GSLAC Philmont and Back-Country Leadership Skills Training for Crew Leaders and Advisors

October 9-11, 2026
April 23-25, 2027

S bar F Scout Ranch, Knob Lick, Mo

If you are headed to Philmont Scout Ranch for the first time or haven’t hiked there in several years, this course may be for you. First-time Philmont Crew Advisors, this training will jump-start your ability to prepare your crew for a peak Philmont trek. For Crew Leaders, we will provide tools for you to you’re your crew through your mountain trek. Through practical hand’s-on training, this course will give you the skills and confidence to prepare your crew for its Philmont adventure! If Philmont is in your distant future and you want to learn how to backpack the Philmont way, this training will get you started.

The course begins Friday night at Camp Gamble, checking gear, organizing into crews, and reviewing our route. Saturday morning we will load our packs and start our overnight backpacking hike on the Three-Notch Trail to Camp Sakima. You will learn how to plan/train, manage risk, select and use equipment, get physically fit, keep clean and healthy on the trail, navigate using map and compass, plan food and nutrition for shakedown/practice weekends, treat water for drinking, and build your crew into a performing team. Sunday we will return to Camp Gamble for course wrap-up, debrief, and dismissal.

For the October course, we will start the Friday session at 7pm October 9 at Northstar Pavilion, Camp Gamble. We will be complete by 12:00p Sunday October 11. You must register for this course no later than October 2, 2026. Class size is limited to 20 adult Scouters and Scouts/Venturers age 14 and older. We need a minimum of four participants to conduct this class, because it is based on learning to apply high adventure leadership skills in a crew, so encourage your older Scouts and other leaders to participate with you. Participants must bring a current Annual Health and Medical Record Parts A and B Form 680-001.

Bring equipment on the attached personal gear list. If you don’t have equipment listed, please contact us—we have some packs and tents available for this weekend. Your course fee includes all food (Friday night light cracker barrel, Saturday breakfast/lunch/supper, Sunday breakfast) and crew gear.

Dates: October 9-11, 2026
            April 23-25, 2027

Location: S-F Scout Reservation/Camp Gamble

Time: Friday 7:00 pm through Sunday 12:00 pm

Course Fee: $55/person

Class size: 20 maximum / 4 minimum

Who: Adult Scouters and Scouts/Venturers age 14 and older.

Bring: Health form A and B. Gear List on registration page.

Contact: Jon Jonas, Council High Adventure Committee Chair j.jonas@att.net 618.806.7974