The Watchu Experience was featured in the June 2004 issue of High Country magazine. Click on image to open.

Each year Patriots’ Path Scouts and Venturers begin an 18-month journey to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.  Along the way they and their entire family experience this once-in-a-lifetime adventure, called the Watchu Experience, our Trail to Philmont. The Watchu Experience has five distinct phases: Starting the Adventure – seven months of fund-raising, training, and team building. Getting it All Together - eight months of anticipation and training including monthly crew gatherings and four Advisor Briefings. Are You Ready? - two months to put your training to the test, and fill any gaps in it. Traveling and Touring - a fun-filled two-day tour of the front range of the Rockies in Colorado, including a ride on the famous cog railway to the summit of Pikes Peak and a fantastic nine-mile Class III and Class IV whitewater rafting trip on the Arkansas River. Your Philmont Trek - twelve days backpacking on the backcountry trails of Philmont Scout Ranch in the spectacular Sangre de Cristo range of the Rockies. The entire program is described in detail in the Crew Member and Parent Guide provided to each participant, and the Advisor Guide provided to each adult advisor.

Watchu was a New Jersey Native American Lenape Chief according to stories told around Allamuchy campfires. Years ago Patriots’ Path Camp Wheeler was named Watchu. When that name was changed to honor a long time Scouter, we, the training team picked up the name. These days it is only used by the Philmont Training team. We use it to distinguish between Philmont and Patriots’ Path requirements, literature, and regulations. Hence, a Watchu requirement is most likely something our council requires and Philmont may not, as in “You are expected to attend the Watchu Mountain Adventure in May”. The Watchu guides are issued by Patriots’ Path. The Philmont Guidebook comes from Philmont and so on.

A crew showing off their expedition T-shirts at the Cimarron Art Gallery soda fountain.		Welcome to the Watchu Mountain Outfitters trading post. A variety of Watchu gear is available to members of the Patriots' Path contingents - click HERE to enter the trading post. Every purchase of merchandise helps to contain costs for all Patriots' Path contingent crews. All profits go directly into the Watchu program; strictly for the benefit of the Watchu/Philmont participants.
		Look for the logo on genuine Watchu Mountain Outfitters merchandise!

Merchandise for Patriots' Path expedition members only!

Download an Order Form

Chief Watchu communicates with advisors of Patriots’ Path contingent crews by e-mail.  There are three types of messages - Watchu Alerts, Watchu Grams and general. Watchu Alerts include reminders for upcoming Watchu events as well as "up-to-the-minute" notification of changes to Philmont or Watchu information. Watchu Grams summarize the information provided on this Web site, keyed to the calendar and the things crews should be doing to prepare for their trek. They represent more than 50 years of Philmont experience and are provided to assist the advisors in their effort to guarantee an outstanding Philmont experience. Watchu Grams also contain historical and other information crews in prior years have found interesting and useful, and enhanced their Philmont experience. General messages contain information that may be of interest to advisors and crew members though not necessarily related to Philmont.

In general the Watchu Network is an efficient means of providing information. However, at times there are issues with Internet service providers (especially Comcast). If you are missing a particular Watchu Gram, click on the button below to see all that have been sent to date. If you are an advisor and not receiving Watchu Grams, let Chief Watchu know by clicking HERE.

In addition, each crew is encouraged to create their own Family Network by including all crew member families in a single group within your e-mail address book. This will bring the youth and family members of the crew into the Watchu Network. Watchu Grams should be distributed to all crew members, as well as your own crew-specific messages regarding meetings, shakedowns and other crew activities. Share the responsibility of digesting this information. We know it works, try it.

Each member of a Philmont crew is asked to sign the Philmont Wilderness Pledge, which declares that he or she will do everything possible to preserve the beauty and wonder of the Philmont wilderness and facilities through good Scout camping. It is expected that Philmont campers will carry this pledge to all camping areas that they might visit throughout America.

Each member of Patriots' Path Philmont contingents is asked to sign the Watchu Wilderness Pledge, which focuses on the first point of the Philmont pledge – litter and graffiti. Throughout the ten months of the Watchu Experience, while on shakedown activities, the Watchu Mountain Adventure, the Colorado Tour, and at Philmont each crew member is expected to mitigate litter and graffiti problems caused by thoughtless campers before them and (of course) not contribute to the problem by creating more.

Specifically, each crew member is asked to:

• Pick up litter on trails or in campsites for proper disposal
• Report graffiti observed on natural features or structures
• Remove impromptu "memorials" such as crew numbers spelled out by arranging rocks.

The Watchu Team is committed to helping to eliminate these problems in the future by highlighting the first point of the Philmont Wilderness Pledge throughout the Watchu Experience.