hiker statue

Hiker statue at Philmont's Base Camp
near the Logistics building.

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
2025 Contingent/Crew Selection Process
January 23, 2024 (Tuesday) 7:00pm

2024 Watchu Mountain Adventure Fast Pass certification night
April 9, 2024 (Tuesday) 7:00-9:00pm

Both held at the Patriots' Path Council office
Patriot's Path Council Service Center, 1 Saddle Road, Cedar Knolls, NJ

Thusday February 16, 2023 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.

 

 

2024 Contingent

May 6, 2023 (Saturday) 8:00am to 2:00pm
Watchu Advisor Outdoor Skills

October 10, 2023 (Tuesday) 7:30 to 9:55pm - Agenda

January 10, 2024 (Wednesday) 7:30 to 9:55pm - Agenda

March 12, 2024 (Tuesday) 7:30 to 9:30pm - Agenda

June 12, 2024 (Wednesday) 7:30 to 9:55pm - Agenda


2025 Contingent

May 4, 2024 (Saturday) 8:00am to 2:00pm
Watchu Advisor Outdoor Skills

October 8, 2024 (Tuesday) 7:30 to 9:55pm - Agenda

January 8, 2025 (Wednesday) 7:30 to 9:55pm - Agenda

March 8, 2025 (Tuesday) 7:30 to 9:30pm - Agenda

June 11, 2025 (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.


2024 (27th annual): May 3, 2024 (Friday) 5:00pm to May 5, 2024 (Sunday) 1:00pm

2025 (28th annual): May 2, 2025 (Friday) 5:00pm to May 7, 2023 (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
Friday/Early Saturday Schedule for all crews
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
2024
627 June 25 June 27 July 9
628 June 26 June 28 July 10
629 June 27 June 29 July 11
2025
To be determined
High Adventure Committee Meetings, Patriots' Path Council Office, Cedar Knolls
4th Tuesday of month, 7:00 to 9:00pm
September 26, 2023
October 24, 2023
November 28, 2023
December – no meeting
January 23, 2024 (following Watchu Selection Process)*
February 27, 2024
March 26, 2024
April 23, 2024
May 28, 2024
June 25, 2024

Advisor Briefings, Patriots' Path Council Office, Cedar Knolls
2024 crews
Tuesday October 10, 2023, 7:30 to 9:55pm
Wednesday, January 10, 2024, 7:30 to 9:55pm
Tuesday, March 12, 2024, 7:30 to 9:55pm
Wednesday, June 12, 2024, 7:30 to 9:55pm
2025 crews
Tuesday, October 8, 2024, 7:30 to 9:55pm
Wednesday, January 8, 2025, 7:30 to 9:55pm
Tuesday, March 8, 2025, 7:30 to 9:55pm
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 7:30 to 9:55pm

Watchu Selection Process, Patriots' Path Council Office, Cedar Knolls
2025 crews - Tuesday, January 23, 2024, 7:00pm

Advisor Orientation, Patriots' Path Council Office, Cedar Knolls
2025 crews - Thursday, February 13, 2024, 7:30 to 9:30pm

Fast Pass Night, Patriots' Path Council Office, Cedar Knolls
2024 crews - April 9, 2024, 7:00 to 9:00pm

Beaver / Badger Days, Watchu Mountain, MASR
Saturday, April 27, 2024, 9:00am to 3:00pm
Saturday, April 26, 2025, 9:00am to 3:00pm

Watchu Mountain Adventure, Watchu Mountain, MASR
2024 crews (27th year) - Friday May 3 to Sunday May 5, 2024
2025 crews (28th year) - Friday May 2 to Sunday May 4, 2025

Watchu Advisor Outdoor Skills, Watchu Mountain, MASR
2025 crews - Saturday May 4, 2024
2026 crews - Saturday May 3, 2025

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