A Tribute to Scouting's Past Cimarron Forum Gives Hope
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HIL EWS JUNE 22TH, 2018 P N ISSUE TWO A Tribute to Scouting’s Past Michael W. Michelsen, Jr. to preserve the 106-year history of Staff Writer the organization. When officials of the Boy Despite the questions that many Scouts of America announced in have about moving the museum 2016 that the National Scouting to Philmont due to its somewhat Museum would be moved from remote location, most authorities its home at the organization’s agree that the move to the area national headquarters in Irving, will accomplish an increase in the Texas to Philmont Scout Ranch, already promising numbers that expectations were high. And even are expected to learn about the though the move itself took more history of Scouting. than 18 months, the grand opening Just as is the case with most was a move that was cheered on museums, the new National by hundreds of Philmont staff Scouting Museum will display members as well as officials of only a small fraction of the total the Boy Scouts and other local collection that includes more A group of local residents and Philmont staff gather to discuss the effects of the Ute Park Fire at the dignitaries. than 600,000 artifacts. These Cimarron Village Forum at Cimarron High School on June 6, 2018. Ryan Soldanels/MPS Photographer When the doors opened to artifacts include more than 48 sunny skies there was still much original Norman Rockwell to do, with empty shelves and paintings, which tell the story of Cimarron Forum Gives Hope the early history of Scouting, and Sandra Lopez, one of the Public informed them that the Cimarron display cases showing little more Mark Cordeiro notebooks created and maintained Staff Writer Information Officers working to Police, with the aid of several other than lots of promise, but if the predecessors in New Jersey and by Scouting’s founder, Lt. Gen. The village of Cimarron and relay information from the front agencies patrolled the village for Irving would be any indicator of Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden Philmont Scout Ranch are, for lines to the people of Cimarron, 24 hours during the evacuation, the future of the Philmont location, Powell. all intents and purposes, family. Philmont, and beyond introduced ensuring the town was secure. the new site promises to do much Continued on page 4 Whatever happens in the area a slew of guests from all the The New Mexico State Police and affects us both. The highs, the parties fighting the fire: local New Mexico Game and Fish both lows, and everything in between law enforcement, fire divisions, helped with that task. happens to both Philmont and and Philmont Scout Ranch, Many of the other speakers at the Cimarron. The Ute Park fire was among others. Speakers like Paul forum conveyed a spirit of hope no exception. Sisters-in-arms, DeMerico, the Fire Operations along with crucial information Philmont and Cimarron weathered Section Chief with the Southwest about the fire. The Colfax County the fire and face the difficult task of Area Incident Management Team Emergency Management Office’s rebuilding together. The Cimarron reported on how the firefighters representative Thomas Vigil Village forum that took place on handled the fire. welcomed his friends and family June 5th reaffirmed the dedication “We were on the defensive until home before diving into the thick the two sister locations had for that rain storm came through.” of the fire’s impact. each other and gave Cimarron DeMerico reported. “But due to “This fire’s gonna affect us citizens and Philmont staffers a that rain and the higher humidity, for a long, long time,” he said. sense of hope. we were able to get on the “We’re looking at a 25-year plan, Well over 200 citizens and offensive and fight it more on our minimum.” scouts gathered in the gymnasium terms.” Part of that plan has to do with of Cimarron High School to Attendees also heard from local The ribbon is cut to open the National Scouting Museum’s new Police Chief Ryan Gates, who Continued on page 5 discuss their plan of action. building in Cimarron. Nick Castelli/MPS Photographer 2 | PhilNews PhilmontScoutRanch.org The Many Roles of Logistics Michael W. Michelsen, Jr. Registration staff. everyone safe and accounted for. Staff Writer Each crew has several options: But Hill considers the most they can reschedule their trek later important part of his job the sheath of There’s an old joke in the in summer 2018, schedule a trek laminated papers, called Pull Cards, military that’s told about logistics, for 2019, receive a refund or go to that describe in excruciating detail “Sometimes you aim high, a different camp or High Adventure what to do in a given situation— sometimes you miss.” It’s a Base. Camps in Colorado and one of which is a fire plan. Under funny joke to be sure, but in Texas, in addition to the other High the desk is a drawer full of forms the case of Philmont’s logistics Adventure Bases, have offered to that allows him to record complete communications coordinator, host some of the Philmont crews details of each event as it unfolds. Matthew Hill, missing is not an who can’t make it to a trek this “One of the most interesting things option. Hill’s job, as he sees it, is summer. Philmont has also been about my job is that I never know to aim high and hit his target every sending staff members to some of what is going to happen from one time. No time outs, no substitutions. those other camps to help with the minute to the next,” Hill explained. The clock begins running the second Members of Cabin Restoration work to uncover the original stone increase in participants attending “We have those days when it seems a radio call is made, and a situation patio at Chase Ranch. Jess McClelland/MPS Photographer each one. like everything we get is what we doesn’t end until there is a successful Figuring out the right option for call a ‘cloud sighting,’ which is completion of the mission. each crew is no easy task, but at the nothing of consequence. On the This is Hill’s fifth year at Working to Restore same time, they’ve developed a plan other hand—and you never know project closer to Base Camp: The Philmont, and as he sees it, the Mark Cordeiro to ensure they know where all the when it will happen—something Chase Ranch Porch. previous years of his service have Staff Writer staff members are while working like a fire or some other serious Chase Ranch was the first camp all been leading up to this one. Cabin Restoration is one in the backcountry. Each group that situation can materialize.” the team was able to access, so He’s done different jobs each year, of Philmont’s lesser-known goes out to work is required to take a By checking the Pull Cards, Hill they are tearing up the sod that was but working in logistics has been departments, but in the wake of radio with them and have it on. and the rest of the Logistics staff covering the original stone patio particularly interesting to him. the Ute Park fire, they’re quickly “After the Ute Park fire started,” know instantly what they need to do that stretched along the house’s east “Doing my job excites me,” Hill moving to take on a number of Hill explained, “we discovered that to make sure all bases of a scenario side. The team is also taking down explained in his office, full of maps, different projects to help the our systems could be improved are covered. The cards also list who the northeast wall of the back patio machines, and high-tech gizmos. Ranch. Spearheaded by Sheen in regard to our accountability needs to be contacted to remedy a and then replacing it to match the In front of Hill is a large telephone (Shawn) Carroll, Cabin Restoration methods. For the next month or so, problem. original structure. console, with a single phone sitting foreman, the department is usually when there is a work crew who goes Hill relies on a mix of experience The goal of their work is to beside it. Above him, on his left, is tasked with restoring and repairing into the backcountry, they must sign and the information on the Pull make the Ranch House as accurate a large bookcase with thick binders Philmont’s cabins, especially those both in and out to make sure that Cards to make sure that any time a as possible for Staffers and filled with resources, including maps modeled after historical sites. they are accounted for as long as call comes through on the radio, he Participants who want to take the and fire lookout information. On his The department’s original plan they are working. No matter what can give the right people the right Chase Ranch’s house tour. right sits the Radio Operator who for the summer, however, has they’re doing or how long they’ll be information. From then on, it’s a “Our biggest concern is to make is in constant contact with all the changed. gone, they must tell us when they matter of making careful records of the building look historically players when a situation develops. “Originally, we had planned to leave, when they plan to return, and what happened, where, and why. appropriate to their time period,” Just as is the case with nearly all do new structure work up at French when they actually return.