Philmont Scout Ranch

September 28, 2007

Since I became Scoutmaster of Troop 28 in 1999, I have talked and talked about how important going to Philmont and Scouting in general has touched my life. Philmont Scout Ranch is the ultimate in high adventure camping. For most, it is a once in a lifetime event. I was lucky enough to go to Philmont with the Baltimore Area Council twenty nine years ago. My present troop, Troop 28, sent three boys in 2005. They were the only three boys from the York Adams Area Council that signed up to go. Having many empty slots and not willing to loose the money laid out for these slots, they were sold to the Baltimore Area Council. This enabled our boys to go and ultimately, allow many other youth to go that would not have had the opportunity to go had the slots not been made available. I commend Todd Weidner for this very creative action. The boys were lucky enough to have an extremely experienced leader (Mimi Hatch) for their crew leader. She proved to be an extremely dedicated and seasoned leader providing the boys with a tremendous once in a lifetime experience. My sincere thanks to her. I have watched all three of these boys grow up from little boys into self sufficient young men and I am very proud of all three of them. The boys have returned safe and sound amidst stories of injuries that have happened in prior years at Philmont. The pictures they brought back are reminiscent of times long ago when I went to Philmont as a boy. I am quite sad that I could not go with them but happy that they had the opportunity to go. Even though my son has become an adult leader at the end of February 2006, I am looking forward to going back to Philmont with him in the future if the opportunity presents itself. I wish that you have the opportunity to experience Philmont for yourself and can experience it with your son. I hope to see you there.