 
As we left, I asked the staff if I could speak to them in private. A
big cry was made from several of the staff in unison "Uh oh, an advisor
wants to talk with us!" and said loudly enough that everyone could hear.
I told them they owed everyone an apology and that they had violated
every value Philmont and Scouting stood for. They laughed and made some
more off the wall remarks about being afraid of the "big bad advisor."
I told them I was going to report them when I returned to base camp. And
I did and was told the situation had been corrected. So someone else
got them the word before I did.
 
As we got to our campsite we assembled for Roses and Thorns and
everyone's thorn was going to that program. Several apologized to my
wife for what was said in her presence. We left the next morning before
doing the program which as you all know is a challenge program designed
to make a team out of the crew. Luckily we didn't need it.
 
But that is my only "bad" experience at Philmont. But with that type of
behavior at Philmont from a staffed camp, I can only imagine what they
would do with a case of beer and a bong just off of Philmont property.
 
Billy Wayne White
 

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Received on Tue Oct 16 08:02:42 2007