[Philmont] Increased Participation

> From: Bacon, Bruce
> ... Upon calling Philmont to
> discuss the process, it seems that all groups that apply fall into 2
> groups: "those-that-went-last-year" (TTWLY) and
> "those-that-are-eligible-to-attend" (TTAETA). The TTWLY are
> removed to
> the circular file (trash can). The remaining TTAETA go into the
> lottery. All of the TTAETA have the same chances of winning
> the lottery

Yes, this has been discussed here on this list every year when the waitlist
numbers come out. This system is inequitable to units that haven't gone
recently. This system is inequitable to individual scouts whose units fail
to get a trek.

This system is a zillion times better than the prior system where the "in
the know" folks figured how to maximize their chances on a call in and the
great unwashed was just plain out of luck.

I have been on a trek. I have been to PTC. I have backpacked the Sierras.
I have seen other high adventure bases. 20,000 individuals (including
adults - so maybe 15,000 youth) get to go on a trek each year. This from a
pool of about 900,000 eligible youth (all venturers, scouts aged 14 up).
Thus, there is simply no opportunity or capacity, even if Philmont ups it by
15%, to have every scout and venturer have a chance to go to Philmont. Not
even a really large percentage. Don't overstate the importance of being
able to go on a trek. You also understate the opportunities to go, you cut
it off at 17, but they can go as youth to 20.

Philmont is great, but it is only one of several potential once in a
lifetime opportunities a scout should get a shot at. It is not for
everybody, and I wouldn't even put it at first choice if you only got to
choose one of the once in a lifetime things to do. I'd put World Jamboree,
National Jamboree, International trips that include either homestay or some
form of twinning with international scouts above Philmont as providing the
most bang for the buck for a once in a lifetime experience. It is HARDER to
get into a WJ or NJ troop (or in the case of WJ, crew). NJ gets about
35,000 participants every 4 years compared to 20,000 (including adults) at
Philmont every year. That means more than twice as many scouts can
experience Philmont than a National Jamboree. WJ is even worse, we are
limited to 3,000 participants every four years, and only a rare breed gets
that opportunity. Both are far more broadening and valuable experiences
than a Philmont trek. Taking a unit to a place like Kandersteg
International Scout Centre in Switzerland is another great chance that can
be even more rare still.

We should be working to encourage the discouraged to look at these other
great opportunities rather than grousing about the Philmont lottery system.
There are other fish in the sea, and many of them are as big or bigger.

Didn't get a trek in 2007? Guess what, there are unfilled spots for our
World Jamboree 2007 contingent. Sure, it is a bit more expensive, but look
what you get! Too pricey? KISC is having a mini-world jamboree they are
calling Kanderjam, costs half what WJ costs, but just as great an
experience!

The world is far bigger than Philmont. Let's take pressure off the ranch to
over burden the environment by taking advantage of these great (and often
preferable) alternatives. My son gets the rare privilege of being able to do
them all - Philmont 05, NJ 05, WJ 07, KISC 04 and even Hawaii 06. He
thought his Philmont experience was great, but it is just one of many
specials in his mind.

Let the adventure continue - Kilimanjaro is on tap for 2009...Anyone want to
join us? We have room...

Regards
Don Roberts
Fullerton, CA
Philmont 05, PTC 02
WJ 07, NJ 73, KISC 04

-------------------------------------------------------
Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org
Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp
-------------------------------------------------------
Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com
Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com
List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp
List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------
To Unsubscribe send text email to:

     To: listserv@troop47.com
     Subject: unsubscribe
     Body: unsubscribe philmont@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------

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.
-------------------------------------------------------

 
Received on Wed Sep 27 13:55:14 2006