RE: [Philmont]: Pre-Trek Training Agreements

I can appreciate where Dr. Bob is coming from. He is correct in what he
states -
for the kind of Philmont adventure he describes - the super strenuous
variety.
It is perfectly OK to set your goal at Philmont for the strenuous trek
experience he describes.

Not every Scout or adult Scouter is going to be capable of doing a super
strenuous Philmont experience. But everyone can benefit from a Philmont
experience. The typical itineraries are still plenty tough and a real
challenge.

I was a relatively slow hiker and backpacker. In my Explorer Post I was
often the one who was asked to lead the way to keep the group from spreading
out on the trail too much. With time and an understanding Explorer advisor,
a Marine Corps lieutenant, I toughened up considerably and was able to
complete a typical Philmont itinerary with no difficulty.

What I learned from my Philmont experience was that I could do considerably
more than I had realized and that as a group we could accomplish more with
good teamwork than we could as individuals.

It is my hope that every boy in Scouting will find the encouragement to do
his best and will learn that with hard work he can improve his performance
over his previous best.

This can't happen if a boy is excluded from Philmont because he is judged to
be not good enough.
A boy in this "category" is precisely the one who needs and should have a
Philmont experience.

Joe Jansen
JAJansenJr@gmail.com
Philmont 1965; 1978

From: "Karl Hebert" <eagle355@bellsouth.net>
>Reply-To: philmont@troop47.com
>To: Multiple recipients of list philmont <philmont@troop47.com>
>Subject: RE: [Philmont]: Pre-Trek Training Agreements
>Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2005 20:05:51 -0400
>
>Dr. Bob Rules!
>
>I am a veteran advisor of 6 Philmont treks and whole heartedly agree
>with Dr. Bob's statements.
>
>Karl Hebert
>Troop 39
>Cumming, GA
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-philmont@troop47.com [mailto:owner-philmont@troop47.com] On
>Behalf Of Dr. Bob Klein
>Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 10:58 PM
>To: Multiple recipients of list philmont
>Subject: 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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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 Mon Sep 12 23:12:33 2005