2026 March - April Edition

It was a hot June day at the climbing wall at the Philmont Training Center.  The sun was shining brightly, without a cloud in the sky.  The silence at the foot of the wall was anticipatory.  Everyone one was holding their breath watching a determined, sight impaired young girl conquer a very tall climbing wall. 

As Brooklyn neared the top of the wall using the adaptive chair and pulley system, she told those on the ground how beautiful the view of the Tooth of Time was up there.  When she reached the top, Brooklyn rang the bell and amidst the celebration told me I was her hero for being her friend and giving her the best day of her life.  There wasn’t a dry eye at the foot of the tower at that moment.   

If you’d like to experience a moment in time like mine or Brooklyn’s, the Philmont Training Center is the place to be.  Every summer, Philmont welcomes special needs Scouts and their families for a week of fun and exciting outdoor activities called the Zia Experience.  At the same time, Scout leaders from all over the nation join the families in many activities and learn how to bring an adapted outdoor program home to their councils, districts, and units during the Adaptive Special Needs Course.  

In both the Zia Experience and Adaptive Special Needs programs, Scouts and Scouters work together to experience many outdoor activities.  Each year the activities vary.  In the three years I have been a participant, I have experienced tours of Base Camp, riding horses at the stable, shooting BB guns, archery, and slingshots at Rifle and Target Activities, fly fishing, hikes, and some tasty campfire cooking with Philmont rangers and ZIA participants.   

Each morning of the conference begins with excitement over what activity is happening that day.  The Adaptive Special Needs participants join the ZIA participants for half of the day.  Then the ZIA participants go on more adventures with their families and a few rangers while the Adaptive Special Needs participants learn how to have adaptive programs at their home councils from members of the National Special Needs Scouting Committee.   

There is no place more beautiful and sacred in Scouting than Philmont Scout Ranch.  It seems fitting that for many Scouts who struggle with outdoor programs, Philmont is the location they experience the magic of hard work, determination, encouragement, and science.  I have been fortunate enough to watch that magic occur for three summers, and there is nowhere else I’d rather be.  It’s the high point of my summer. 

I highly urge you to attend either the Zia Program or Adaptive Special Needs.  The Scout pride and excitement you gain at these conferences are incredible, as are the friendships you develop.  I will be there this June, and I sure hope that you will be too!  What are you waiting for?  Registration is open so sign up today. 

When you think of National Camping School (NCS), you may know that it prepares summer camp staff for their leadership roles at camp. While that is true, when your outdoor committee and risk management leaders attend NCS, they can gain helpful skills, insights, and knowledge about how to develop your council outdoor programs to be innovative, safe, and effective.  

Here are a few examples of how the more than forty courses and twelve specialized sections can help: 

• Idea Sharing and growth: In every course you will share ideas with experienced Scouters from around the country, building your network of folks with area specific knowledge. 

• Qualified Instructors and Course Materials: Course instructors are deeply experienced outdoor program volunteers and professionals who volunteer their time to help you prepare for your Scouting role. Course materials are developed and regularly updated by our National Outdoor Committees to reflect standardized current practices.  

• Specific: Training sections offer certification in Aquatics, Trek Leadership, Long Term/Short Term/ Day Camp Leadership, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, COPE and Climbing, and Range and Target Activities. 

• Outstanding Settings: Our course sites are intentionally selected to showcase quality camping facilities around the country, at times convenient for school and camp schedules. Beyond the course content you will be able to learn from how others have solved facility, program, and business challenges. 

What staff and volunteers from your council should enroll in National Camping School? 

• Properties and Facilities: Before building that rifle range, dining hall, or showerhouse, NCS will help you understand program needs that affect your plans. 

• Conservation Planning: Consider how existing advancement and specialized programs can be leveraged to improve your properties. 

• Strategic Plan: Learn how to evaluate how your properties can/may be used before adding ideas to a strategic plan. 

• Camping Committee Chair: Learn how to support your long-term, short-term, and day camp programs as they work to meet ever-increasing legal and policy requirements. 

• Risk Management: Understand how programmatic requirements manage risk and keep your Scouts safe.  Consider how your council is following these requirements, how Risk Managers can help, or whether you should tackle that newly proposed program.  

• Program Committee: Ecology, Aquatics, Range and Target, Climbing, and Range and Target committee members can all gain program specific insights in our NCS courses. 

There is still room in our 2026 courses. To find your local National Camping School or experience NCS in a different part of the country, go to https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/national-camping-school/  for all the details. Email ncs@scouting.org with questions.  

Is Your Camp a Showcase? Want to share it with the country as an NCS Host Camp? 

Every year we look for showcase camps to host our National Camping Schools. For more information and to apply, click on the “Resources” button at the top of the NCS site OR click here to download the NCS Host Council RFP.

Join us at Philmont Scout Ranch for the inaugural Camp Collaborative at Philmont, a week dedicated to strengthening camps and properties across Scouting through practical learning, collaboration, and hands-on training. 

Participants will arrive Sunday, September 27 and depart Friday, October 2, selecting from a variety of courses designed to support the management, stewardship, and operation of Scouting’s camping operations. Many of the sessions will emphasize hands-on learning and practical skills that participants can take back and apply directly at their home camps. 

This gathering is ideal for: 

• Camp Rangers and Commissioned Scouters seeking annual continuing education 

• Council staff and volunteers responsible for camp properties and operations 

• Anyone interested in improving and strengthening their local camping operation 

Courses will include topics such as: 

• Capital improvements and property planning 

• Utilizing your camp for year-round and non-Scout business 

• Ranger continuing education with hands-on training in a variety of disciplines 

• Risk management and safety outdoors 

• Conservation and land stewardship 

• Marketing your camp 

• Wilderness First Aid Train-the-Trainer 

Registration will start on April 6. Additional details and course selections will be announced soon. 

Come learn new skills, share ideas, and collaborate with others who are committed to strengthening the camps that power Scouting. Time will also be set aside during the week to enjoy Philmont and experience the fall beauty. Questions? Email philmont.trainingcenter@scouting.org.  

“I do find that there’s a fine balance between preparation and seeing what happens naturally.” – Timothee Chalamet 

It’s baaack! A Scouting website that helps Scouts and leaders work through the steps needed to plan most outings or adventures. Known as “The Adventure Plan” or TAP, this site is made up of six steps called Waypoints. These Waypoints guide planners through the many details needed to plan a safe and fun outing as they weigh options, consider logistics, create an itinerary, anticipate challenges that may arise, and reflect on how it went.   

Links to Scouting literature throughout the site make finding answers to “how do we…” questions easier to find.  Along with a robust Resources section, this new tool is one every Scout and leader needs in their toolkit. Try it as your team organizes your next outing to help your Scouts “Be Prepared.”  

Check it out at: https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/tap/  

Special thanks to the National Camping and Trekking Committee for their dedicated efforts to create this user-friendly tool.