JanSport Partner Highlight - Philmont Scout Ranch
We recently had the opportunity to spend two consecutive weekends with long-standing partner, Philmont Scout Ranch in scenic Cimarron, New Mexico. Every summer, Philmont Scout Ranch sees more than 23,000 Scouts from around the country, where they take part in backcountry adventures. Throughout its existence, conscientious attention to low-impact camping techniques has helped maintain the Ranch's wilderness.
Wilderness Guia (Guide) Program
JanSport is proud to support the Wilderness Guia (Guide) Program at Philmont Scout Ranch. The program teaches Scouts the seven principles of Leave No Trace (LNT). When a Scout can not only show they know and understand the seven principles of LNT, but practice each one in their adventures, they are awarded the opportunity to purchase the Wilderness Guia Patch. Profits from this program are used to expand the sustainable initiatives of the Ranch. Since the creation of this program, more than $150,000 has been put back into the ranch in the form of a trash compactor, cardboard baler, energy efficient lighting, among other essential items in their commitment to Leave No Trace.
Pack Testing and Training
In addition to the Wilderness Guia Program, we provide training to the Ranch Rangers, Tooth of Times Traders staff and camp employees on how to properly fit and utilize JanSport outdoor technical packs. This has proven helpful in cases when Scouts arrive to camp with packs not fit properly or packed correctly. Select camp employees had the opportunity to test and provide feedback on several day packs and packs from the JanSport Outside collections. Some Rangers tested the JanSport Katahdin 70L on a 7-day wilderness excursion providing crucial feedback on how to improve its features. Our relationship with the Ranch and all feedback received (the good, the bad, and the ugly!) is an integral part in the development of outdoor technical packs for JanSport.
More about Philmont Scout Ranch
Philmont Scout Ranch is the Boy Scouts of America's largest national High Adventure Base. Its 34 staffed camps and 55 trail camps provide an unforgettable adventure in the high country along hundreds of miles of rugged, rocky trails. It is a bustling center for high adventure and training with both youth and adults taking advantage of the Ranch's camping, training and work programs. Most activity takes place during the summer, but Philmont also offers an autumn and winter adventure program.