2025 Philmont Leadership Challenge
Staffing the Philmont Leadership Challenge 2025
This August, I had the privilege of returning to Philmont Scout Ranch—this time not as a participant, but as a staff member for the Philmont Leadership Challenge (PLC). After participating in 2024, I was invited back to serve on staff, and I jumped at the opportunity. My own experience the year before had been so meaningful that I wanted to help provide the same transformational journey for a new group of Scouters.
The Journey to Philmont
I flew into Dallas on August 8th, where I was picked up by fellow staff members Steve and Scott. Scott and I had actually been in the same crew during PLC 2024, and thanks to months of Zoom meetings as we prepared as crew guides, it felt like picking up with an old friend.
The drive west took us through Wichita Falls, Amarillo, Dalhart, and Clayton, and finally into New Mexico. That night, we shared dinner with the faculty at the Depot in Springer before making the final push to Philmont. We almost had a run-in with a deer on the way in—a reminder that at Philmont, adventure begins before you even hit camp.
Staff Development Week
From August 9–16, we dove into staff development. Each of us prepared modules covering everything from Wilderness First Aid and Search and Rescue to Orienteering, GPS navigation, and backcountry cooking.
The sessions I led also included Servant Leadership and our capstone conversations, “Beyond Wood Badge.” These deeper discussions on leadership, teamwork, and commitment to Scouting were some of the most meaningful moments of the week.
Evenings were just as inspiring. We hiked out to Camp Hayward one night, where I stood beneath a sky painted with the Milky Way from one horizon to the other. My fellow staff member Ed gave us nightly lessons in astronomy, pointing out constellations and turning the New Mexican sky into a living classroom.
Climbing the Tooth of Time
On August 15, a small group of us took on the Tooth of Time, a rugged peak rising 9,039 feet. I’ll admit, I was intimidated at first—the switchbacks, steep inclines, and stretches of bouldering looked daunting. But with encouragement from my crew advisor PJ and the support of the other staff, I pressed on. Reaching the summit was an incredible accomplishment, scratches and all.
That hike taught me that sometimes leadership means showing up for yourself as much as for others—choosing to believe you can, even when you’re not sure.
Service After the Storm
Earlier in the week, a freak microburst had dropped baseball-sized hail on the Philmont Training Center (PTC) and Villa Philmonte. Dozens of cars were destroyed, and buildings were damaged. Our staff jumped into service, cleaning up broken glass, downed branches, and debris from the parking lot.
It was hard work, but also a reminder that leadership is about stepping in when you’re needed most. The cleanup gave us a shared sense of purpose before the participants even arrived.
A Milestone in Scouting
That Friday evening, I was awarded my third Wood Badge bead, recognizing my service on staff for PLC. It was a humbling milestone, made even more special by being surrounded by such an uplifting group of Scouters. The camaraderie of the 20 staff members—our small conversations, shared meals, and quiet encouragement—made those two weeks unforgettable.
Guiding a Crew
When the participants arrived on August 17, I stepped into my role as Beaubien crew guide, alongside Jove. Over the course of the week, we watched seven strangers move through the classic stages of team development: forming, storming, norming, and performing. By the end, they had become a cohesive, supportive unit, ready to take their experience back home.
Watching that transformation happen in real time was deeply gratifying. It reminded me why programs like PLC matter—not just for the individuals who attend, but for the Scouts and communities they’ll impact afterward.
Reflections
For me, this experience was a renewal of the principle of Servant Leadership—the idea that leaders exist to serve and elevate others. By investing in these leaders, I’m helping amplify Scouting’s impact across the country.
As I left Philmont this time, I felt immense gratitude: for the mountains, for the friendships, for the star-filled skies, and for the chance to give back to a program that has shaped so much of my own journey.