In order for each participant, whether camper or advisor, to receive the Arrowhead Award and patch, they must complete three hours of conservation work under the supervision of a Philmont Conservation Staff member. There are multiple camper conservation project sites in the backcountry, and one will be included with your itinerary. The projects at these sites can include trail-building, erosion control, forest fuels management and even habitat restoration.
Required Items for Conservation
- Long pants
- Closed-toe shoes
- At least 3 liters of water per person
- Rain gear
- Lunch or snacks
- Necessary medications
- Crew leader copy
- The 10 Essentials for hiking at Philmont
Your Conservation Project
Conservation projects are assigned by time slot
- 7:30AM-10:30am
- 10:30AM- 1:30pm
- 2:00PM-5PM
When a crew first arrives at the conservation site for their scheduled three-hour slot, they meet with members of the conservation staff. The staff begins by sharing the project outline, which includes project goals and an overview of the work that needs to be performed. The staff will also review safety equipment and procedures, which are just as important as the project outline. Once the briefing is completed, the staff will pass out tools and the crews will go to work on their specified tasks with the staff.
The Work
The work done at the sites is physically demanding but can also be fun! Participants will cut trees, smash rocks and build new hiking trail at some of the most beautiful locations on the Ranch. Be prepared to experience land management firsthand and leave a legacy that you may be able to visit again in the future.
Crews will physically engage in conservation work and will also learn about the infrastructure and ecology of Philmont. It takes a lot of work to keep the land healthy, so experiencing that firsthand helps Scouts become more aware of how their actions affect the land around them.