High Adventure > Trail to Philmont

The Watchu Experience – Our Trail to Philmont

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 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.

The Application Process

Every summer, Patriots’ Path Council sends at least twenty twelve-person crews to Philmont Scout Ranch, near Cimarron, New Mexico. Applications are accepted from crews of at least eight people.  We also encourage individuals to apply, and we will pair you with a crew that has available openings.

What is a crew?

Groups that attend Philmont are called crews. A full crew consists of twelve members and three or four adults over 21 years old. Crews can be male, female or mixed gender. Participants must be at least 14 years old (or 13 and have completed the eighth grade).  All participants must be registered with the Boy Scouts of America.

Many Philmont crews are formed in advance by members of a single Boy Scout troop or Venturing crew. Crews can invite members from other units to complete their crew.

Applying as an individual

Patriots’ Path Council also forms District Provisional Crews from applications submitted by individuals and groups too small to form their own crew. See the crew allotment process for more information on how Patriots’ Path Council crews are chosen.

Individual youth and adults may submit an individual application at any time as long as we still have crews without a full compliment of twelve members.  Individuals are assigned to regular or provisional crews based on availability.

Applying as a crew

You must have at eight members to apply as a crew. If you apply with fewer than 12 members, you must recruit additional members or be willing to accept individuals assigned to you. Crew applications are available in October and must be submitted by mid-January for treks two summers away. On the fourth Tuesday of January, the Watchu Philmont Lottery is held to assign crews to the available travel dates and develop a waiting list, if necessary.

District Provisional Crews

Each Patriots’ Path Council district may organize one provisional crew which can take part in the Watchu Experience and are exempt from the Watchu Philmont lottery. A District Provisional Crew:

• has a minimum of two adult advisors who must obtain the consent and support of their district
• is comprised of participants from at least three separate units in that district
• has no more than six participants in the crew from the same unit
• submits a crew application by the mid-January deadline date on the application

The crew will ultimately need three adult advisors. Provisional crews are exempt from the Watchu Experience requirement of having at least eight individual members enrolled by the date of the February advisor orientation, but are still required to complete a full crew of 12.

Annual Crew Allotment Process

On the fourth Tuesday of January, the High Adventure Committee holds their annual meeting to determine the 20 crews that will participate in the council’s 18 month Watchu Experience. The 20 selected crews will choose their travel date based on their priority category. Contingent crews will also be selected.  There are five categories of crews:

1. District Provisional Crews – Travel date is based on a drawing.
2. Watchu Sabattis Adirondack Trek Crews – up to 8. Travel date based on first-come, first-served in completing Sabattis requirements.
3. Crews wait-listed and not selected in the prior year but who submitted timely crew applications; travel date based on a prior year’s drawing order
4. Current Crews with timely applications – travel date based on lottery; details 0n the current Philmont Crew Application.
5. Wait List Crews — Patriots’ Path Council crews who participated in the Watchu Philmont lottery and were not selected are chosen in a lottery. Out-of-council crews go to the wait list the night of the lottery and are assigned allocations on a first come, first served basis after all Patriots’ Path crews. Any crews that submit applications after the cut-off date for the current year lottery are assigned a wait list priority on a first come, first served basis. Crews that submit applications after the cut-off date have no priority that carries over to the subsequent year.

Additional Information

• A unit may submit applications for up to two crews. A second crew from a unit will be placed on the wait list on a first come, first served basis in order of crew applications after Patriots’ Path crews in the Watchu Philmont lottery.
• Accepted crews must submit at least eight individual applications and deposits, including at least two adult advisors, by the date of the February advisor orientation in order to hold their allocation.
• Wait listed crews have three weeks from notification of being accepted to submit at least eight individual applications and deposits, including at least two adult advisors.

Making High Adventure Affordable

High-adventure opportunities can be expensive, but these opportunities need not put a drain on family finances. And certainly high-adventure should not be out of reach of any Scout or Venturer. Most programs require plenty of advance planning. Maybe even two years for adventures such as Philmont. Use this planning time to start saving early. There are plenty of ways for individuals to save.

Fund Raising Opportunities

Working for Patriots’ Path Council

Patriots’ Path Council employs more than 250 people annually at our Boy Scout and Cub Scout summer camps. We also offer stipends for Scouts who assist with programs such as COPE, summer camp promotions and other Scouting programs.

• Summer camp staff at one of our five camps
• Watchu camp staff fellow. Contact Chief Watchu.
• COPE facilitator at Mt. Allamuchy Scout Reservation. Contact Lori Dlugosz at 973-347-3266.

Patriots’ Path Council, unit, and crew fund drives

Many council, unit and crew fund raising drives allow individuals to use a portion of the funds raised to help finance their Scouting adventures.

• Ask you leaders about using Popcorn sales funds 
• Sell Camp Cards which provide discounts at local businesses
• Troop and crew car washes, spaghetti dinners, pancake breakfasts and product sales. Be creative!

Working in your neighborhood and community

• Popcorn sales on your own if your unit is not participating
• Shovel sidewalks, cut grass, wash windows,
• Helping elderly families with their weekly chores

High-Adventure Gift Program

Gift accounts exist for many high-adventure programs such as the Philmont Family & Friends Gift Account. Contributions can be made by family and friends, your unit or organizations.

Adventureships and more

• Warren Wheeler Adventureship provides financial assistance for high-adventure and other programs.
• Service organizations (Elks Club, American Legion, etc.)
• Ask for help from your unit

Scout accounts

Individual Scouts can save money in Scout accounts. Your unit might offer one or you can set one up on your own. Examples of accounts include:

• An account in your name within your unit
• An account set up at home with your family or in your name at your family’s bank
• An account in your name administered within a Patriots’ Path Council sponsored high-adventure program. Consult your tax advisor for tax implications of any of these ideas.

Merit Badges

Several merit badges have requirements that will help in your endeavor. Personal Management will help you in your planning process while Salesmanship and Entrepreneurship both provide frameworks for earning money.

Preparing for The Experience

Other Options

National Lottery — Your crew can apply directly to Philmont. Philmont accepts online registrations in November, two years preceding the summer you would like to attend Philmont. A highly competitive national lottery is held in December to determine the crews that are accepted and to develop a waiting list. Don’t forget to budget for additional costs above the Philmont fees.

Short Treks — In addition to regular 12-day backpacking treks, Philmont also offers 7-day treks with 5 nights in the backcountry for a reduced fee. The short treks have Friday and Saturday arrival dates throughout the season. Additional daily departures are also available in early August. You apply the same way as a 12-day trek. Short treks may be a good opportunity for crews that cannot commit the time for a full trek.

Philmont Cavalcades are similar to backpacking expeditions except that, instead of hiking, crews ride horses through the rugged mountain wilderness. Eight-day Cavalcades with 10 to 15 people per crew are offered on specific dates each summer. A highly competitive national lottery is conducted in late January, for Cavalcades two summers away.

Individual Opportunities — In addition to regular expeditions for crews of seven to 12 members, Philmont offers several special programs that are available to individuals and smaller groups. These programs may have more stringent age requirements than regular expeditions. Some of these are “work for trek” programs at a reduced fee. Here are some highlights.

Trail Crew Trek is a 14-day experience will help prepare participants to achieve the William T. Hornaday Silver Award upon return to their homes.

Rayado Trek — The challenging and selective Rayado Trek is unparalleled for developing outdoor leadership, group dynamics, wilderness problem-solving, and advanced outdoor skills. Participants will experience more of Philmont’s backcountry and will have program opportunities not available to expedition campers.

The Roving Outdoor Conservation School is a program for those who have an interest in conservation and natural resource management. Each crew will participate in activities in areas such as: forestry, fire ecology, fisheries management, wildlife management, geology, watershed management and range management.

The Order of the Arrow Trail Crew program is a 14-day experience for Arrowmen to join together in cheerful service and the formation of lasting brotherhood on the trails at Philmont. Under the direction of the Philmont conservation department, experienced Philmont staff members with strong Order of the Arrow backgrounds will lead participants.

Ranch Hands is a program for those who have knowledge of horsemanship and horse care and want to expand their skills and experience. After an eight-day work session, the Ranch Hands crew embarks on an eight-day Cavalcade under the leadership of a horseman and wrangler.

The STEM Trek is a co-ed program for Scouts and Venturers who have an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Led by knowledgeable staff, participants will explore modern scientific principles in physics and biology as well as historical examples of technology employed by miners, loggers and homesteaders during the 19th century.

Costs

When reviewing all of these programs, don’t forget that the Philmont fees are only a portion of your total cost. Review Philmont’s Trek Budget Worksheet to help estimate additional costs. With the Watchu Experience, most of these costs are included.

Please take a look at some ideas to help finance your adventure.

Working at Philmont — Each season, Philmont employs more than 1,000 staff members. The staff operates, maintains and supports Philmont’s program, Training Center, food service, and museums. This is a unique way to experience the magic of Philmont, and a great idea for someone who has already experienced a Philmont adventure.