Just Figuring It Out

I have survived my first backcountry round of training. This trip was short, only 2 days, 2 nights. To those of you who are familiar with Philmont, we started at Cito Turnaround, spent our first night at Aspen Springs and our second night at Window Rock before returning to the same turnaround this morning. To those of you who are not familiar, this is a very cool place on the ranch and getting to camp at Window Rock is pretty unique. We spent a lot of time teaching all seven LNT principles with a partner and refreshing our memories on all other sorts of backpacking rules/etiquette. The hiking in and of itself was not too hard and it was a nice reintroduction to the backcounty.

Almost all of the other Environmental Educators have been on Philmont staff before and I am the youngest in the group. There is so much backcountry knowledge and just an overall abundance of environmental knowledge. I know that I can hold my own and that I have been selected for this position for a reason but it can be a bit intimidating. I am trying my best to absorb as much knowledge as possible so that I am able to full my position to the best of my ability. 

The person who I will be co-leading ROCS with is a third year returning staff member and has hiked every trail at Philmont. How epic is that? Not even remotely can I match her backpacking and Philmont knowledge, but I do my best to present a view of what ROCS has looked like and what we want it to look like. I'm sure our trek will be a hit because we both love coffee, both HATE spicy food (as discovered by the consumption of jambalaya last night and our mutual avoidance of Chalula), and we both love layering because we get cold easily. It's going to be a hoot.

I know that what lies ahead are crazy days at base camp, when the rest of the summer staff arrives and the quiet ambiance that surrounds me right now, will be disturbed with more staff members and eventually thousands of scouts. It will really be transformed. We also have more Conservation and Environmental Educator field training that I'm sure will be intense, as well as more training in base all without stop until June 9, our first day off. After that scouts will begin arriving and I will put into action what all this training taught us. Womens ROCS, which I assume will undoubtedly be the highlight of my summer, begins on June 30 and I am stoked.

I'm going to say this again, because the more the merrier; if any female aged 16-20 with any remote outdoor inclination, should really consider coming on ROCS this summer. It truly is an unforgettable experience. Email me for more information, rebecca.wiebke@gmail.com