1. In addition to
the fee paid directly to Patriots' Path Council and the purchase of
personal equipment, what other expenses should be expected?
Each crew needs to establish a budget and designate a banker or treasurer to handle the funds (a great job for a parent to take on in support of the crew!) for crew expenses. The amount will vary from crew to crew, and should (at a minimum) provide food and fuel for shakedown hikes and any special crew apparel such as T-shirts, hats, or neckerchiefs. Other things that might be considered for the crew budget include fees for CPR and First Aid training, ground transportation to and from the airport and whether crew gear such as stoves must be purchased.
2. What are the
requirements for adult advisors?
In addition to each advisor being a registered member of BSA, adult advisors must complete BSA Youth Protection, Safe Swim Defense, and Safety Afloat training.
3. What is the
requirement for Youth Protection Training for crew members?
Both adult advisors and youth crew members are required to complete the age appropriate BSA Youth Protection training. All advisor must present valid certificates (cards). Youth Protection for Youth Members, included with the distributed DVD distributed at the November Advisor Briefing, must be viewed by all youth members of the crew.
4. Why are the
youth members of the crew required to view the Youth Protection segment
included in the Philmont training video?
Since the Philmont experience is composed of teenaged girls and boys, Patriots’ Path Council requires that each youth member complete the BSA material directed specifically to teenagers.
5. How does the
crew advisor 'certify' that Youth Protection training for youth members
of the crew has
been completed?
The lead advisor initials the appropriate line on the Watchu Passport certifying that each youth member of the crew has completed the Youth Protection requirement.
6. Are the advisors required to have First Aid and CPR training and, if so, which
courses are acceptable?
The official Philmont requirement is for only one person (youth or adult) to be trained in both First Aid and CPR. Special requirements for Wilderness First Training in 2008 and a list of approved training providers can be read by clicking
HERE.
7. Can the Wilderness First Aid patch be worn on a Class A uniform?
The patch should not be worn on the BSA uniform. It comes under the heading of Participation and Achievement in the BSA Insignia Guide. Recommended examples of placement would be on equipment (such as a backpack), a jacket or sweater, or a BSA patch vest.
8. What are the youth
leadership positions in a Philmont crew and where can information on the
responsibilities of each position be found?
The youth leadership positions are the
Crew Leader (Crew Chief) and the
Chaplain Aide. Detailed descriptions of these positions, prepared by Philmont and which will be included in the March mailing, are posted on this Web site under ‘
Crew Development’.
9. What is the best way
to organize a Philmont crew?
“
Organizing Your Crew,” posted on this Web site under ‘
Crew Development’, describes the positions in a Philmont Crew, which include cooks, the fire and water team, the clean-up team, and navigators in addition to the two leadership positions of
Crew Chief (Crew Leader) and
Chaplain Aide. On shakedowns, the advisors need to make sure all crew members rotate through all of the assignments so that all are trained in each position. At Philmont, the crew can be organized with “experts” assigned to each job for the entire trek, or the
Crew Chief (Crew Leader) can prepare a duty roster that continues to rotate the assignments among all the crew members – see “
Rotating vs. Permanent Crew Assignments” posted on this Web site under ‘
Crew Development’.
10. Is there a
difference between the terms “Crew Chief” and “Crew Leader”?
No, they mean exactly the same thing. "Crew Chief" is the older term for today’s “
Crew Leader.” In both cases, the reference is to the
youth leader of the crew and is never to the adult advisors. Chief Watchu will use the “Crew Chief” terminology when he wants to be certain all understand him to mean the youth member who leads.
11. When should the
crew select its permanent Crew Leader and its Chaplain Aide?
The selection of a permanent
Crew Leader should be made at the Watchu Mountain Adventure weekend in May. Until then, all positions of leadership should be rotated so that the entire crew can evaluate the performance of its members. The Chaplain Aide must be selected
prior to arrival at May’s Watchu Mountain Adventure.
12. What are the
major reasons that force crew members off the trail at Philmont?
Hypothermia, dehydration, unsanitary food preparation, and falls are the top four problems which force crew members off the trail. Each of these issues must be addressed during crew training.
13. How can a crew prepare
for coping with the altitude difference?
In addition to good physical conditioning by everyone before Philmont, the tour of southern Colorado is designed to help crew members adjust to higher altitudes before arriving at Philmont.
14. How many shakedown
hikes should a crew have before departing for Philmont?
Most crews find that about three, preferably overnight, shakedown hikes are sufficient, though a mix of overnight and day hikes may be needed to accommodate a crew’s particular ability to schedule shakedowns.
15. How does a crew
handle local tour permits for its shakedown hikes?
Local tour permits are required for all shakedown hikes as well as May’s Watchu Mountain Adventure. Any two advisors accompanying the crew on the training event can sign the tour permit. Patriots’ Path Council crews should direct the tour permit to the attention of Bob Morris, who will expedite the process.
16. When should a crew do "gear shakedowns"?
Gear shakedowns should be performed during crew training hikes to give everyone a chance to see what others are using and stimulate questions about what works and what does not. In addition, each crew will have a gear shakedown conducted by a staff member at May’s Watchu Mountain Adventure. A shakedown is recommended at a crew meeting, with family in attendance, a week or two before departing for Philmont to insure any gaps in equipment or packing have been squared away (this is also the time for a short briefing to parents, i.e. phone chain for wake-up calls on the day of departure, last minute itinerary questions, contact info, etc.) A next-to-last shakedown should be conducted the night before departure to make sure than the gear on the Philmont equipment list will be on the plane. At Philmont, the crew’s Ranger will conduct a final shakedown before the crew leaves Base Camp.
17. Where can the water
purification tablets used at Philmont (Micropur) be purchased for use on
shakedowns?
The water purification tablets now used at Philmont,
Katadyn’s Micropur, are available at outdoor stores such as
Campmor,
REI, and
Ramsey’s. The cost is about $14.00 per package of 30 tablets.
18. What is the recommended method
of sanitizing personal eating utensils?
A great method is to simply attach a length of 1/8” nylon line to a metal shower rod hook. Drill a small hole in the upper lip of the bowl and the end of the spoon. Attach the cup, bowl and spoon to the shower rod hook and dunk the utensils in water brought to a rolling boil, immersing ALL surfaces for about 30 seconds. The nylon line makes it safe and easy to do the dunking and then hang the utensils to dry. After all eating utensils for the crew have been sanitized, the water is then used to prepare the meal.