2008 Boy Scout Conferences

Boy Scout Advancement

Advancement is one of the eight methods of Scouting. Learn how to use the Boy Scout advancement process to build confidence in the Scouts you serve. Explore how to assure that each step of the process is a positive learning experience for the Scouts. Learn how to recognize and solve problems early and how to ensure that each Scout gets all he can get from his experiences along the advancement trail. Share ways of assuring that every Scout meets each requirement for each rank. June 1–7 and July 13–19

Boy Scout Roundtables

Come have fun sharing ideas about how to plan show-stopping roundtable programs. Learn secrets from round-table commissioners who are known for programs that fill adults with excitement and fill the room month after month. Roundtables are a keystone in keeping leaders updated with the latest supplemental training and activities in the district and council. July 13–19

Strictly for the Troop Committee

This course is designed specially for the troop committee chairman and members. Learn how to recruit troop committee members, how to train them, and how to keep them engaged in the many functions of the troop. Your Scoutmaster will thank you for attending this course. June 15–21

Developing Supplemental Training Courses

Come be a part of a team that develops lesson plans for future supplemental training modules. The team will select a subject, develop the lesson plan, and present it to the class. This hands-on experience will be challenging and fun, and you will take home some new skills to use in your council. June 15–21

Building Strong Scout Troops

Come join the fun as we explore ways to offer the young men in our communities ways to be a part of the great adventure. This conference will focus on strategies for increasing the number of youth who want to join the program and what we can do to keep them in the program after they join. June 1–7

Geocache and Scouting

This new course teaches leaders how to use geocaching to enhance their council, district, or troop activities. Participants will learn to use GPS technology to add excitement to their activities while supporting the traditional values of Scouting. June 15–21

Youth Leadership Training Continuum

Learn how to get the most out of the three youth leadership training courses in your troop or team. This course covers the details of the Troop Leadership Training modules and prepares Scouts to attend National Youth Leadership Training and the National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience offered only at Philmont. June 8–14 and June 15–21

Order of the Arrow Adviser Training

Through this session, advisers will become familiar with and understand the fundamental need for the Lodge Leadership Development Conference. The training is designed to orient lodge and chapter leaders to the work of the lodge and how it can function to fulfill the mission and purpose of the Order of the Arrow in the local council. June 15–21

Strictly for Scoutmasters

Scoutmasters discuss proven and new methods for enhancing their troops. Subjects include making boy-led troops a reality, the new youth leader training, strengthening the patrol method, making Scouting available to more boys, new high-adventure opportunities, and games and processes for making ethical decisions. Only Scouters who are Scoutmasters should register for this course. June 1–7, July 13–19, and Sept. 21–27

Teaching Basic Outdoor Skills

This conference is designed for district and council Scouters who are responsible for training adult unit leaders. The conference focuses on how to use the Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills training syllabus to help new Scouters become comfortable with their outdoor skills and effectively deliver the outdoor program. Participants will develop their presentation skills and learn about the effectiveness of various methods for presenting the outdoor skills training as they present short teaching segments and share their ideas. June 1–7 and July 13–19

Scouting and Conservation USA

A Scout is thrifty. That means that he is frugal in using resources. Come share in this adventure designed to help leaders teach Scouts how to develop attitudes and practices that will help safeguard our natural resources and ensure that the exciting outdoor experiences we have today will be available in the future. Implementing effective council committees and utilizing Good Turn programs and the Hornaday Awards program will be included. Participants will receive a Conservation USA project leader certificate. Sept. 21–27

The Trainer’s EDGE™

Leadership training is a major part of Scouting, and this new training session will teach trainers how to conduct an effective training session. The course will include an opportunity to prepare and conduct presentations and demonstrate skills. This course will be especially useful for those serving on the training staffs of Wood Badge and leader-specific training courses. June 15–21 and Sept. 21–27

Troop Operations

A successful troop does not happen by accident. Come and explore the factors that must be coordinated to make a troop work effectively for everyone involved—especially the Scouts. In this conference we will look at the interactions between Scoutmaster and Scout, Scoutmaster and troop committee, and Scout and troop committee. Ideas will be shared about how adults who work with a troop can support each other and how to better involve parents in the troop program. June 1–7 and July 13–19

Ethical Leadership—The Oath and Law in Action

Helping young people develop the strength to live lives based on the ideals expressed in the Scout Oath and Law is a challenging task. This conference will make every activity a learning experience that reinforces the positive results of using Scouting’s values. Come learn how Baden-Powell designed the Scouting program to develop positive character traits in young men who are growing up in a challenging world. June 1–7

High-Adventure Trek Planning

This conference is designed to help prepare council, district, and unit Scouters for developing and implementing high-adventure programs for Scouts. The conference includes topics of safety, liability, travel permits, transportation, and pre-trek training. The conference will include planning and conducting a backcountry trek during the week. The conference also involves backpacking and requires that each participant pass the Philmont backcountry physical. Strong Boy Scout camping skills are a prerequisite for participation. (Participants will not have an opportunity to be with their family during the week.) Sept. 21–27

Wilderness First Aid

This conference is designed to teach participants how to deal with first-aid situations in remote settings. Participants will be issued a Wilderness First Aid—Basic training certificate from a recognized first-aid agency. Participants will experience scenarios staged in the Philmont backcountryand practice evacuation methods. Due to the level of physical exertion required for this conference, participants must be in good physical condition and pass the Philmont backcountry physical. Sept. 21–27

The Philmont Leadership Challenge

Beyond Wood Badge! The Philmont Leadership Challenge brings Wood Badge skills to life in a majestic Philmont setting. Just as NAYLE hones and expands upon skills Scouts learn in NYLT, the Philmont Leadership Challenge takes adult leadership to an exciting new level through experiential learning. The Philmont Leadership Challenge simultaneously immerses you and your team in challenging scenarios that require the application of Wood Badge leadership skills for success. Learn to inspire, motivate, and help others succeed. Prerequisite: Must have completed Wood Badge for the 21st Century and meet Philmont’s Level A physical requirements. Sept. 21–27

National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience What Is NAYLE? National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) is an exciting new program that invites young men to enhance their leadership skills in the Philmont backcountry. Scouts will expand upon the team-building and ethical decision-making skills learned in National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT). The course incorporates Philmont ranger training elements and advanced search-and-rescue skills to teach the lessons of leadership, teamwork, and selfless service. NAYLE will offer Scouts an unforgettable backcountry wilderness experience in which they live leadership and teamwork, using the core elements of NYLT to make their leadership skills intuitive. What Can You Expect? The Philmont leadership staff is committed to making NAYLE a special experience for as many Scouts as possible. Scouts will live in a patrol setting at Rocky Mountain Scout Camp, where they will use their leadership skills to resolve exciting backcountry challenges. The weeklong training concludes with a closing challenge for each Scout to build upon the legacy of Waite Phillips, the benefactor of Philmont Scout Ranch. What Are the Benefits? NAYLE is designed to strengthen troop youth leadership and help build superior NYLT and camp staffs. It will guide Scouts along their journey to become true servant leaders equipped with the skills to develop any team--now and in the future. How Has the BSA Youth Training Mission Changed? NYLT allows councils to develop high- performing youth training teams by offering the train-the-trainer elements previously available only to the select few who attended the old National Junior Leader Instructor Camp at Philmont. While the NAYLE program has removed those train-the-trainer elements, all the excitement remains--and even greater, lifelong leadership skills have been included. Who Can Come? To participate in a NAYLE course, Scouts must be 14 and not yet 18, have held a troop leadership position, and have completed NYLT. Councils may send a council contingent, or troops may send their patrol leaders' council. Philmont offers concurrent training for adult contingent leaders during most weeks of the NAYLE course. Where and When Is It? Weeklong sessions at Philmont's Rocky Mountain Scout camp are scheduled for June 15–21, June 22–28, June 28–July 4, July 5–11, July 13–19, July 20–26, July 27–Aug. 2, and Aug. 3–9.

Driving Directions

Philmont Scout Ranch is located in northeastern New Mexico, at the transition between the high plains and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The village of Cimarron is the gateway to Philmont. The village contains several small hotels and restaurants, a post office, gas stations, a bank, and several galleries and special-interest shops. For more information and accommodations, contact the Cimarron Chamber of Commerce at 505-376-2417.

When to Arrive

If you are in a conference, we suggest you arrive a day early and stay in either Raton or Cimarron so you can see the sights and enjoy the area. There are no accommodations at Philmont Training Center for early arrivals.

By Car

Driving cross-country to Philmont is a great experience. Depending on your available time and energy, the historical, cultural, and camping opportunities in northeast New Mexico add up to a great supplement to your Philmont experience. The map to the right should give you an idea of the general location of the ranch, but we recommend referring to an atlas or detailed map for your trip.

From Denver or Colorado Springs:

Go south on Interstate 25 to Raton, New Mexico (17 miles south of the Colorado border), over the Raton Pass. Four miles south of Raton, take exit 446 onto Highway 64, and drive about 40 miles west to Cimarron.

From Albuquerque:

Go north on Interstate 25 about 200 miles to Springer, New Mexico. Six miles north of Springer, take exit 419 onto Highway 58, and drive about 20 miles west to Cimarron. Turn left onto Highway 64, toward the State Highway 21 intersection.

From Taos:

Head east on Highway 64 toward Angel Fire and Eagle Nest. This route takes you through some of the beautiful mountain areas that make northeast New Mexico a top vacation destination. From Eagle Nest, travel 34 miles east on Highway 64 to Cimarron.

When you reach Cimarron:

Turn south onto State Highway 21 and drive approximately 4 miles to Philmont Scout Ranch. As you enter Philmont property, look for the Philmont Training Center sign and turn left on Orchard Drive, just before the Villa Philmonte.

We look forward to seeing you at the Philmont Training Center!