August 3, 2021 – Waite Phillips once exclaimed, “Nothing worthwhile was ever accomplished without the will to start, the enthusiasm to continue, and, regardless of temporary obstacles, the persistence to the complete.” By the end of the summer, Philmont Scout Ranch will have served 28,229 participants hailing from all corners of the country at its Camping Headquarters and Training Center. 2021 was a monumental year for the Ranch and our operations could not have taken place without a truly collaborative effort between a tremendous amount of people. Each one of them was required to put forth will-power, enthusiasm and persistence to deliver the mission of Philmont and of Scouting. This includes all of our 1,400+ seasonal staff, 70+ full time staff, dedicated advisors, eager youth, passionate course instructors, diligent students, energetic families and of course, our gracious neighbors in Cimarron.
This summer required a commitment unlike any other. The challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic required many hours of extra planning and evaluation to ensure that Philmont’s summer operations were in the best interest of all. Thanks to the diligence of everyone involved, Philmont was able to prevent a mass outbreak, distributed over 31,000 masks, distributed more than 2,000 COVID-19 tests and welcomed new approaches to old methods.
Philmont’s summer staff was also particularly green this year. An experience gap from 2020 required that our teams step up to the challenge of new leadership responsibilities, reestablish treasured traditions and re-learn institutional knowledge.
While our mission to deliver wilderness and learning adventure that last a lifetime will remain consistent throughout the end of the summer, crew loads have already begun to decrease and some seasonal staff have begun to depart the Ranch. There are still over 4000 customers to be served but the final day of the summer season is August 22nd when the final crews will depart Basecamp. The largest departure of staff will be between August 14 and this time. A number of contracts will last through September 1st. Prior to this date, the Cimarron Shuttle to and from Philmont will end its daily service on August 15th with last bus running at 6:30 p.m.
The Autumn season at Philmont will still be ripe with opportunities and activity. The Philmont Training Center will be hosting upwards of 1,000 participants through a variety of conferences, hunts, BSA Family Adventure Camp and more. Autumn Adventures will also be running and Philmont will employ over 130 seasonal staff to support both its Camping and Training Center programs.
“Philmont Scout Ranch is excited to partner with the Cimarron community to offer world class high elevation hiking and outdoor programs to our participants,” said General Manager Roger Hoyt. “Our collaboration is a significant element to the overall user experience and a trip to Philmont is not complete without a trip to Cimarron. Whether that is food and refreshments, shopping or hiking around town and learning about the history of the area, Cimarron is an important compliment to all the experiences Philmont Scout Ranch has to offer. Thank you for your hard work and sacrifice to make our guests feel welcome.”
To read more about the impact Philmont Scout Ranch had on its participants this summer, visit philmontscoutranch.org to explore our archive of 2021 storytelling projects.