Working at the Ranch
This summer, I had the pleasure of working as a Ranger, or backpacking guide, at Philmont Scout Ranch. Philmont is a high adventure base owned and operated by Scouting America that began in 1938; since then, it has expanded to cover 140,177 acres of wilderness in the Sangre de Cristo extension of the Rocky Mountains in northern New Mexico. Through 7-, 9-, and 12-day treks, scouts from across the world get to immerse themselves in pine forests and canyons while learning about the rich history of the Native Americans, miners, loggers, cowboys, and geologists (such as Doc Mo) who have occupied the area.
I had the opportunity to experience Philmont as a camper in 2021, where I got to backpack with my brother, my dad, and 6 other members of my scout troop. Our trek was unfortunately marked by persistent rain, but I fell in love with the vast wilderness and the community of the ranch. After putting off my career as a Ranger to attend a class at the Field Station two summers ago, I finally committed to my dream of going back and working at Philmont this past summer (2024).
Through my position, I got to share my love of the outdoors with 7 crews of scouts and their leaders, including a group of scouts from my home troop in Connecticut, who I’ve gotten to lead and grow with since 2019. I also got to work alongside a scout who was part of my crew in 2021 and a fellow Wheaton student, as well as other former residents of Wheaton or my hometown.
A crucial part of being a Ranger is the department’s commitment to serving other roles on the ranch, fulfilling our motto of “Scramble, Be Flexible.” When we weren’t working with crews, we could be found on “work days.” While these often involved cleaning the bathrooms, washing the dishes, or extensive weeding, I was fortunate to participate in the GIS department’s “Fencus,” in which we bushwhacked (or ‘shwhacked) along existing fence lines that had been damaged in a recent forest fire. This task allowed me to better understand the intricacies of the ranch and grow in my GIS fieldwork experience.
While Scouting America is unaffiliated with Christianity, I was blessed by the work of Philmont’s rotating chaplains. As Protestant, Catholic, LDS, or Jewish religious leaders, these volunteers hosted nightly worship services and provided emotional and social support to any crews for which it was needed. Apart from this support, my experience at Philmont, and other time I’ve spent in the wilderness, has given me a tangible understanding of God’s love for His creation. The stars, forests, soil, and ecosystems are so vast, yet intricate, and we get to live among them!
One of my favorite parts of the experience has been the opportunity I’ve had since returning to bond with Doc Mo over our times on the ranch. As a scout in 1971, Doc Mo grew his love for geology in the canyons surrounding Baldy Mountain, where I would hike with my troop 50 years later!
Doc Mo (right) at Philmont, with his father Ronald Ned Moshier (center) and Earth Science teacher Mr. Robert Gross (left).
- Olivia Creighton, ES and Computer Science ‘26