A crew preparing for the shakedown hike at the Watchu Mountain Adventure weekend.

Philmont and Double H crews are youth led. The nine months of the Watchu Experience provides the information and opportunities to train them for that responsibility. Use the links below to help develop your crew into a well-oiled team, including topics on leadership, training, shakedowns and other team building items. The Sample Crew Development Calendar provides a suggested schedule of activities for preparing your crew. Tracking your crew's progress against the Crew Preparation Checklist will assure you have done everything necessary to prepare them. Many documents on this site are PDFs that require Adobe Reader. You can download the free software by clicking on the Adobe icon below.

Crew Organization 

• Organizing Your Crew - description of job assignments in a crew

• Rotating vs. Permanent Crew Assignments - pros and cons of the two ways to organize a crew

• Crew Leader - a job description for the Crew Leader

• Crew Leader Selection - how to select a Crew Leader

• Chaplain Aide - a job description for the Chaplain Aide

• Crew Reporter - a job description including examples and helpful contacts

• Advisor Responsibilities - a job description for adult advisors

• Thorns and Roses - a tool used to keep stress and strain out of your crew

Training 

• Lightning Safety Video - used with the permission of The Burn Center, Saint Barnabas Medical Center (Windows Media Player needed - not recommended for dial-up connections)

• Lightning Safety - guidelines for staying safe during thunderstorms

• Youth Protection - BSA Online Learning Center Web based training

• Risk Zone - Patriots' Path Council course schedule and information

• Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat - Patriots' Path Council training link or try 

  	Safe Swim Defense - BSA Online Learning Center Web based training and
  	Safety Afloat- BSA Online Learning Center Web based training

• Wilderness First Aid - Patriot's Path Council course application, schedules, and information

• Philmont memo on Wilderness First Aid training and approved certifications

• CPR & First Aid Training Schedule - Red Cross of Morris and Warren Counties or check with your local chapter

• Mountain Medicine - a practical guide to basic medical advice for hikers

Resources 

•  Crew Preparation - Boy Scout merit badges with relevant topics

• Preparing for Philmont - description of documents issued by Philmont for preparing a crew

• Shakedown Hikes - information to plan shakedown hikes

•  Favorite N.J. Shakedown Hikes - descriptions of local hiking trails

• Super Local Hikes - find great hikes in our area

•  GPS and Maps - GPS tools, data files, UTM coordinates, maps, local hiking trails and such

•  Rafting Outfitters on Pennsylvania's Lehigh River

•  50-miler Award - requirements and application

• Service hours tracking form for conservation projects at Patriot's Patch camps