- Calendar
- Advisor
Orientation
- Advisor
Briefings - Watchu Mountain
Adventure - Travel
Dates - Staff
Hiker statue at Philmont's Base Camp |
Tracking your crew's progress against the Crew Preparation Checklist will assure you have done everything necessary to prepare for your adventure.
OTHER IMPORTANT DATES 2026 Watchu Mountain Adventure Fast Pass certification night Both held at the Patriots' Path Council office |
Thusday February 20, 2025 7:30pm to 9:30pm - Agenda
Patriot's Path Council Service Center, 1 Saddle Road, Cedar Knolls, NJ
All adult advisors for each crew should attend.
Each crew MUST turn in applications and deposits for all members of your crew before or at the start of this orientation. We are assuming all crews will do so, but in the event one or more crews do not, the remaining crews will have the option of changing to a more preferred contingent. This process is described in detail below, and the main point is this: if your crew did not get its #1 ranked continent assignment, you MAY have the opportunity to change to a more preferred contingent. BUT, if offered a more preferred contingent Saturday morning, you MUST decide on the spot whether to accept it or stay in the contingent you were assigned to the night of the lottery.
The orientation will concentrate on the first phase of the Watchu Experience, from now until September. This is the time to begin building your crew into a team, raising funds (both on an individual and crew basis) for your Watchu Experience and Philmont trek, and training.
We look forward to seeing all of the adult advisors at this breifing. Should the weather turn bad, an e-mail will be sent by 5:00pm advising whether the Orientation is still on, or being postponed.
Scout uniforms are expected at all briefings.
Process to Re-assign Contingent Allocations if a Crew Fails to Submit Applications and Deposits
Any crew failing to turn in applications and deposits (a minimum of 8, divided between youth and adults as specified on the Crew Application you turned in to participate in the lottery to assign contingent allocations) WILL forfeit their contingent allocation.
Several crews in the second half of the lottery likely did not receive their preferred contingent assignment. If any crew(s) fails to submit the necessary applications and deposits, the first order of business at the Orientation will be to allow crews the option to change to a more preferred contingent/travel dates. IF A MORE PREFERRED CONTINGENT IS AVAILABLE, CREWS MUST DECIDE ON THE SPOT IF THEY WISH TO CHANGE FROM THEIR CURRENT ASSIGNED CONTINGENT. Otherwise, they will remain in their current contingent. Understand that this has the potential to "snow ball" - if a crew opts to switch, THEIR contingent allocation is then available. If another crew then switches, the second crew's contingent allocation is then available.
Also understand that this is not another lottery - the order drawn on the night of the lottery will be used. It also is not an opportunity to change your rankings of the five contingents - the order shown on your crew application will be used. It only is an opportunity for each crew that did not get their #1 contingent preference to change to a more preferred (though not necessarily their first choice) contingent, if one is available.
After going through the crews with current lottery assignments, any open crew allocations in contingents will be offered to crews in the order of the Waiting List developed the night of the lottery, followed by crew submitting Crew Applications after the lottery deadline in the order they were received.
2026 Contingent
May 3, 2025 (Saturday) 8:00am to 2:00pm
Watchu Advisor Outdoor Skills
October 14, 2025 (Tuesday) 7:30 to 9:55pm - Agenda
January 14, 2026 (Wednesday) 7:30 to 9:55pm - Agenda
March 10, 2026 (Tuesday) 7:30 to 9:30pm - Agenda
June 10, 2026 (Wednesday) 7:30 to 9:55pm - Agenda
2027 Contingent
May 2, 2026 (Saturday) 8:00am to 2:00pm
Watchu Advisor Outdoor Skills
October 13, 2026 (Tuesday) 7:30 to 9:55pm - Agenda
January 13, 2027 (Wednesday) 7:30 to 9:55pm - Agenda
March 9, 2027 (Tuesday) 7:30 to 9:30pm - Agenda
June 9, 2027 (Wednesday) 7:30 to 9:55pm - Agenda
Bring your youth Crew Chief to the final briefing in June.
All in person briefings are held at Patriot's Path Council Service Center, 1 Saddle Road, Cedar Knolls, NJ
All crew advisors should attend, wearing full, official BSA uniforms (unofficially called Class A), with no "look-alikes" or exceptions.
2026 (29th annual): May 1, 2026 (Friday) 5:00pm to May 3, 2026 (Sunday) 1:00pm
2027 (30th annual): April 30, 2027 (Friday) 5:00pm to May 2, 2027 (Sunday) 1:00pm
Camp Wheeler, Mt. Allamuchy Scout Reservation.
GPS coordinates (entrance road): 40° 55.004 North, 74° 46.033 West
or in UTM at (NAD 27) 18 T 519603 E, 4529327 N
Sample Saturday-Sunday Schedule – note the actual schedule varies crew by crew
All crew members should attend the entire weekend, wearing full, official BSA uniforms (unofficially called Class A), with no "look-alikes" or exceptions.
Travel Dates
Airline flight information will be provided at the June Advisor Briefing.
| Philmont Expedition |
Depart for Colorado |
Arrive at Philmont |
Return to New Jersey |
| 2026 | |||
| 626 | June 24 | June 26 | July 8 |
| 717 | July 14 | July 17 | July 29 |
| 2027 | |||
| 701 | June 29 | July 1 | July 13 |
| 702 | June 30 | July 2 | July 14 |
| 715 | July 13 | July 15 | July 27 |
4th Tuesday of month, 7:00 to 9:00pm