Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1941-04-04
LEARN TO CAMP"
A new SLOGAN
FOR THE SCOUTS

largest camping oTSanlzaClon'
The Philturn Rockymountain Scout
camp, probably the most unusual
camp in the United States, is tract
of 35,857 acres of wilderness noun
tain country near Cimarron, New
Mexico. Owned and developed by the
National Council of the Boy Scouts
of America it provides a wilderness
camping experience for Senior Scouts
whose experience and training quail
fy them for adventure similar to
those of the nations pioneers who es-
tablished the traditions and the his
torical background of the area.
The site of 55 square miles lies with
in mountain ridges and canyons ira
versed and hunted by Kit Carson, Jim
Bridger and other noted pioneer hunt
ers, guides and outdoorsmen.
The Philturn Rockymountain Scout
camp is a gift to the boyhood of the
nation. Waite Phillips of Tulsa, Ok
lahoma, presented the tract to the
Boy Scouts of America in the fall
Of 1888. "Philturn" comes partly
from the name of the donor and part
ly from the daily good turn" which
characterized Boy Scouts the world
over. Scouts of 81 states have al
ready camped at this new wilderness
paradise, some from as far as Ne
braska, Wyoming, Minnesota, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, New York, New Jer-
sey, Kansas, Iowa, Indiana and Illi-
nois.
Philturn is now a state game re-
fuge. Those who like to camp in q
primitive environment may see por-
cupine, deer, beaver, elk, fox, coyote,
wild turkeys and many varieties of
local and migratory birds. One Scout
identified So different birds there
last summer.
There is plenty to do on Philturn
camping expeditions. The 10 miles
of horseback and hiking trails of the
Sangre de Cristo Range of the Rocky
Mountains take campers to many
spots unmatched for scenic beauty.
Scouts coming to Philturn who
have never done any riding are taught
to ride before they leave the camp.
Philturn Rockymountain ScoutcampI
owns its string of crock horses"
horses trained to rocky mountain
trails, as surefooted as cats.
Scouts watch beavers building their
dams, tunnels, channels and their
homes along the south branch of the
Ponil River.
Along the North Ponil Canyon
walls Indian picture writings remind
twentieth century campers of an an
cient people.
With a little patience and some
work with a gold pan in the upper
reaches of the cout Ponil River, the
Scout camper may find flecks of gold.
Activities at Philturn include an
overnight horseback trip, three-day
burro pack trip and three-day pack
trip and an overnight trip to the Car
son National Forest. Six and twelve
day exploration trips include camping
at centers of special interest on the
Philturn area and experiences in sad
ding, horseback riding, burro pack
ing and back packing. The chuck
wagon serves hot meals in typical
cowboy fashion.
Numerous sights visited by Phil
turn campers include Mount Capulin,
5000 feet in elevation, said to be the
most perfect volcanic crater in the
United States; Cimarron Canyon with
it's palisades and scenic wonders; the
great Pueblo of Taos; world-renown-
ed ancient city and the home and final
resting place of Kit Carson; the Ice
Caves where water freezes even on
the hottest day of summer; Frijoles
Canyon, home of ancient cliff dwell
ers; Eagle Nest Lake, noted for its
trout fishing; the hideout of Black
Jack the desperate of bygone days;
and an old log skid, a primitive en-
cheering feat. From Burnt Noun
tain Lookout may be seen breath
taking vista of the surrounding coun-
try for miles in all directions from
the valley floor to Mt. Badly and 9th
er peaks.
The type of camping done at Phil
turn requires advance preparation
and each group is expected to meet
established camping standards. Tht
wilderness camp is inspiring Troops
to prepare for this high adventure
by months of camping experience il
their home area. Three years of hik
ing and Scouting back home enable
the camper to get the most out of his
visit to this national Scout wilderness!
camping area.
Philturn is open all year long under