Silver On the Sage

Troy credits Philmont for diversity exposure, alongside an environment of staff camaraderie and solidarity.  He shares numerous stories including the Flip SAR incident, the Cypher's Mine Dirty Boys,  and a tobasco donkey spa day gone wrong.  

Philmont Experience:

1986 - NJLIC (the National Junior Leader Instructor Camp)
1987 - Rayado participant 
1988 - Trail Crew participant
1989 - CHQ Trading Post Staff
1990 - Ranger
1991 - A-team / Ranger
1993 - PC Cypher’s Mine
1994 - ACD Beaubien 
2025 - Scouts, USA Professional Staff Reunion 

Notable Mentions:

Nancy Nelson

Hunter Seim

Tiffany Stoeber

Kelly Peterson

Karl Dawes

Dirty Larry McLaughlin 

Support the show

Today I chat with third generation Philmonter, Will Kemple-Taylor.  Both his grandparents and parents worked at the ranch.  And He grew up creek stomping in the Uracca, building forts in scrub oak, and embodying the notion of wild and untamed.  

In this special episode to kick off summer, Will chats about youthful pranks gone wrong, the good vibes of backcountry shows, award winning Camp Directors, epic Phil-fiestas, a surprising twist after returning late from days off, the orchestration of scatter, and more.

Philmont Experience

2001 - Trek participant

2003 - Maintenance

2006 - PC Beaubien

2007 - PC Pueblano

2014 - Bear Researcher

Notable Mentions

Robin Tate Walters (formerly Taylor)

Rod & Patty Taylor

Jim Taylor

Ry Taylor

Mark Griffin

Kirsten Anderson

Mathias Olson

Dawson Enloe

Mark and Linda Anderson 

Dave Kennke

Steve Rick

Keith Walters

Bucko Cowden

Sal Huddleston

Laney Williams

Carter Johnson

David Yoshida

Karl Zensen

Phil Lewis

Bryce Blankenship

Austin Best

Will Bar

Sal

Slim Uribe Goertz

Mark Emde

David Burchfield

Gretchen Kemple-Taylor

Dave Werhane

Bob Rickleffs

Sarah Burgess

Benjamin Phillip Carluche

Paul and Katherine Bearenson

Support the show

Max Wang is a life long-Scouter and Eagle Scout.  His scouting journey has taken him from one cost to another, and today he continues to be active in Sea Scouts in Arlington, VA.  Max recounts impactful stories from his time on trek as a participant, and highlights the various transferable skills he learned while working in Logistics in 2017 - including emergency management and incident command.  All of which he utilized when he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard.  

Philmont Experience

2012 - Trek participant

2014 - OA Trail Crew

2017 - Logistics Staff

Notable Mentions

Eric Martinez

Regina Engle

John Mark Lampley

Josiah Devoe

Sid Covington

Sara Sutter

Cory Mullens

Grant Reigleman

David O'Neill

Tom Guigni

Mark Anderson

Nate Lay

Support the show

Mark joins the show to highlight the sustainable impact and dedicated work that the Philmont Service Corps has accomplished throughout the last year and a half.  In the second portion of our conversation, Mark shares a collection of stories from his many, many experiences at Philmont Scout Ranch.

Philmont Experience: 

Trek - 1978 1979 1991 2022
Rayado Trek - 1980

1981 Food Service
1982 83 Ranger
1984 Miners Park PC
1985 Head Rock Dean Cow
1986 88  CD Miners Park
1987 CD  Cimarroncito
1989 CD Ponil

PSA Trek 1992 93 95 97 98 99 2000 01 03 05 06 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 19 21 23
PSA Service Corps Fall and Spring 2024
PSA Life Member
Member of Scholarship Committee
Past PSA Director

Notable Mentions:

Harry Owens

Pierce Ramsey

Betty Pechaco

Ken Block

Dr. Van Allen 

McCarthy Sisters

Joey Fernandaz

Tom Washburne

Sam and Lucky Fannama

Joy and Willa Pendley

Mitch Standard

Dave Schweer

Joe Schmit

Doug Palmer

Holly Schweer

Kat Hansen

Steve Harmony

Joe Leiz

Charlie Aldredge

Tim Gremiger

Badger Cook

Cliff Wagey

Dean Tooley

Gary Richards

Support the show

Today I want to highlight a parent perspective of the impact that Scouting can have on ones family.  Specifically the family of Tom and Georgia Stoeber. Tom is a 60 year veteran of the BSA, including 25 years working as a Scouting professional.  The values of Scouting and, in particular participating in Philmont treks - gave their children leadership skills, a can do attitude, confidence to engage in conversation, share new ideas, place high value on volunteering, and more.  

Rayado Rose: The Roberta Birdie Jayne Scholarship

Philmont Experience:

1992 & 1994 - PTC Key Three Training 

1994 - PTC Family Camp 

2001 - OA Conference

2016 - Central Region Retirees Reunion 

2023 & 2025 - National Professional Retirees Reunion

Notable Mentions

Dirty Larry

Dean Tooley

Gretchen Stoeber

Troy Stoeber

Bonita Tooley

Clyde Mayor

Harold White

Support the show

Molly Gatewood joins the show to highlight the important work of the Philmont Training Center Housekeeping department.  From bathrooms and luxury tents to the mailroom and Villa Philmonte, the housekeeping staff at Philmont is integral in delivering quality experiences for participants and staff alike.  As an avid Scouter - Molly praises the organization for creating opportunities for  youth to build character, learn new skills, socialize, travel, and grow in confidence. 

Philmont Experience:

2019 - Trek participant

2024 - PTC Housekeeping

Notable Mentions:

Marlin Fuentes

Ben Jenkins

Support the show

Today Arizona Duff joins the show.  She discusses her first experience on trek, navigating the fundamental challenges and shifts that occur while on the trail.  Namely - several moments at Cypher's Mine where she began to feel the love of the Philmont staff family, as they invited her onto the stomp stage to play a tune.  

Fast forward to 2018 - Arizona examines her journey in Timber Stand Improvement and becoming a certified Sawyer.  The experience grew her appreciation for the work it takes to be good stewards of this land we all love and share.

Today, Arizona is working towards a PhD studying the history of work and labor music. She praises the Philmont music culture as a tool to share - not only history, but also encourage staff and participants to process feelings.  

Philmont Experience:

2014 - Regular Trek (South Country) 

2015 - Rayado (1st session) 

2016 - Hired TBA, Assigned PC Abreu 

2017 - Ranger 1 

2018 - Cypher's Mine / TSI Sawyer 

2019 - CD French Henry 

2020 - Hired as CD Pueblano (COVID)

2021 - Hired as CD Pueblano (Had to decline due to family medical needs) 

Notable Mentions:

Claire Ficke

Bernard / Alex

Katie Garrett

Maggie McCulloch

Jenna Trione

Marie Montegeau

Lauren Wendell Thomas

Michael Brown

Paul French

Tucker Baker

Trevor Lombardi 

Anna Washburne

Sara Kopsa

Emily Bergman

Amber Hollum

Bailey Colson

Elizabeth Doyle

Anna Krune

Kevin Becker

Spencer Harsh

Rachel Henneg

Brian Stokes

Jake Trione

Anne Mary

Drew Chapman

Regina Walker

Adam Graves

Jessie Nelson

Keagan Finger

Colleen McCulloch

Ellyn Washburne Rager

Will Garrison

Evan Stark Dykema

Support the show

This year, 2025, the Philmont Training Center will celebrate 75 years of service as the National Volunteer Training center for Scouting America.  To commemorate this milestone, PTC staff and volunteers are planning a summer long celebration including a special anniversary week from June 29 - July 5.  Today, Dennis Kampa and Nancy Farrell share details, schedules, history and more.

Dennis Kampa email: [email protected]

PTC 75th Anniversary information

Philmont Training Center 

The Calico Stray

The Other Side of the Road: The Story of the Philmont Training Center - originally published in 2009 (a revision will be published soon).  All proceeds have gone, and will continue to go to the Philmont Staff Association.

Support the show

Today Kara Noonan Stevens joins the show to share her experiences on staff in the 90s and on staff last summer at the Welcome Center.  She describes the Welcome Center as "Philmont's Front Porch."  It's where all crews begin their Philmont journey, and hence makes an important first impression.  It's also a place where Welcome center staff can work hard and be able to relax enough to realize that its a good thing to not always be busy or hurried.  That you in fact can sit and watch the world go by.

Episode Sponsor: Tom Munch

Philmont Experience

1990 - Ranger / Rayado / Mountain Trek / Rent-A-Ranger

1991 - Training Ranger

1992 - CD Dan Beard

1993 - CD Crooked Creek

Notable Mentions:

Steve Hood

Jenny McMann

Cindy Werhane

Terri Heimern

John and Jenny Craig

Buddy Morse

Bryce Stevens

Ellwyn Stevens

Tim Rosseisen

Nick Bliss

Tom Munch

Support the show

Dan and Karen Ashton met at Philmont in 1977, and recently celebrated 31 years of marriage.  Their story is untraditional and adventurous - much like the paths we traverse in the rugged backcountry hills.  The couple shares stories as though we were casually grouped around a campfire, like old friends do.  

Philmont Experience Dan:
1973 & 1974 – Trek participant
1975 – Kit Carson Man Trek
1976 – CHQ Dining Hall
1977 – Beaubien Cook

Philmont Experience Karen:
1975, 77, & 78 – Trek participant
1979 – CHQ Trading Post
1983 – PTC Trading Post Assistant Manager
1984 – PTC Tranding Post Manager
2019 – Museum Docent

Notable Mentions:
Henry Wicksen
Charlie Aldredge
Doug & Betty Palmer
Bill Tate
Hans Peterson
Rod Taylor
Steve Zimmer
Dave Kenneke
The Otts
Dean Tooley

Support the show