This year, 2025, the Philmont Training Center will celebrate 75 years of service as the National Volunteer Training center for Scouting America. To commemorate this milestone, PTC staff and volunteers are planning a summer long celebration including a special anniversary week from June 29 - July 5. Today, Dennis Kampa and Nancy Farrell share details, schedules, history and more.

Dennis Kampa email: denkampa@gmail.com

PTC 75th Anniversary information

Philmont Training Center

The Calico Stray

The Other Side of the Road: The Story of the Philmont Training Center - originally published in 2009 (a revision will be published soon). All proceeds have gone, and will continue to go to the Philmont Staff Association.

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Today Kara Noonan Stevens joins the show to share her experiences on staff in the 90s and on staff last summer at the Welcome Center. She describes the Welcome Center as "Philmont's Front Porch." It's where all crews begin their Philmont journey, and hence makes an important first impression. It's also a place where Welcome center staff can work hard and be able to relax enough to realize that its a good thing to not always be busy or hurried. That you in fact can sit and watch the world go by.

Episode Sponsor: Tom Munch

Philmont Experience

1990 - Ranger / Rayado / Mountain Trek / Rent-A-Ranger

1991 - Training Ranger

1992 - CD Dan Beard

1993 - CD Crooked Creek

Notable Mentions:

Steve Hood

Jenny McMann

Cindy Werhane

Terri Heimern

John and Jenny Craig

Buddy Morse

Bryce Stevens

Ellwyn Stevens

Tim Rosseisen

Nick Bliss

Tom Munch

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Dan and Karen Ashton met at Philmont in 1977, and recently celebrated 31 years of marriage. Their story is untraditional and adventurous - much like the paths we traverse in the rugged backcountry hills. The couple shares stories as though we were casually grouped around a campfire, like old friends do.

Philmont Experience Dan:
1973 & 1974 – Trek participant
1975 – Kit Carson Man Trek
1976 – CHQ Dining Hall
1977 – Beaubien Cook

Philmont Experience Karen:
1975, 77, & 78 – Trek participant
1979 – CHQ Trading Post
1983 – PTC Trading Post Assistant Manager
1984 – PTC Tranding Post Manager
2019 – Museum Docent

Notable Mentions:
Henry Wicksen
Charlie Aldredge
Doug & Betty Palmer
Bill Tate
Hans Peterson
Rod Taylor
Steve Zimmer
Dave Kenneke
The Otts
Dean Tooley

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Happy birthday Silver On the Sage Podcast! Today the podcast begins it's fifth year of sharing stories and highlighting the immeasurable impact that Philmont has had on all of our lives.

As of today, the show has totaled 95,000 downloads. We have aired 166 episodes, and reached audiences in over 13 countries, and 315 cities. I'm so honored to continue to host and produce this podcast, and to preserve the history of Philmont and her people.

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David is currently the Director of Wilderness Adventures at Northern Tier, and was formerly a Senior Associate Director of Program at Philmont Scout Ranch. During his thirteen year tenure at Philmont he implemented several new safety and risk management procedures, enhanced Philmont's shooting sports program, expanded backcountry instrument inventory, refined backcountry warehouse usage data, and lead the opening of Metcalf Station.

David praises Scouting for its recent inclusivity efforts - opening the program to all walks of life, and of course the lifelong impact it offers youth.

Philmont Experience:
1992 – Two Treks - participant
1995 – PC Apache Springs
1996 – PC Iris Park
2003 – PSA Trek. Hiking through the Ponil fire area.
2011-2024 – Sr. Associate Director of Program

Northern Tier:
2018: Trek with Troop 68, Cimarron (Ute Park Fire closed Philmont)
2024 – Present: Director of Wilderness Adventures

Florida Sea Base:
2017: Volunteer Staff – Post Hurricane Irma recovery team (PSA)

Summitt:
2017 National Jamboree Staff – High Adventure Booth Director

Notable Mentions:
Monty Gibson
Brent Smith
Jimmy Lowe
Denise Tony
Brent Smith
Chris Sawyer
Tony Chandless
Doug Lundsford
Donnie Lundsford
Doug Palmer
Mark Anderson
John Van Dreese

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Today we travel to 2012 when Jeremy Cunningham and I, along with several other phenomenal individuals, spent the summer at Beaubien - calling it our home. This episode is special for me because it's the first interview I've done with a fellow staff member. Jeremy and I chat about his one and only summer on staff - the family bond amongst co-workers, working hard to delivery a world class experience for Scouts and advisors, and working hard to enjoy ourselves in our youth - as we all should.

Philmont Experience:
2007 - Trek Participant
2009 - Trek Participant (crew leader)
2012 - PC Beaubien

Notable Mentions:
Jimmy Lowe
Kim Ford "Mouse"
Gentle Jeff Gamble
Ranger Shawn
Ben Moniz
Nate Nastase
Rachel Aguirre
Dylan McDermott
Van
Dan Edwards
Garrick Lancaster
Teresa
Hannah

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As we close out Season 8 of Silver On the Sage Podcast - I share with you an episode from the vault. In late spring of 2021 I interviewed my sister Claire Ficke. We had intentions to co-host the podcast that summer, but - had to delay the idea. All the same - this episode still holds relevance, meaning, and nuggets of wisdom too good not to share.

Philmont Experience:
2013 - PC Beaubien
2014 - PC Cyphers Mine
2015 - ACD Beaubien
2016 - Videographer NPS

Notable Mentions:
Austin St. George
Kreable Young
Devyn Healy (Hanselmann)
Caroline Davis
Nathan Ford
Tanner Shaw
Sam Anderson
Ellyn Washburne Rager
Tyler Minchow
Lucy Baker
Nicole Butler
Ted Cook

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In today's episode I get to chat with the current Director of Program at the Philmont Training Center, Maddy Houk. In addition to discussing what this new era of PTC has to offer, we highlight the success of a special project that Maddy is very passionate about - the Zia Experience. The Zia experience is a modified BSA Family Adventure Camp program focusing on giving Scouts with special needs and disabilities, their parent(s), family members, and caregiver(s) new and exciting Philmont adventures.

Philmont Experience:
2016 - PTC Craft Center Staff
2017 - PTC Assistant Program Manager
2018 - PTC Program Manager
2019 - PTC Program Manager
March 2021- Present - PTC Director of Program

Notable Mentions:
Davilyn McArthur (Rohr)
Caroline Olerich
Caroline Miller
Grant Reigleman
Shelley O'Neill
Nick Hutchinson
Danny Tucker
Amanda Martinez
Shelley O'Neill
Brian Seibert
Chris Werhane
Alisa Hightower
Nate Lay
Kevin Stickleman
Julie Still
Graeme Bagley

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