Re: [Philmont]: Pre-Trek Training Agreements

I tend to be fairly agressive on this topic. You have already seen my
"Commitment Contract", which lays out our expectations and requires the
signatures of both the Scout and a parent. This is backed up with a
stern lecture at the opening meeting, where I make it quite clear that I
have no problem with terminating anyone if they feel their priorities
trump my own. In all, no one can claim to be unclear on participation
expectations - and that's up front and personal/in your face. Don't
like it? - stay home and kill another 50 billion godless Zorons on your
computer, I don't care. I won't take your Philmont trek any more
seriously than you do. Period.

Adherence to the contracts tends to be especially high on those years
where I have a waiting list.

I am not a (total) Nazi about this - I do give an "out" in that Scouts
can request a waiver for things like SAT exams or *playoff* events, and
similar high priority activities. However, note carefully the word
"request" in the previous sentence - they have to request a waiver, and
they have to justify it to my satisfaction. I am no pushover, either.

The usual excuse is sports. As y'all have heard me say on numerous
occasions, sports training is NOT backpacking training, and so I have
limited patience with that approach. In addition, the correct purpose
of shakedowns is equipment training and team-building, not proving that
you're tough enough to take it. In general, the people who miss these
events tend to be your problem children (and especially your problem
adults) at Philmont. Physical training is a routine, everyday activity
that has nothing to do with the shakedowns. My first two shakedowns
tend to be physically trivial, but training intensive. My last
shakedown is usually our only significant physical challenge - and
that's usually only to scare people into getting going on their routine
physical training, identify those who get "invited" to join me on my
routine training hikes, and to get the Crew Chiefs (elected by that
point) to start taking over the Crew. I rarely need more than three
shakedowns because my Crews are usually made up from those Scouts in my
Troop who have already been on multiple High Adventure treks (e.g., I
had one Scout (out of 10) this past summer who was attending his first
High Adventure - all others had been on three or more previous H.A. treks).

Why all this hard-nosedness? Easy - I had one Scout on each of my first
three Crews (72, 73, and 89) whose failure to participate in the
shakedowns, or properly train, cost us dearly at Philmont. As you say,
this problem has been stressed repeatedly on this List, and with good
reason too - like me, many other "old-timers" on this List have learned
the hard way what a soft approach *can* (and usually will) result in.

Bottom line is that I have done nothing but Superstrenuous Treks for my
last 6 Philmonts, plus we usually added extra mileage just for grins,
and my Crews performed superbly. And had a great time, start to finish.
  In my mind, there is nothing sadder than the Crew that finally "comes
together" as they're coming down off the Tooth of Time - except of
course the Crew that never comes together at all. Your best Philmont
Crew are built HERE, not there - and that starts with your first
meeting. 'Nuf Said!

- Dr. Bob

Michael_J_Conkey@nbc.gov wrote:
>
>
>
> I need some help from the wisdom of the list. The subject is pre-trek
> training agreements. We have given thought to having all participants (and
> their parents) on our council-contingent treks sign pre-trek training
> agreements. These agreements would outline the expectations for two things
> mainly:
>
> 1. Being physically prepared for the trek (including making weight).
>
> 2. Outlining the level of participation in pre-trek activities
> necessary to be able to go.
>
> My experience with being a contingent leader for the 2001 Jamboree is that
> our over-scheduled youth will back out on pre-event activities because of
> other "higher" (in their minds) priorities. If you miss a meet-and-greet
> for Jambo, that is one thing. But missing a few pre-trek training hikes
> and backpacks for Philmont is another thing. We are thinking that your $50
> deposit is non-refundable, but subsequent payments WOULD be refundable if a
> participant starts missing activities.
>
> I wondered what the list's experience was with pre-trek training
> agreements. One person told me that these agreements were unenforceable,
> but my concern is (as has been repeatedly stressed on this list) is that
> one person who is NOT ready for the trek can ruin it for the ENTIRE
> trek.... I just want to be upfront with folks about the consequences of
> missing pre-trek activities..... Thanks. YIS. Mike ('76, '02, '04 and
> hopefully '07).

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Received on Thu Sep 8 22:12:45 2005