Issue 562 – April 1, 2018

By AskAndy on April 1, 2018 in News

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BSA REVAMPS PHILMONT!

CIMARRON, NM – Following several years of nationwide conferences and planning sessions, the Boy Scouts of America will be launching major reconfigurations of Philmont Scout Ranch and Training Center this summer.

Here are some of the highlights of changes to come…

The famous “Tooth of Time” will be drilled out and converted into an inner-mountain dormitory for all Scouts traveling to the ranch for summer treks. Following Pueblo-style architecture, stairs and ramps will be chiseled into the Tooth for access to an interconnecting series of chambers where trekkers can camp overnight, stow their gear, and prepare for their adventures-to-come.

In addition to these unique accommodations, Philmont Training Center will be redesigned by Motel 6, Inc., eliminating the “tent city” while simultaneously creating brand-new “villages” of permanent cabins and conference rooms equipped with the latest in electronic audio/visual teaching aids.

A portion of Philmont’s “Back Country” will be converted by the Six Flags Corporation into an urban-themed adventure park complete with daredevil roller-coasters, “Zombie Apocalypse”-style running mazes, and other thrilling features for all ages.

A new food preparation factory will be constructed by the Yummy Buffalo Food Company to provide fresh, protein-rich meals for all ranch visitors.

Walmart will build a new 40,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art “High Country Trading Post.” This new addition will carry everything: trek gear, uniforms, backpacking refrigerators by Sub Zero, fresh garden vegetables, and more, all at great prices!

In Philmont’s “North Country,” Waste Management Corporation has agreed to construct what will become one of the very largest landfills in the northern hemisphere. This can be used by Scouts who want to work on Environmental Science merit badge (hazmat suits and breathing apparatus will be provided free of charge at the Philmont commissary for all Scouts with signed “blue cards”). In addition, the multiple tons of methane produced annually will be captured and sold, to help fund the BSA’s other high adventure sites in Minnesota and Florida.

The Alphabet Corporation (Google) has created “Virtual Trek” visors for up to 50 thousand Scouts per week. These will allow Scouts to “trek” up to 200 miles without ever having to leave their accommodations in the new Tooth dormitories.

The BSA has agreed to allow Elon Musk’s company, Space-X, to build a hangar, gantry, and launch pad for its newest rockets, as a way to super-enhance Space Exploration merit badge. Starting in the summer of 2019, Scouts will be able to stay for a week at Philmont, using the ground-based “virtual space-lab,” and then, on the fifth day, take an actual ride into space aboard the newest Space-X rocket, for only $2,499,999.95 per Scout (sales tax included) including accommodations at any one of the 4,100 new Motel 6 rooms plus all meals!

Thanks to a huge coal seam discovered in Mount Baldy, followed by the construction of a state-of-the-art coal furnace electric generating plant, Philmont will become the first BSA property in the U.S. to be 100% energy-sustainable.

So be sure to visit Philmont this summer, and experience “Scouting in the 21st Century” for yourself!

Happy Scouting!

Andy

About AskAndy

Andy is a Board Member of the U.S. Scouting Service Project, Inc.

Andy was recognized in 2017 as a National Distinguished Eagle Scout and Regent of the National Eagle Scout Association. He is currently serving as council member-at-large. His previous position, which he held for over 20 years (except for several years when he served as District Commissioner and Assistant Council Commissioner-Training), was Unit Commissioner. He has previously served as Den Leader, Webelos Den Leader, Cubmaster, Pack Committee Chair, Scoutmaster, International Representative, and--as a Scout--Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. He is a charter member and founding director of his prior council's Alumni Association and Eagle Scout Alumni Association, both established in 2001. He earned Eagle Scout rank at age 15, in 1957; two years later, he earned the Explorer Silver Award--at that time referred to as the "Double-Eagle." At age 16, he served on the National Junior Leader Training Camp Staff at Schiff Scout Reservation (at that time this was a salaried position). He also served on the Philmont NJLIC Staff in 2002, 2003, and 2004, and, later, on two Pilot Regional NAYLE Staffs. His recognitions include: Kashafa Iraqi Scouting Service Award, Distinguished Commissioner, Doctor of Commissioner Science, International Scouter Award, District Award of Merit (2), Scoutmaster Award of Merit, Scouter's Key (3), Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award, Cliff Dochterman Rotarian Scouter Award, James E. West Fellow (3), Wood Badge & Sea Badge. He has attended four National Scout Jamborees: Scout in 1957, First Assistant Scoutmaster in 1993, National Staff in 2001, and NESA Featured Speaker in 2014 and 2017. The BSA included his article titled "Frictionless Scouting Events" was incorporated into the BSA National Training Video, "Meetings of the District" for ten years. He is a charter member of the BSA National Advancement Advisory Board and has written multiple technical articles for the BSA Advancement Team's "Advancement News" since 2012. Read Andy's full biography

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