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The Watchu Experience was featured in the June
2004 issue of High Country magazine. Click on image to open |
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Each year in
November Patriots’ Path Scouts and Venturers begin nine-month journeys to
the Philmont Scout Ranch and the Double H High
Adventure Base, both administered by Philmont, in New Mexico . Along the way
their entire family and crew experience the exciting preparation,
anticipation, and training phase of these once-in-a-lifetime adventures, called the Watchu Experience. The Watchu Experience
will include monthly crew gatherings, four Advisor Briefings, a weekend of
crew self-evaluation called the Watchu Mountain Adventure, and much more.
Each expedition includes a fun-filled tour - the
front range of the Rockies in Colorado for crews going to Philmont, and the
Albuquerque area for Double H crews - prior to the backpacking
treks. This is described in more detail in the
Crew Member and Parent Guide provided to each participant
and the
Advisor Guide provided to each
adult advisor.
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Crew Member and Parent Guide |
Advisor Guide |
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Who is
Chief Watchu? 
Watchu was a New Jersey Native American Lenape Chief
according to stories told around Allamuchy campfires. Years ago
Patriots’ Path Camp Wheeler was named Watchu. When that name was changed
to honor a long time Scouter, we, the training team picked up the name.
These days it is only used by the Philmont Training team. We use it to
distinguish between Philmont and Patriots’ Path requirements,
literature, and regulations. Hence, a Watchu requirement is most likely
something our council requires and Philmont may not … as in “You are
expected to attend the Watchu Mountain Adventure in May”. The Watchu
Guidebook is generated by Patriots’ Path. The Philmont Guidebook comes
from Philmont … and so on.
Watchu Mountain Outfitters Trading Post
A variety of
Watchu gear is available to members of the Patriots' Path contingents -
click
HERE
to enter the trading post.
The Watchu Network
Chief Watchu communicates to the advisors of the Patriots’ Path
contingent crews by e-mail. Messages, called Watchu Grams,
include Bulletins and Alerts, Reminders, Requests for
information, Feedback, answers to Questions and, most
importantly, a series of Tips that crews in prior years have
found useful and enhanced their Philmont or Double H experience.
Each
crew is encouraged to create their own Family Network. Watchu
Grams of general interest to all crew members should be
distributed, in addition to crew specific messages regarding
meetings, shakedowns, and other crew activities.
If
you are missing a particular Watchu Gram, click on the button
below to see a list of all that have been sent to date. If
you are an Advisor and not receiving Watchu Grams, let
Chief Watchu know by clicking
HERE.
The Watchu Mountain
Adventure
Preparing a crew for the great adventures known as Philmont
and Double H can be many
months of fun-filled preparation, anticipation, planning, and teenage
scouting. Learning the skills of backcountry living, health and safety,
physical training, and backpacking are a few of the important areas every
crew must address.
The Watchu Mountain
Adventure (WMA) is designed to play a critical role in each crews'
preparation process. The WMA is held the first weekend in May. It is a
weekend of simulated Philmont and Double H experiences; including camping, cooking,
backpacking, and backcountry living. One of the highlights is a “rugged” 8-mile hike designed to test each crews' hiking readiness.
All crews and all crew
members are expected to attend. Often the Watchu Mountain Adventure is referred to as “a
mid-term exam” because Watchu serves to define the “gaps” between “where
the crew is in it’s preparation ” and “where it needs to be to
be ready”. It is a weekend of self-evaluation.
Each crew returns home
with a concrete list of gaps which must be closed during the remaining weeks before leaving for New Mexico. These gaps define the final weeks of crew
development and training. According to
Chief Watchu, closing the gaps will
assure a wonderful experience.
Use the
following links for additional information:
It is expected all
participants will find the Watchu Mountain Adventure challenging, exciting,
fun filled, and most of all, inspiring. Welcome to Watchu!
The information on this Web site
has not been approved by the Boy Scouts of America or Patriots' Path
Council
(NJ), but is provided as a service of the Patriots' Path Council High
Adventure Committee .
Page revised:
04/24/08
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