[Philmont] Cameras and notepads. A differing opinion.

I've gotten to where I don't write much anymore. Life is busy right now,
but this drew me out.

I went to Philmont in 1984 as part of a crew of 6 Eagle Scouts who all grew
up together, led by 2 Eagle Scout advisors. Some of my best friends to this
day were in that crew.

The itinerary for that trip was #24 - the longest offered back then by far,
and probably the most challenging ever offered. We finished the itinerary
completely in 8 days and discussed hiking on back to base camp via the Tooth
just for grins. Yes, you could do things like that back then, especially
when your Scoutmaster and the Camp Director were pretty good friends.

My advisor didn't suggest note taking. Not one camera was in our crew. I
cannot lay blame at any feet without laying it at my own first. I don't
have any sort of memento from that trip other than my coveted arrowhead
patch, a black and white crew photo, a marked up Philmont map (you know, the
old one-piece wall map that was the only map used back then) and a few
memories of doing Baldy in a thunderstorm in full packs after picking up
food at Baldy Town. I still think Copper Park is the prettiest place on the
ranch...

I do suggest note taking and I walk the talk. You can read some of my
journals on the Troop/Crew website. I do take pictures. You can see about
a thousand of them on the Troop/Crew website. I do this because I don't
have any from 1984, period.

I would pay A LOT of money for pictures and notes from that 1984 trip now.
I went back home for homecoming two weekends ago. One of my friends in that
crew now owns a local pharmacy. We went back into his office, and he pulled
out the black and white crew photo from that trip. 23 years later, and we
both said the same thing in that office - "I wish I had taken pictures. I
wish I had taken notes."

I believe you are doing a disservice to your youth if you don't at least
suggest that they take notes and pictures. The notes can be a couple of
sentences per day. We train on the shakedowns for any high adventure that
the time right after the evening's Thorns, Bud, and Roses is a time to spend
alone, thinking about what you experienced that day. It's a good time to
take a few notes... That is enough to spark memories. The pictures should
be of their friends and not of the scenery.

Think about your youth having the time of their life right now, because they
are. But, think about them in the future also, looking back on the great
things they did right now. What do they have to show their kids and share
with friends?

My goal for our 2008 Philmont trip is to be "that quiet advisor in the back,
you know, the one who always had that camera in his hand and never really
said anything. I remember he wrote stuff down in that little black
notebook, too. Man, that guy knew what he was doing..."

Now I've rambled...

Shane Hoffman
Advisor - Crew 445 - www.crew445.org
Committee Member - Troop 445 - www.troop445.org
Webmaster - www.philmontforum.com
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose" ~
Jim Elliot

-----Original Message-----
From: Philmont@troop47.com [mailto:Philmont@troop47.com] On Behalf Of Mark
Liechty
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 6:53 PM
To: Philmont List Member
Subject: [Philmont] Cameras and notepads. A differing opinion.

<snip>

Things are different now than when I was 14. Now I can stop and enjoy
taking the photo's. Back then I wanted to be IN the pictures, and IN
the action. I offered the camera to my son several times, he was not
interested, way to much other stuff to do.

So don't force your kids to take notes and pictures. Let them remember
the trips the way they want. Rest assured that SOMEONE will be taking
pictures and notes. The trip is supposed to be fun, not a summer job.

Just another opinion.

<snip>

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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 Wed Oct 17 00:58:33 2007