Philmont offers two events next summer highlighting special needs and disabilities in Scouting: the Zia Experience and the training conference.
Philmont Events in 2021
New Scout Orientation and Beyond
New Scout Orientations are meetings held by Scoutmasters or Cubmasters with their groups of new Scouts. The meetings let Scouts and parents know what the ins and outs of their new Scouting unit entail. During the orientation, the leadership may discuss the frequency of meetings, the intent of activities, the rank requirement sequences, the outing... Continue Reading →
Supporting Adult Leaders with Cognitive Limitations
A scoutmaster recently asked the National Special Needs and Disabilities Committee about training for “Bob,” an assistant scoutmaster with cognitive limitations. “Bob” assists with simple tasks during daytime events and camp activities, but does not participate in overnights. “Bob” has completed Youth Protection Training (YPT), but not Outdoor Leadership Skills (OLS), which traditionally involves an... Continue Reading →
Tranquility Base: A Safe Space
“Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.” said Neil Armstrong as he landed on the moon, July 20, 1969. Tranquility Base, named by Armstrong, became a very famous area in the Sea of Tranquility during those exciting space travel years. You can just imagine it: how peaceful, quiet, and beautiful in its desolation. Fast... Continue Reading →
Special Needs at the World Scout Jamboree
Adapted from a report by Tony Mei, the Inclusion Advisor for Centro Mondial at the 2019 World Scout Jamboree. The 2019 World Scout Jamboree (WSJ) took place last summer at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia. It was the first World Jamboree to take place in North America since the 1983 Jamboree in Alberta,... Continue Reading →
Three Fires Council’s Wizard’s Academy
The following was reported by Sherry Herzog, a Three Fires volunteer and the Chair of Education and Training for the National Disabilities Awareness Subcommittee Scouts and Scouters of the Three Fires Council hosted a “Wizard’s Academy” in Aurora, IL, last May with the theme “The Magic of Seeing the Ability not the Disability.” We partnered... Continue Reading →
UPDATE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Zia Experience has been rescheduled to the summer of 2021. The Zia Experience: July 26-Aug 1, 2020 at Philmont Training Center. This is to be a Philmont experience for Scouting youth at all levels of functioning and abilities. Here is a flier: the-zia-experience-flierDownload
Adapting the COPE Challenge at Philmont
Last summer, Scouter Angela Glunt participated in the Philmont training course DIVERSEability and DisABILITY. Here are her experiences in adapting the COPE Challenge for people with disabiilities. Our class was approached by the COPE team and asked if we would be willing to participate in the COPE Course in order to help develop strategies for... Continue Reading →
Jamboree Joe
This story has been shared with Scouters nationwide by Charles Dahlquist, National Commissioner, in a recent issue of Scouting Magazine. Joe could be any Scout. This particular Scout attended the National Scout Jamboree last year. While we all face our daily challenges, Joe faces a lot more than most Jamboree attendees. He arrived with a motorized... Continue Reading →
Preparing for Summer Camp: Disabilities and Special Needs
Summertime means summer camp for most Scouts. Every Scout wants to take part and, more importantly, have fun. This takes preparation, especially for Scouts with special needs. The unit leader should take some time to think about each Scout as an individual and how each will react to summer camp routine. This is especially true... Continue Reading →
