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The verdant meadows of Beaubien served as an arena of sorts for a day of training and testing at the recently held Ranger Rendezvous. The day began with a morning of games and sessions focused around Scouting principles and safety tactics.

“...The goals of Ranger Rendezvous are to provide a collective experience to the Rangers, to help create camaraderie throughout the department as well as to have a fun way to test the skills that they have learned in Ranger training, by creating a sort of friendly competition,” said Associate Chief Ranger, Tori

Mack.Five days prior, 25 different

training crews set out from different points around the Ranch. These training treks were designed to instruct and prepare the Rangers to lead their crews on safe and life changing treks.

“[Today] gives them a chance to test their skills they’ve learned in training. They’ve been in their individual training crews for the last few days, so it gives them a chance to meet other Rangers in the department,” said Matt Nutt, Chief Ranger of the department.

After arriving in Beaubien, the training crews made their way around a round robin, completing different tasks or listening to speakers.

Mark Anderson, Director of Program, was in attendance giving the Rangers a presentation on the Trail of Courage. Rangers will be

discussing the seven step program with each of their Crews.

Continued on page 5

As the sun set on another successful training week, a new and brighter light began to shine. Crews filled with smiling faces, curious minds, and adventurous hearts spilled over the 214 mountainous square miles that compose Philmont Scout Ranch. After strenuous training sessions and multiple bonding activities, the staff became ready to provide wilderness experiences that will last a lifetime.

For 81-year-old Robert Sonnier, it was that signature Philmont experience which lingered for over 57 years and continued to resonate until he finally fulfilled his dream of returning on May 30, 2016.

“It was always on my bucket list... it was so nostalgic. It just never left me.” Sonnier said.

Sonnier first ventured outside of his small Louisiana hometown in 1951, when he came to complete Junior Leader Training during a six-week trek at Philmont.

“I had never been out of my little town of Scott. I can remember the first few nights, I got real lonesome, but once we got into the activity of it, it got real interesting. It was adventurous, and it was challenging,” Sonnier said.

He recalled the cold nights and unpredictable weather as some of the toughest challenges, and he doesn’t remember visiting any of the staff camps in the backcountry.

Continued on page 3

PhilNewsJuNe 17th, 2016 issue two

For many Scouts, New Mexico represents adventure and enchantment. It was this sentiment that brought Philmont donor, Waite Phillips, to the same mountains we hike today.

By the 1920s, Phillips had built his oil empire, selling fuel across America’s heartland, from Oklahoma to Iowa.

“When he was young and growing up, he always wanted to be a western rancher,” said Josh Frey, Assistant Curator of the Villa Philmonte. “He liked the adventure associated with that.”

In 1920, he purchased the Phillips Highland Ranch, just south of Denver. Phillips raised horses and Hereford cattle on the ranch for six years, but according to the biography “Beyond the Hills,” Phillip’s wife, Genevieve,

found the stone manor at Highland Ranch “cold and ominous.” Phillips turned toward Colfax County New Mexico, where he had heard the land was excellent for raising calves.

The 42,000 acre ranch, with its view of the snow capped Sangre de Cristo mountains, reminded Phillips of his late twin brother, who died at age 19.

Waite’s way: A HOmE for allEleanor HasenbeckStaff Writer

Ranger Tim Carroll cheers on his fellow training crew member as he enters the privacy tent during a relay. It was designed as a fun way to show the importance of changing in private spaces here at the Ranch. Clay Helfrick/PhilNews

Clay Helfrick/PhilNews

The recreational rendezvous A walk around the RanchSuzannah EvansStaff Writer

Hannah McCarthyPhilNews Editor

Continued on page 3Robert Sonnier, Sr. holds his crew photo from 1951. Madelynne Scales/PhilNews

PhilmontScoutRanch.orgFriday, June 17, 2016 | PhilNews2

Friday, 17 Saturday, 18 Sunday, 19 Monday, 20 Tuesday, 21 Wednesday, 22 Thursday, 23

9 a.m. PTC Brick Porch Project7:30 p.m. PTC Closing Campfire

5 p.m.PhilNews Deadline7 p.m.Table games tournament- SSAC

7:30 p.m.PTC Opening Campfire

Flora & Fauna class (Ranger department CTC)

Brat Day!

Getting to know the ACRs/ Chief (CTC)

PTC Western Night:5:30 p.m.Dinner7 p.m.Dancing

9 a.m.- 5 p.m.Haircuts in SAC($15)

NCAP Assessment- Opening Dinner

8 p.m.Human Chess- Baldy Pavillion

Ecology (CTC)

June 17-June 23

Marketing ManagerBryan Hayek

NPS ManagerCassidy Johnson

PhilNews EditorHannah McCarthy

PhilNews WritersSuzannah Evans Eleanor Hasenbeck

Photography ManagerTyler Sanders

PhotographersDrew Castellaw Alex CenciSkyler Ballard Clay HelfrickMadelynne Scales Gabriel ScarlettLex Selig

Photo Lab LeadSean McElligott

Photo Lab TechsNathaniel AronLiam Inbody

Lead Marketing SpecialistAlexander Bohlen

Marketing Media StaffThomas Officer

Lead VideographerKreable Young

VideographerClaire Ficke

News aNd Photo team

Wouldn’t it be magical if you could see all nine campfire shows

at Philmont in one evening? On June 4th, that’s exactly what more than 250 attendees were treated to in the Baldy Pavilion. In what was hopefully the first of many, the musical talent of the backcountry (Beaubien, Clarks Fork, Crater Lake, Cyphers Mine, Metcalf Station, Pueblano, Ponil, Rich Cabins, Urraca, and even Fish Camp) was showcased in Base Camp for all to enjoy during the Backcountry Music Fest and Open Mic Coffee House. Camps also used the time to display their interpretive clothing, many having received updates.

After an hour of backcountry music, the event was turned over to the crowd. With more than twenty varying acts taking the stage, there was something for everyone. The performers consisted of standup

comedy, Base Camp employees, Rangers, camp reunions dating back to 2013, old and new duos and groups, and a very special performance of “The Mountain” by all previous and current women of Cyphers Mine.

The evening gave a glimpse into some of the many backcountry offerings to entice visitors over the summer. For others it was a chance to sample the campfires they might not experience. For the musicians, it was an opportunity to perform in front of a live (and larger than average) audience before their first backcountry shows. As it so often does, the evening drew to a close with the Philmont Hymn. The same raw passion, talent, and emotions of any Philmont campfire could all be felt on the stage that night,

setting the scene for yet another fantastic summer.

Personally, I thought the whole shindig was awesome. The attendance, performances, coffee and general vibe far exceeded my expectations! I’m always amazed at the musical talent of staff at Philmont – campfire program or not. Music has a long history of bringing people together in every corner of the world. That same human instinct is proudly carried on here at Philmont, and the eve of scatter was just another reinforcing example of that.

Refreshments and gourmet coffee were provided by the Philmont Staff Association. Following the success, similar events are currently in the works.

Jake KochCustom Merchandise and Snack Bar Manager-TOTT

Backcountry music magic

PhilmontScoutRanch.org PhilmontScoutRanch.org Friday, June 17, 2016 PhilNews | 3

They carried their own food on their hikes, and occasionally a Ranger would meet them at a trail camp with food that had been packed onto a burro. During the day, the Scouts would hike until they reached a place to pitch their tents, look for firewood and pick berries in nearby meadows. There were days when Rangers would stop by to teach the boys lessons on Scouting. Sonnier and his friends studied daily to earn various merit badges during their trek.

“A lot of times, a lot of my friends would get discouraged, and they’d want to quit. But we became a band of brothers and we never let one of us quit. All of us that started, we all finished,” Sonnier said.

After hiking from Urraca Mesa through Abreu Springs, Bear

Canyon, Zastrow and Ponil-Sioux Camp, Sonnier’s crew eventually made it back down to Base Camp. The six-week trek ended with a celebratory steak dinner, and soon, he returned home to Louisiana to educate others using the knowledge he had gained.

In 1959, adventure beckoned, and the Philmont experience

called him back a second time. Sonnier returned to do a one-week trek with his crew, this time as a Scout Leader.

With his first Philmont stint as a guiding foundation, he was able to educate the next generation on the fundamental principles of Scouting. Through the lessons he learned and taught daily, he found a better appreciation for life.

“It made me a better man...it made me a better family man...I guess you could say Scouting was my life,” Sonnier said.

Philmont gave Sonnier the opportunity not only to learn valuable life lessons, but it also helped him sew important seeds into the hearts of America’s youth. This was an indispensable part of Waite Phillips’ vision for the Ranch; included on the first page in his book of epigrams is the

Chinese Proverb, “A man stands tallest when he stoops to help a child.”

To Sonnier and so many others, this place is much more than a pretty ‘pile of rocks’ where the sky is clear and the sunsets are indescribable. Philmont becomes our HOmE away from home. That is why, even after 57 years in some cases, people return to this hallowed ground. Sometimes for one last trek, but most times simply to walk around for an hour or two and breathe the fresh mountain air one more time.

For anyone who comes to Philmont, whether they be Scouts, Advisors or Staff, Sonnier had a few parting words of wisdom:

“This is a gift that you have and you better appreciate it. And it’s going to be a challenge, but you are going to become a better person for it.”

Phillips’ son, Elliot “Chope” Phillips, said his father once told him, “When I thought of my brother, I made up my mind to buy the ranch.”

He called it the Hawkeye Ranch, after the nickname of his home state, Iowa. Phillips adopted “UU bar,” pronounced double u bar, as a brand- another New Mexico rancher was already using a “W.” He bought an additional 20,000 acres in 1925, and renamed the ranch, combining his name and the Spanish word for mountain, into a word that might seem familiar, Philmont.

He and his family enjoyed their time here. Phillips’ favorite thing to do was to ride into mountain camps to hunt game and fish for trout. He often took friends fishing at the Rayado Lodge, a spot the ranch hands called Fish Camp. Chope especially found his home among the mountains and the cowboy’s campfires. Phillips watched Chope and his friends grow up at Philmont. When Phillips got restless and began to consider moving on, this inspired him to consider donating the land to the Boy Scouts of America.

“He really thought that spending that time in the outdoors grew them into better men,” said Frey.

In 1937, Phillips and his wife

moved and began developing real estate in California. Talks of donating the land became more serious, and Phillips took several Scout Executives on a horseback tour of the Ponil area, which would later serve as the headquarters of the Philturn Rockymountain Scoutcamp.

In “Beyond the Hills,” Michael Wallis wrote that Phillips was “more than pleased with the enthusiasm he saw ” in the eyes of the Boy Scouts of America. Thus, in 1938, the Philturn Rockymountain Scoutcamp was created out of Phillips’ generosity.

Submissions to the PhilNews are welcome anytime!

If you would like a chance to contribute to the

PhilNews,please send your articles, story ideas,and/or creative writings to the

PhilNews Editor at

[email protected].

Deadline: Saturdays @ 5p.m.

Submit your content for Issue 3 by June 18.

Continued from page one:A HOmE for all

Continued from page one: A walk around the Ranch

While on trek, Sonnier visits Fish Camp. Cassidy Johnson/PhilNews

Scans of photographs shared with us by Robert Sonnier from when he went on a trek in 1951, and returned as an advisor in 1959. Sonnier lays beneath his tent while on his trek. Cassidy Johnson/PhilNews

Photographs of journal entries from Robert Sonnier. Cassidy Johnson/PhilNews

Robert Sonnier, Sr. visits Philmont on May 30, 2016 Madelynne Scales/PhilNews

Summer Chapel services every night

7 p.m.

Held at Camping Headquarters, the

following services are offered:

Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, and Church of

Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.


For 37 years, participants have been asked to abide by the five principles of the Wilderness Pledge during their trek. These five principles have focused on specific needs of Philmont Scout Ranch. They also apply in all outdoor activities. Through the years each person has been asked by their Ranger to commit to the Wilderness Pledge:

1. An absence of litter and graffiti.

2. Respect for Philmont’s wildlife.

3. Conservation and proper use of water.

4. Respect for trails and trail signs.

5. Proper use of campsites.

I know that this commitment has made an impact with our stewardship of the backcountry.

Leave No Trace has become the universal set of ethics for backcountry use. The Boy Scouts of America has endorsed the program and encourages everyone to learn and follow the seven principles. Each point has a broader definition than the Wilderness Pledge which allows it to be applied in a variety of ways.

In 2010, Philmont added a new crew position called the Wilderness Pledge Guia (Guide). This person is asked to help the crew understand the Wilderness Pledge and Leave No Trace. They

lead discussions about each of the seven principles on seven days of the trek, they encourage the crew to follow the principles each day of the trek, they help the crew follow the camping methods of Philmont during their trek, they guide the crew to strictly follow Philmont’s bear and wildlife procedures and they help the crew earn the Wilderness Pledge Achievement Award.

Philmont is very fortunate to be allowed to use some of our neighbor’s lands in our summer operation:• John and Charlotte Kimberlin’s

Ponil Ranch (North Ponil)• Valle Vidal, Questa District,

Carson National Forest• Elliot Barker Wildlife Area,

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish

• Greenwood Tract and Heck Place of the Vermejo Park Ranch

• Historic Chase RanchIn the special use permit that

Philmont has with each of these land owners, Philmont pledges that each participant and staff will follow the seven principles of Leave No Trace. The Wilderness Pledge Guia helps us meet this special use requirement by insuring that each crew is prepared and trained as they enter our neighbor’s land.

Each staff member is eligible to earn the Wilderness Pledge Achievement Award. The requirements are found on page 11 of this issue. During our staff training each of us was asked to participate in an introduction to LNT. Many went even further with

a few staff members becoming Leave No Trace Trainers or Master Educators.

If you have questions about Leave No Trace or would like help earning the Wilderness Pledge Achievement Award please talk to one of the 32 Leave No Trace Master Educators who are serving on the 2016 Staff. During May, Philmont conducted a Master Educator Course. The participants were:

Sam Anderson, Kevin Becker, Derek Ford, Ashley England, Jake Keller, Carolyn Kirby, Sam Kirby, Yvonne Krumrey, Nick Hendel, Maggie Neel, and Kyle Soyer.

Leave No Trace needs to become a part of how we use the outdoors. It should be a part of our planning and preparation as well as a part of each step of our journey. For this to happen, we must fully understand each principle.

In 1910, Theodore Roosevelt believed that each of us had a responsibility in our use of the outdoors. He said, “The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turnover to the next generation increased, and not impaired in value.” With the drought that has a grip on Philmont this summer, it is critical that we follow all seven principles. Our backcountry is stressed and fragile. It needs each of us to do our part to protect and care for it as we enjoy our summer.

I hope you will earn the Wilderness Pledge Achievement Award and learn the seven principles of Leave No Trace for reducing the damage caused by

outdoor activities:

1. Plan ahead and prepare• Educate yourself – know

the regulation and special concerns for any area you visit

• Plan for your group• Schedule your trip to avoid

times of high use• Use proper gear• Plan your meals• Develop the skills• Take responsibility

2. Travel and Camp on durable surfaces

• Recognize durable surfaces• Concentrate use in popular

areas• Stay on Designated trails• Use established campsites• Good Campsites are found,

not made• Disperse use in pristine

areas• Avoid creating trails and

campsites• Break Camp

3. Dispose of waste properly• Protect water resources• Pack it in, pack it out• Practice good sanitation• Human waste – facilities/

outhouses, cat holes, latrines, carrying waste out, urine

• Wastewater• Soaps and lotions• Dispose of game entrails

4. Leave what you find• Preserve the past• Leave natural features

undisturbed

• Avoid spreading non-native plants and animals

5. Minimize campfire impacts• Use a stove• Build a minimum impact

fire• Use an established fire ring.• Use dead and downed wood• Manage your campfire

6. Respect wildlife• Observe from a distance• Avoid sensitive times and

habitats• Never feed animals• Store food and trash

securely• Control your pet

7. Be considerate of other visitors

• Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience

• Yield to others• Keep a low profile• Let nature’s sounds prevail

I encourage you to follow the Wilderness Pledge and to learn the principles of Leave No Trace and make all of them a part of your outdoor experience. Each of us can make a difference! By using the land carefully today we can focus on the future and insure that this special “Pile of Rocks” will continue to connect and become part of each person that visits the Ranch and enjoys the experience.

Leave No Trace – A commitment to the outdoorsMark Anderson Director of Program

Continued from page one: The recreational rendezvous

Cassidy Johnson/PhilNews


Leave No Trace – A commitment to the outdoors

Amateur radio on the air at Philmont

Amateur radio will be on the air from Philmont throughout the summer. Watch for K2BSA/5 on the porch near the Tooth of Time Traders.

You’re invited to participate, or observe. Dale Finley, ham radio call sign KB5NFT, will be the primary operator. He will be using equipment provided by Icom America, a sponsor of amateur radio within Scouting.

Antennas will be suspended high in the nearby trees as well as vertical antennas on the ground. These antennas along with Icom’s transceiver will allow communication across the country and at times around the world.

Operation will be subject to Dale’s availability and that of other authorized operators. It will definitely include ARRL Field Day in June. Posters will provide updated schedules of expected days and times of operation. Or

just watch for them on the porch!

What is Amateur Radio?

Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is one of the few hobbies that requires a federal license, which is issued after passing a technical exam. License classes are held frequently around the country, including here in northern New Mexico. If you’re interested in pursuing a license, find your local amateur radio club to determine their class and testing schedule. Then get involved. It can’t be too difficult. There are over 700,000 licensed hams in the USA.

Who is K2BSA?

K2BSA is the amateur radio call sign associated with the National Office of the Boy Scouts of America. The first license was issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1971. K2BSA has been on the air from every National

Scout Jamboree since 1977 and will be on the air from The Summit in 2017. In 2015 it was activated at 40 Scouting events around the country. K2BSA/5 indicates that the station is being activated in the 5 call sign area, which includes New Mexico as well as Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

When is ARRL Field Day?

The ARRL is the amateur radio society of the United States of America. They have been supporting Scouting since helping establish the Wireless Merit Badge in 1918 that became the Radio Merit Badge in the early 1920s.

ARRL Field Day is one of their big events during the year. In 2016 it will be held June 25-26. The purpose is to learn to operate in abnormal situations in less than optimal conditions. As an example of that approach, many stations will activate from mountaintops, with quite a few using only solar power.

Field Day is all about getting outdoors with your ham gear, getting on the air from wherever you are, and making lots of “contacts” or two-way conversations with other ham radio stations. It’s a perfect match for Scouting and you can participate by dropping by the K2BSA/5 station while you are at Philmont.

How Can I Get On the Air?Even if you are not here during

Field Day, there will be plenty of opportunities to check out the station, make some contacts, or just learn more about how it all works. It is great fun and this is a superb way to learn more. Just stop by and say “Hi!”

We’ll watch for you at K2BSA/5, the ham radio station on the air from Philmont.

This program promotes healthy and responsible living during and after their time at Philmont.

“There’s nothing about Philmont that’s not about healthy living,” said Anderson.

Other featured stations included the Bear Researchers, First Aid, STEM, Privacy, Multiple Intelligences and Leave No Trace, as well as many others. Each station was centered around Scout ideals and safety and protection procedures. Philmont is often a life changing experience for Scouts. Rangers and other staff members put the safety of the Crews first.

One rather popular station was a relay race centered around privacy. Over the years, the BSA and Philmont have both been vigilant about improving Youth Protection standards. Ranger Trainers Matt Hutson, Joe Mangels, and Harrison Evans spoke about how Rangers are responsible for making sure that Scouts change privately in their tents or under dining flies.

“[We have] them change into what is supposed to be sleep clothes which kind of reinforces that they aren’t supposed to eat and sleep in the same clothes,”

said Hutson. The station had the training

crews running back and forth between a dining fly and a tent. The team members, running relay style, had to open the tent, close the tent and put on a jacket and other articles of clothing. After putting their shoes back on, the team members were to run to the fly, signaling the next team member to do the same thing. This event was rambunctious. Team members and Ranger Trainers chanted, in rather loud, British-sounding voices, “Maximum Privacy!” as they raced between the stations. Hutson, Mangels, and Evans were enthusiastic for the entire day.

Another popular station was STEM, which was presented by the Conservation Department.

“What I really like about Cons is that... it is a very different group of people. There’s really a sense of servant leadership within the department. Everyone really has this great idea of a land ethic...everyone really cares about Philmont itself,” said Christina Morgan.

Morgan and her team had a very

busy station with many different participants.

Some of this year’s Rangers are brand new to the department, but many others are also returning several times over.

“I keep coming back, because we change lives and I have an opportunity to shape and mold people into quality young people. [We] have a huge impact on people’s lives everyday,” said Chip Campbell. This is Campbell’s fifth

year in the Ranger department.

A n t i c i p a t i o n was sky high at Ranger Rendezvous. It was a day devoted to Rangers expressing their excitement and readiness for their Crews to arrive.

Continued from page one: The recreational rendezvous

Sarah Evans and Jake Kahler concentrate on putting up a fly as part of a competition during Ranger Rendezvous. Skyler Ballard/PhilNews

Members of Ranger Training Crew 25 challenge themselves to tie knots as fast as they can during a competition at Ranger Rendezvous. After a four day training trek through the backcountry, the Rangers came together to participate in this training event. Skyler Ballard/PhilNews

Mark Anderson Director of Program


Elder Paul Anderson

Mark Anderson honored with religious leadership award

LDS Chaplain I have been asked by the

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to serve as the LDS Chaplain at Philmont this summer. I am very excited to get to know and serve the Staff and Scouts. 2016 is going to be a banner year.

I am a retired Laboratory Quality Assurance Coordinator, and worked with nine hospital laboratories, helping them maintain quality, accuracy and regulatory compliance. I am a 1st Class scout and have earned both the youth and adult religious award (LDS). I have served for 45 years in Scouting on the unit, district, council, area, region and national level.

Although this is my first year at CHQ, my wife and I have worked at PTC for the last 20 years. We have a great love for Philmont and it’s service to youth.

My wife Mary and I live in Orem, Utah. We have two Eagle Scout sons, and one daughter. We have three grandsons who have all been to Philmont.

My goal for the summer is to always have a smile and a word of encouragement for all I meet. Always leave them with a smile on their face. Maybe it will be infectious and all of Philmont will have a smile and look out for each other.

Chaplain’s Corner: Polishing the bell

I am constantly amazed with the complexity of this whole organization. Until you work here, you have no idea of what is involved in running an operation like this. There are so many different departments, each with so many components to what they do. All functioning interactively, like a well-run ship.

The Bible compares the church to the human body. Each person is a unique and important part of the whole. Each has his or her own set

of gifts, abilities and personality. Each one is vitally important to the healthy functioning of the whole. If one is not fully using his or her abilities, it affects the effectiveness of others, and the whole organism is compromised. As it is with the human body, it is with the church. And as it is with the church, it is with Philmont.

There is a story about a man who visited a shipyard and toured the facility, speaking to people in different departments. The first man he saw, he asked “what do you do? “I’m a welder and I assemble the steel plates on the hull.” The next worker he saw, he

also asked the same question, and got the reply, “I am an electrician and I am running the electrical systems.” And so he went from one worker to another, until he got to one young boy who was polishing the bell. The man asked him what he was doing, and the boy proudly said, “I’m helping build a ship.”

For those of you who come to Philmont as part of a trek crew, there is a staff of over 1,000 men and women, each with the attitude of that little boy – helping to build a ship. And what a wonderful vessel it is. It is great to be a part of it. Ever upward.

Pastor John Lampley Protestant Chaplain

The Philmont ChaplainsDuty to God is a centerpiece

of the Scouting program in this country. Our duty to God comes before duty to country, duty to family, or duty to self. It is a hallmark of the Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing advancement programs. The founder of Scouting, Robert Baden-Powell, believed that it was our duty as Scouters to ensure that all youth in our program had the opportunity to learn about and practice thier religion as taught by their families.

Here at Philmont Scout Ranch one’s duty to God is taken quite seriously, due in large part to the devotion and leadership of Mark Anderson. Over the many years that Mark has served as Director of Program, he has worked to ensure that we have a strong Chaplain staff, that we have the resources to have strong Base Camp and back country religious services, and that we have a devoted hour each evening dedicated to Duty to God without interference or competition from other activities. Mark and his wife Linda have also served as wonderful examples to the staff of Philmont of what it means to put God first in one’s life.

For his tireless efforts on behalf of the Chaplaincy and promotion of Duty to God here at the ranch,

the Philmont Chaplains were honored on May 29, 2016 to present Mark Anderson with the United Methodist Church’s Silver Torch Award. While most adult Scouter religious awards are given by a local congregation for work with their own youth, this award is rare, and given only to those who have distinguished themselves in serving youth and promoting Duty to God at a regional or national level. It recognizes the builders of Christian character and service to others.

On behalf of the many thousands of youth and adults who have benefited from his efforts over the years, and the many

thousands of Philmont staff who have witnessed their example, we congratulate Mark (and Linda) on this outstanding honor!

Director of Program Mark Anderson recieves the United Methodist Church’s Silver Torch Award on Sunday, May 29, during All Staff training. Thomas Officer/PhilNews

The United Methodist Church Silver Torch Award. Skyler Ballard/PhilNews

LDS Chaplain Elder Anderson speaks to the first crews coming to Philmont Scout Ranch. “I want you to know I am going to pray for you.” said Elder Anderson after explaining a story of great teamwork and the ideal to never give up. Lex Selig/ PhilNews


It took many hands and tires to get the staff of Sawmill to their new home in central country. Packs and commissary supplies were loaded into Anna Fuchs’ Maintenance pickup truck. Firearms were secured in Backcountry Distribution and Support Manager Gene Schnell’s suburban. Canvas tents, kerosene and shovels were crammed into the bed of a Security pickup. Somewhere in the mix, the six staff members of Sawmill Camp fit themselves into the puzzle.

This is Scatter, the three-day-long process of hauling people, personal gear and program equipment to their respective backcountry camps.

But it took more than loading and unloading goods to make a camp home. A name, General Chillcat, was chosen for their black mouser. Cabins and program areas were sanitized with bleach to kill potential diseases spread by rodents. Water was turned on and tested, Pilot lights were lit to the stove and refrigerator. Staff radioed Logistics that they were “10-8 for the summer,” a ten code, always followed by cheers, signaling they’ve arrived home for the season.

Once the commissary orders are put away, the backpacks unpacked and the staffs’ canvas tents are erected, the staff look forward to sharing their new home.

“I think a lot of people are starved of nature and community,” said Program Counselor Raychell Budd. “We’re going to have this little bit of community out here, in the nature. That’s pretty cool.”

ScatterEleanor HasenbeckStaff Writer

Urraca Camp Director Kelly Mazzanobile, right, and Head of Dean Camp Director Lela Pucket, left, lead their staff in a cheer before they depart from the Welcome Center on “scatter” on June 6, 2016. “Scatter” is typically one of the longest, busiest, and most stressful days of the summer for a backcountry team. Gabriel Scarlett/PhilNews

The staff of Clarks Fork form an assembly line to get the equipment unloaded from the truck in an efficient manner. Justin Kernes, the Camp Director of Clarks Fork, says his favorite thing about Scatter is “watching the team come together and really just thrive.” Alex Cenci/PhilNews

Staff gather supplies and prepare to clean their cabin for the first time this summer at Urraca. After sitting untouched for a year, cabins need a thorough cleaning before the staff can officially settle into their new home.Gabriel Scarlett/PhilNews

Above: Luke Giannoulas and Joe

Blazis load the bed of a truck with bags of

lead used for loading shotgun ammunition at the shotgun range

at Harlan Monday, June 6, 2016. At

Harlan, Scouts can expect to practice

shotgun shooting as well as learn burrow

racing. Madelynne Scales/PhilNews

Above: Various instruments wait to be loaded into trucks and transported to

backcountry camps during Scatter. Alex Cenci/PhilNews


While the rest of the Ranch was scattering in the typical craziness associated with everyone heading to the backcountry, several teams of Conservation members made their ways to the backcountry. One team in particular filled up a pickup truck with enough gear and tools for the summer and drove up the muddy and rutted roads to Harlan.

“Over the past couple of years, they have been working on trying to build an alternative route from Harlan up to Deer Lake Camp,” said Preston Marquis, Conservation Foreman at Harlan.

Harlan is nestled at the base of the mountains and affords exquisite views of surrounding peaks. The camp offers burro racing and shotgun shooting and reloading. Traditionally, Scouts have had to take a road hike to get to Deer Lake Camp. This year, however, the Conservation Department is hoping to change that.

“Right now, participants have to take a road hike to get up to Deer Lake Camp, so what we are trying to do with this is to build an actual route that will take folks up,” said Marquis.

Over the next three months, Marquis and two other members of the department will be building the last portion of a five year project. Led by Associate Director of Conservation, Nathan Coney, and Coordinator, Taylor Riedl, the seven teams will be guiding Scouts through the conservation requirement of their Arrowhead Patch.

“We work with the Scouts, so we have three sessions during the day, and all the Scouts come and they have to do three hours of conservation work to get their Arrowhead Patch,” said team member Mary Beth Sareault.

Overall, the team working around Harlan is fairly new to trail building. Thanks to the All Cons

training event, the team learned a lot of what they needed to know. Throughout the summer, Coney and Riedl will be in advising and guiding them.

“A lot of the job, honestly, you learn it from doing it,” said Coney

Despite not having a trail building background, the team members did not make the decision to work at Philmont lightly.

“I wanted something that would give my life a little bit of meaning. What better way to do that than building trail for other people to walk on,” said John Stewart-Racicot.

A large part of the Conservation Program empowers Scouts to carry on the skills that they have learned while on the Ranch.

“The hope is that we inspire the crews and that they will go back

to their hometown and want to work on building trail and doing conservation work there,” Sareault said.

Building and maintaining trails is something that benefits all Scouts, staff, and Philmont participants. When the Scouts help the Conservation Department, they leave behind something long lasting in addition to partaking in the programs offered at each camp.

Coney expressed that one of the greatest rewards of building a trail is the legacy it leaves for years after it is built.

Part of the trail building experience includes a “Legacy Talk” given by the team. This helps widen the team’s perspective, and exposes them to what they are leaving behind.

Leave it behindSuzannah EvansStaff Writer

Nathan Coney tosses gear from a truck to John Stoughton as a team of Conservationists settle at their new home near Harlan. Clay Helfrick/PhilNews

Conservationists at Harlan look at a map during their scatter to their Cons site. Clay Helfrick/PhilNews

Foreman Preston Marquis discusses last minute planning details with Nathan Coney at the Harlan Conservation site. Clay Helfrick/PhilNews


Hello, 2016 Philmont staff and welcome to the Ranger Mile! The Ranger Department is very excited to have this platform to share our passion for sweet hikes, sunsets, rocks, nature, lookin’ at it, mountains, charismatic megafauna, wildflowers, etc., etc.

We hope to inspire you to make the most of your days off. Before you know it, August will be here and many you will be sitting in a lecture hall or classroom wondering why you didn’t spend more of your days off hiking and having fun. I’ve certainly been there, so I hope you will utilize this column to find inspiration to get outside and accomplish all of your hiking goals. Find a friend, fill out a Backcountry

Access Permit, pack your Philmont essentials, and hit the trail. This week, beat the heat of June and head for the southwest corner of Philmont for some fresh air and beautiful scenery. Waite Phillips favored this part of the ranch and when you get out there you will immediately understand why. The cool shade of tall pines and the clear, cold waters in the creeks will refresh your mind and body and leave you wondering how places like Agua Fria and Wild Horse can exist in such stark contrast and relatively close proximity to the juniper flats and open plains found only 1,000 feet below.

To get out to the backcountry, you have a few choices. Stop by the Backcountry Warehouse around 7:00 a.m. to speak with Gene Schnell in hopes of finding a

ride (not always an option) headed out to a camp in the area, such as Beaubien or Phillips Junction. These locations put you in perfect position to explore this part of the ranch. If you have a personal vehicle, you can drive out to the Zastrow or Abreu turnarounds (check the weather, the Zastrow road can get very muddy in the rain) and hike up the Rayado Canyon trail for some beautiful views and lunch near the tranquil waters of the Agua Fria or Rayado creeks. From here, you have a choice: make it a long day hike or spend the night out if you have another day off.

If you choose the long day hike, you might turn around now or if you are a more experienced hiker, head up to Webster Pass and swing back around through Lookout Meadow and back down to your

vehicle via Lower Bonito Canyon.If you want to spend the night,

consider carrying on toward Apache Springs, but make a point of going through Lost Cabins Camp, exploring the trails and enjoying the scenery to be found. I recommend ending your day with the sunset from Garcia Park (be sure to stay on Philmont property).

Always remember that resources can be limited in the backcountry,

so plan ahead and be prepared to feed and shelter yourself. Also, always try to send an i-camp message prior to you arrival so that the staff knows who will be planning to be around their camp. Philmont’s backcountry camps are always friendly and inviting, but sometimes they may not be able to offer you food or a place to sleep. Don’t take it personally. Bring your own food and a tent.

Coney expressed that one of the greatest rewards of building a trail is the legacy it leaves for years after it is built.

Part of the trail building experience includes a “Legacy Talk” given by the team. This helps widen the team’s perspective, and exposes them to what they are leaving behind.

The Ranger Mile: The untapped south countryCaleb Burns Associate Chief Ranger

Caleb Burns/ Ranger Department

Foreman Preston Marquis discusses last minute planning details with Nathan Coney at the Harlan Conservation site. Clay Helfrick/PhilNews

A sunset over Garcia Park.


I made it back to Philmont!

The Leave No Trace mantra runs deep in the life blood of Philmont and serves as a cornerstone of our identity and of the conservation practices we live.

We drive its principles into our participants before they embark on their treks, assign crew leadership for their execution, and dedicate the entire Philmont staff to responsible stewardship in its spirit. Given the incredible opportunities for education and adventure afforded through the generosity of the Waite Phillips family, we have carefully tended this pile of rocks to maintain the natural grandeur of the mountains and the peacefulness of the windswept plains for all who visit.

Despite the incredible good accomplished for the Ranch and its users, this traditional vision of conservation threatens to narrow our concern for the environment and humanity only to the areas

we directly enjoy during time outdoors. Natural resources should be protected and managed whether they belong to us as individuals, Scouting as an organization, or humanity as a whole.

We must consider a broader meaning of conservation and apply our outdoor ethic — Leave No Trace — to our decisions as 21st-century consumers.

No longer should we turn a blind eye to the reality both at Base Camp and in the backcountry: the choices we make and the

resources we consume affect the wilderness of the natural world outside Philmont. Our camp and surrounding populations divert up to a third of the Cimarron River’s flow during the summer months. Thousands of gallons of gasoline are burned during a single summer to transport staff, campers, and advisors from across the nation. Literal tons of food from our dining halls hit the dumpsters each week. Fossil energies, potable water, and consumer products like food are all scarce resources that

must be thoughtfully managed to safeguard the well-being of future generations.

The misuse of such resources sends “bad ripples” to environments downstream, threatening the animals and people who rely on a delicate natural balance. Philmont seeks to use resources efficiently and lower its impact on the environment in some areas already. We fight the spread of invasive and noxious plants which threaten native plants and revitalize vulnerable watersheds. We recycle and reuse various packaging materials and paper. We even reuse motor oil at our vehicle maintenance shop to reduce energy costs in winter.

Although the prospect of further change seems daunting, all of us can take a few easy steps to make a difference. Wash your Nalgene when you leave the trail and refill it at home, school, and work to help eliminate the use of bottled water (a wasteful product for the environment and your wallet). Why pay 2,000 times the price of

tap water when you could prove to all your friends how outdoorsy you are with a trail-hardened Philmont Nalgene?

If we are serious about preserving natural resources and protecting nature as we know it, let us strive to further recognize the implications of our own actions. This new vision of conservation, often termed “sustainability,” requires intentionality and commitment, but we cannot afford to ignore its call.

A Scout’s duty to God, country, and fellow man necessitates a Leave No Trace approach to guide our interactions with the environment — in the silver sage and beyond.

Beyond the Silver Sage: The next step for LNTChambers EnglishSustainable Resource Specialist

Chambers English/Conservation Department

“I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use the natural resources

of our land; but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or to rob, by wasteful

use,the generations that come after us.”

-Theodore Roosevelt


When leaving the Ranch, many look back over their shoulder, gazing at the Tooth of Time, hoping they will one day return. Some do, but others have a more difficult time making the legend come to life.

Finances, health, timing and family can all add to the hurdles preventing one’s return, but when those hurdles are leapt over, or knocked down, the victory is sweet. One such victor, Karen Rose, made it back this summer after battling cancer.

“When I was diagnosed with cancer last year, I was diagnosed 3 weeks before I was supposed to come here, that was the first thing out of my mouth, ‘I will make it to Philmont next year,’ and here I am,” Rose said.

Rose comes from a Scouting family. A resident of New Hampshire, Rose recalls stories of her father’s childhood. Her father received his Eagle in 1938. He had grown up in Suffern, New York,

and had known Dan “Uncle Dan” Beard, one of the pioneers of the Boy Scouts of America.

“It was like Dan Beard was one of the family,” Rose said.

Rose’s father, Christopher Rose, would come to the Philmont Training Center with his wife and teach courses on Conservation.

Rose has been to Philmont seven times in six years and expects to return at least once more this summer.

“You come out here the first time, and it’s almost like being bitten by a bug, you want to come back. It’s an emotional high, you have a feeling that you need to come back for more,” said Rose.

Rose serves her local council as a Commissioner.

“We promote Philmont,” Rose said.

She describes her time at the Training Center as a “two for one deal.” She says that in addition to the course she pays for, she also gets a lot out of talking with others at the Training Center and hearing about other people’s experiences.

Rose says that her favorite Philmont moment is coming back.

“Coming back, I saw the Tooth, and I said,’ I’m home,’ because I didn’t know if I would come back,” Rose emotionally explained.

Last year, when she was on her

second round of chemotherapy, she received a card with the Tooth of Time on it from Dee Dee Montoya and the team she would have been working with. Montoya is the Registrar at the Philmont Training Center and has worked

closely with Rose. “She [Montoya] needs to get

some special award, because she goes beyond the call of what she should,” Rose said.

Rose mentioned that Montoya had kept up with Rose through Facebook while she was undergoing treatment.

“Last year when I was in the hospital, because my chemo was for five days straight with an IV every 21 days, you got really sick, cause that stuff is nasty, Dee Dee kept up with me,” said Rose.

Like many enamoured by Philmont, Rose is inspired by Waite Phillips.

“His sense of adventure [inspires me], because if he and his brother hadn’t had the sense of adventure they’d had, Philmont wouldn’t be here.”

Rose hopes to continue to return to the Ranch. She wants the youth of today to continue to have fantastic experiences through Scouting. She hopes to accomplish this by getting the parents of Millennials more involved.

Suzannah Evans Staff Writer

I made it back to Philmont!

Karen Rose (Center row, Left) stands among her “Philmont family” on Monday, June 6, 2016 as they take a PTC group photo. The group spent the week listening to various Scouting lectures and touring Philmont. Alex Cenci/PhilNews

Staff Wilderness Pledge Acheivement Award

All Philmont Staff Members are eligible to earn the Wilderness Pledge Achievement Award.To obtain the award please complete the application form and submit it to the Tooth of Time Traders. You will then be eligible to purchase the award for $3.00. The profit from the sale of the patches will be used to improve the recycling and sustainable efforts of the Ranch. There are four requirements to earning the award:

Wilderness Pledge Achievement Award

Name _____________________________________________ Staff Position _________________________________ Date ________________

Wilderness Pledge Achievement Award

Name _____________________________________________ Staff Position _________________________________ Date ________________Each staff member can earn the Wilderness Pledge Achievement Award. This award will include four requirements. After completion of the

four requirements you are able to submit this form at the Tooth of Time Traders and purchase the award. (All proceeds from the purchase help to benefitthe continuation of Philmont’s sustainable and recycling efforts.)

Wilderness Pledge Achievement Award Requirements:1. Take part in a discussion with a crew, backcountry user or staff member about the Wilderness Pledge and Leave No Trace Principles._____________________________________________ (crew expedition number or signature of backcountry user or staff member)2. Practice all Philmont Wildlife and Bear Procedures throughout your time at Philmont. Assist a camp in campsite checks and explain tocrews the importance of these procedures or visit with a crew’s Wilderness Pledge Guia and discuss the importance of Philmont Wildlife______________________________________________ (Camp Director, camps staff signature or crew number)3. Explain to a supervisor, LNT Master Educator/Trainer, or Ranger Leadership the importance of the camping practices that are conducted______________________________________________ (Supervisor, LNT Master Educator/ Trainer, Ranger Leadership signature)4. Take part in a discussion(s) with fellow staff members, backcountry users, or crews that includes each of the seven principles of Leave No

Trace. Incorporate specific examples of the principles found at Philmont in the discussion._______________________________________________ (crew expedition number or signature of backcountry user or staff member)


Michelle Stinnett wears a disposable breathing mask while “dehanta-ing” a cabin at Urraca camp on June 6, 2016. Cabins and sheds must be swept and sprayed with bleach in order to protect against the potentially fatal Hantavirus. Gabriel Scarlett/PhilNews

Top: The Ranger staff pretends they are riding an imaginary roller coster as they wait for the rest of the group photo to file into place. One Ranger calls out each turn and in close harmony everyone shreaks as they round the imaginary turns. Clay Helfrick/PhilNews

CHQ Activities staff member Katie Kritzmire greets Scouts at the entrance of the first Opening Campfire performance of the summer on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. Skyler Ballard/PhilNews

The Milky Way is clearly visible in the sky just above male tent city on June 10, 2016 around 1:00 a.m. after the moon has set. Clay Helfrick/PhilNews

Ranger Trainer Joel Newhart directs Rangers to the Welcome Center Pavilion to help check in arriving crews Thursday, June 8, 2016. The Welcome Center was bustling all day with the first arriving crews, eager for their trek. Madelynne Scales/PhilNews

Right: Troop 149 of the North East Georgia Council map out their trek at Logistics on Thursday, June 9, 2016. Skyler Ballard/PhilNews

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