A Scout is...
Scout Law in action on a Philmont Trek
By: Zoe Cranfill
Savannah Jackson of Crew 716 H says the scout oath at the opening campfire on July 17, 2022 at Camping Headquarters in Cimarron N.M.
Thousands of crews make their way to Philmont Scout Ranch each summer to partake in the magical experience. These scouts prepare for years by learning how to camp, backpack, Leave No Trace, and so much more. The most important thing they learn is the 12 Points of the Scout Law.
I followed sister crews, 716-H and 716-P, throughout their trek to exhibit how the 12 points are used on the trail. Many of the points are obvious in how they would be used, but others need a little more digging. Scouts have to use each of these points to have a successful trek. At the end of the trek, I asked each member what the most important point to them was, and they had a lot to say.
Watercolor By: Lorrin Wagner (Crew 716-P Lead Advisor)
Trustworthy
Crew 716 P look at the Philmont map before starting their hike from Clarks Fork staff camp to Shaefers Pass Trail Camp on July 26, 2022 at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron N.M.
Loyal
“Loyalty is the most important because it is always nice to know that your friends have your back and you have theirs.”
Julianna Williams
Crew 716-H
Ryleigh Melton calms her crew member, Gray “Ace” Wilhem's nerves before their conservation project near Crater Lake on July 20, 2022.
Helpful
Crew Advisor, Meghann Tillson, woke up early to cook the crew's breakfast near Crater Lake at Philmont Scout Ranch on July 20, 2022.
“helping people...there are very few ways to do it wrong, it is always good to be helpful, you’d be surprised how much it can affect someone’s life by just doing little things.”
Nick Wagner
Crew 716-P
Crew Leader Savannah Jackson fills up her crews waters at Crater Lake before going to their conservation project at Philmont Scout Ranch on July 20, 2022.
Friendly
Above: Lorelei Mitchell of Crew 716 H pets her horse at Clarks Fork staff camp before horseback riding on July 26, 2022 at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron N.M.
Courteous
"The most important point is courteous because there has been a lot of clashing between everyone, and everyone had to be courteous of each other because we wouldn’t have gotten past day two"
Jason Williams
Advisor- Crew 716-H
Crew 716 H watches as a wrangler at Clarks Fork Staff camp teaches them about horseback riding on July 26, 2022 at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron N.M.
Kind
Julianna Williams of Crew 716 H helps her crew mate Lorelei Mitchell put on her helmet for horseback riding at Clarks Fork on July 19, 2022, at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron N.M.
“Seeing the kids that you know interact with others is something special. Places like this are special because places like this allow that to happen”
Brian Mangum
Advisor- Crew 716-P
Obedient
Loralei Mitchell of Crew 716 H grabs a helmet to ride horses at Clarks Fork on July 26, 2022 at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron N.M.
Cheerful
Top: Alex Wagner of Crew 716 P falls of laughter as he reaches his campsite near Crater Lake at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron N.M. on July 19, 2022.
Nick Wagner of Crew 716 P cheers as he finishes his trek on July 27, 2022 at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron N.M.
Crew 716 P dance at advisors coffee at Hunting Lodge on July 24, 2022 at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron N.M.
Thrifty
716 P arrive to Hunting Lodge staff camp and look through the swap box on July 27, 2022 at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron N.M.
Brave
"Once they are here there it gives the scout the ability to realize he or she can be brave and step up to that challenge. This is challenging not just for scouts but for me as well."
Brian Mangum
Crew 716-P
Lorelai Mitchell reads an excerpt from her journal
Ryleigh Melton and Lorelei Mitchell worked together to saw a tree in half at their conservation project at Philmont Scout Ranch on July 20, 2022.
Alex Wagner helps to clean Joshua Taylor’s wound near Crater Lake at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron N.M. on July 19, 2022.
Clean
Reverant
Ava of Crew 716 H reads devotionals to her crew and 716 P at Shaefers Peak camp on July 26, 2022 at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron N.M.
"I can feel the same magic at Philmont"
Lorelei Mitchell
Crew 716-H
Lorelai Mitchell reads her journal entry from July 25, 2022 at Clarks Fork Staff Camp.
An excerpt from Lorelai Mitchell's journal from her time at Philmont Scout Ranch
Watercolor By: Lorrin Wagner (Crew 716-P Lead Advisor)
About The Crews:
Crews 716-P and 716-H helped me make this story possible. The two crews were sister crews who just met when they arrived at Philmont.
Crew 716-H is Troop 2 from Wichita Falls, Texas, and Blanchard and Marietta, Oklahoma
Crew 716-P is Troop 627 from Brandon, Florida.
Crew 716 H and 716 P eat dinner together on their last night on trek at Shefers Peak Camp on July 26, 2022 at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron N.M.
Watercolor By: Joshua Taylor (Crew 716-P)
I was not raised as a Scout, so the 12 Points were new to me. I wanted to do this story to dive into the Scouting world and see something so important to the organization. I now understand why these points guide the lives of all Scouts. These points are why Scouts are successful in the world around us. They shape young individuals into well-rounded, thoughtful adults. I saw this in the crews I followed, each member was continuously testing their ideals and always coming out a better person.