Philmont ’25
Expedition Number [ x ] | Reservation Number [ x ]
Dates (Including Travel): Wednesday, 17th June – Thursday, 2nd July 2025
Please review these important policies and other updates regarding the Philmont ’25 trip.
This page was last edited Thursday, 25th January 2024.
Intro
Troop 934 has secured a Philmont backpacking trek for June 20 – July 2, 2025. Check-in is on Friday, June 20 which means we will probably travel on Wednesday, 17th June in order to have a few days of fun with Blue Sky before the trek begins. The last day in camp is Wednesday, July 2 which means a travel day on July 3.
We have 12 spots which normally break down as 9 Scouts and 3 adult leaders. Per Troop 934’s Outdoor policy, priority for these spots will be determined by age, maturity, how active a Scout is in the Troop including popcorn sales and rank advancement.
Total Cost
The preliminary expected cost of this trip is $2,800/participant. This includes Philmont tuition ($1,565 for the 9-day trek), Blue Sky tuition (~$350), estimated airfare (~$600), ground transportation/baggage fees (~$200) and swag/incidentals (~$100). This amount will be due in full from every participant by 15th May 2025.
Please note – Unlike Seabase/Northern Tier, Philmont prices by the person; we do not expect individual tuition paid by each participant will go up if there are less than 12 participants. That said, the total cost of the trip is likely to increase if there are less than 12. This incremental amount (which is a moving target) will be handled as an additional payment to be billed in May ’24 and paid prior to departure. Troop 934 has always been able to send full crews to High Adventure and at this time we do not expect this trip to be any different.
Payment Plan
An earnest money deposit of $250 must be included with your application for a slot. You can pay the deposit online at the Troop’s Square store, here: OHC dba Troop 934. Per policy, if your Scout is not selected, the deposit will be returned or held for another High Adventure trip.
If you are selected, you will have ~$2,550.00 to go. Troop 934 is going to collect that amount in nine monthly installments of $285.00/person/month with the first installment due beginning of September 2024 and the final installment being due at the beginning of May 2025 such that the full $2,800/participant is paid no later than 15th May. Mechanically, we will issue everyone a Square invoice (grossed up 3.5%) and you can EITHER pay the Square invoice OR bring a paper check to the first regular Monday meeting of each month. The payment is late if not paid by the 15th of the month. When the participant is fully paid we will stop issuing monthly invoices to the individual.
If a participant does not want to be bothered with the payment plan s/he is more than welcome to accelerate and pay the entire balance now. As tuition must be paid to Philmont in installments there is no deferral of monthly payments due.
Fundraising
We are instituting a fundraising effort for all High Adventure treks on a trip specific basis. Please do not let finances keep you from applying for a spot on this roster. If a Scout wants to go and is willing to put in the effort to fundraise, Troop leadership will do everything we can to make it happen.
Refunds
Refunds of amounts paid for a Philmont trip vary based on when the refund is requested. Also, know that Troop 934 buys the cheapest possible airline tickets, meaning non-refundable; and Troop 934 runs High Adventure on a net-zero basis, meaning the participants are responsible for exactly 100% of the cost (and will be refunded the excess, if material).
- If a participant decides before 1st September to withdraw from the trip – no harm, no foul, we will refund your deposit.
- If a participant decides to withdraw after September 1st but before airline tickets are purchased – all money paid to date will be “locked” and cannot be refunded until a replacement participant is found and “catches up” on payments to date. No new invoices will be issued from that point forward.
- If a participant decides to withdraw after airline tickets are purchased – all money paid to date will be “locked.” The Philmont tuition will be refunded as soon as we are able. The remainder cannot be refunded until the replacement participant “catches up” on payments to date. As airfare is nonrefundable the actual amount refunded will likely be only the Philmont tuition. No new invoices will be issued from that point forward.
If you are going to withdraw, please send the Scoutmaster (Lee), the Troop Treasurer (Chad) and the overall Trip Leader (TBD) a confirmatory email ASAP so we have a paper trail. A verbal is not enough.
Other Matters
Shakedowns ALL “Philmont Shakedown Trips” (hiking trips in the year and a half leading up to Philmont) are MANDATORY unless cleared in advance with the Scoutmaster, Outdoor Committee Chair and the Trek Adult Leader.
Eligibility. Youth must be at least 14 years old and be physically fit enough for the strenuous nature of Philmont. We would like all attendees to be 15 unless the Scout is very athletic. Adults must be 21, meet height and weight requirements and must pass a High Adventure physical. An adult without medical professional training also must be Wilderness First Aid qualified.
Weight requirements: No participant can weigh less than 100 pounds. No participant can weigh more than 295 pounds.
Government Issued Identification. A suitable government-issued ID is required for air travel.
- For adults (16 and over) this means a NC Driver’s License that includes Real ID.
- If the top right of your NC driver’s licensee has a white star inside in a gold circle then you have a Real ID.
- For youth (meaning any youth that does not have a NC Driver’s License that includes Real ID) this means — by default — a US Passport (which is both unexpired and signed).
- Youth under 16 who are physically flying with a parent (meaning a parent is on the trip as a leader) are usually exempt from the passport requirement … but several times over the years we have experienced gate agents with contrary opinions.
Our past experience with gate agents says that all youth (regardless of age) must have a valid (signed and unexpired) US Passport for any trip that involves air travel to meet airline photo ID requirements. If you do not have a passport already please start an application ASAP.
BSA Membership. All High Adventure participants on the trip must be active members of the BSA. At present, not everyone on the trip is an active member. Participants who are over 18 and under 21 at the time of the trip must be registered as College Scouter Reserve and be current on Youth Protection Training (YPT).
SWAG. Troop 934 will design and produce a custom hooded sweatshirt and a t-shirt for this trip. If anyone is good with Adobe and wants to take the lead please speak up.