NOVEMBER 2015 7 STAN'S THE MAN! Philmont Training Center by Stan Wright

The Philmont Training Center (PTC) is the national Each year more than 6,000 Scouters and family members volunteer training center for the . attend PTC. It began operations in 1950. Boy's Life magazine conducted a survey asking Scouts what outdoor activities they would like to do. Number four on the list behind camping, swimming and bicycling was fishing. To promote fishing, Boy Scouts of America has come out with a new award: The Complete Angler. Any boy who earns the Fishing, Fish & Wildlife Management, and the Fly Fishing merit badge is awarded the Complete Angler patch. No other requirements are necessary: just earn all three merit badges, and you’re a Complete Angler.

We fished the Cimarron River that flows through Philmont The deer were everywhere throughout the camp, attracted Ranch. It's loaded with rainbow and brown trout. by the many apple trees. ■ The Philmont Training Center (PTC) is nestled in We were able to share ideas and techniques on the foothills of the Sangre de Christo Mountains of teaching the fishing-related merit badges. We are northeastern New Mexico near Cimarron. Rich in now certified as BSA Certified Angling Instructors history and natural beauty, this area offers exciting (CAI), and we are able to qualify other CAIs in educational experiences for the entire family. PTC our home council. has served as the National Training Center for After classes on casting, fly tying, key fishing the Boy Scouts of America since 1950. A variety knots and how to locate fish, we got to enjoy of weeklong conferences are conducted for unit, Philmont in the fall and fish the legendary streams district and council volunteers and professionals. and lakes in the backcountry. Many wild trout The PTC offers a full, organized program were caught and released. for every member of the family–from infants to I came away with knowledge on how to improve spouses. Family members are joined by others in our council’s fishing resources, find local expertise, their age group to participate in carefully designed, select correct equipment at value prices, and find age-appropriate programs under the leadership program help for Cubs, Scouts and Ventures. of trained and experienced Philmont staff. To me, the best part of attending the Philmont I was fortunate to attend the BSA Fishing Training Center (or any Adult Leader Training) is Train the Trainer conference facilitated by the meeting other scouters and sharing our knowledge BSA National Fishing Task Force on fly fishing. and love of . . . . Stan

Stan receiving his Certified Angling Instructor certificate from Ben Jelsema. Ben is Chairman of the BSA National Fishing Task Force and manages the National The CAI class is a minimum of 12 hours of classroom Fishing Program. He rewrote the Fishing Merit Badge instruction... but we had so much fun the 5 days just booklet and co-authored the Fly Fishing Merit Badge flew by way too fast. booklets (left).