Philmont Registration for 1997 & 1998
John Bush (jbush@OKWAY.OKSTATE.EDU)
Tue, 2 Apr 1996 08:06:13 -0600
The comments on SCOUTS-L yesterday regarding the speed with which
Philmont reservations filled up for 1997 are in line with the experience
of folks in my area. One local Scouter used redial all morning and
finally got in shortly after 10:00 AM (Central Time). 1997 was already
full by then. Some of us locally had expected that 1997 being a
Jamboree year, it would take longer to fill up. I guess that demand for
treks has gone up so much that Philmont is going to be full even in
Jamboree years.
Yes, there must be a better way. But I really hope they won't repeat
the lottery fiasco in searching for it. My unit got on the waiting list
for 1995 via the lottery and stayed there. It made it difficult to know
whether or not to try to organize another kind of high adventure trip.
At least with the phone reservation system used for 1996/97 and now for
1997/98, you had the option to reserve for the summer after next when
the next summer filled up.
One suggestion made by a Scouter at our troop meeting last night was for
troops wanting trek reservations to submit them through their Councils.
I'm not sure I like that, but it would at least reduce the number of
people trying to get through for reservations at the same time. On the
other hand, it introduces another set of potential screwups. I'm not
sure I trust our Council office to be diligent in trying to get treks
for our units. (What, you expect me to keep redialing all day?!)
Does anyone know if Councils requesting contingents had to call in for
reservations just like units did? Did councils get any preference?
Meanwhile, my troop will be sending two crews to Sommers Canoe Base this
summer (1996) and then a crew to Philmont in 1997. At least we could
plan the Sommers trip and know that we had a 1997 Philmont reservation.
I haven't heard yet from our Committee Chair who was trying to call
yesterday for a 1998 Philmont reservation. I certainly hope that 1998
didn't already fill up this early!
John Bush
Committee Member, Troop 828, Stillwater, Oklahoma--plus other hats
When they tell you "it's only an hour a week," RUN!
jbush@okway.okstate.edu
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
