This is the home page for the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council’s Contingent treks to Philmont Scout Ranch.
Our Council has sponsored successful Philmont contingents since 2000. Currently, the Council is organizing contingent treks for the summers of 2023 and 2024.
The Council desires to make the Philmont experience available to units and Scouts that would not normally have the opportunity. With the difficulty in obtaining unit-based crew slots, we feel that the use of the Council Contingent is beneficial to all. The Council provides this as a service to units to help them enjoy the Philmont experience.
Philmont permits Council’s to apply for a block of slots for a “contingent” trek to Philmont. When the contingent is approved and the number of slots are known, the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council solicits crews from Council units (Troops, Teams, & Venturing Crews) to fill the contingent.
When the number of crew slots are known, they are allocated to Greater Tampa Bay Area Council units that sign up for the contingent two years in advance of the trek. The transportation, reservation, and check-in processes for the Contingent are arranged and handled by the volunteer Contingent Advisors working with the Council staff.
In general, for everything else, crews will function exactly as they would if they had reserved the trek directly. Each crew is independent from the other contingent crews on the trail at Philmont.
Contact a local Philmont Ambassador to schedule a presentation at your unit or event on all the options Philmont has to offer, including the council contingent each summer.
Philmont Ambassadors:
Have you ever wanted to stand on top of a mountain at the biggest Scout Camp in the World? Your chance has just appeared on the horizon… Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico, is calling.
Consider joining our 2023 Council Contingent Trek June 18th – July 1st, 2023. Our Council will be organizing the entire adventure for our Contingent in terms of airfare, shuttle buses, crew training, Trek selection information, Contingent T-shirts, and patches. Please note individual Scouts up to a whole Crew (Max. of 4 Adults & 8 Scouts) from Units can apply.
Scouts who have finished the 8th grade or are 14 years old at the time of departure can attend! To sign up for the 2023 contingent, contact matthew.hall@scouting.org GTBAC Program Director and High Adventure Staff Advisor. Payment can be made in person at the Council Service Center or over the phone (813-872-2691 x.101).
If you have additional questions, contact one of our Philmont Ambassadors: Sal Porto, Greg Papandrew, Jeff Smith
The 2021 Council Contingent to Philmont Scout Ranch left on June 20th, 2021 and returned on July 4th, 2021. 71 total youth and adults participated in 6 crews.
The 2019 Council Contingent to Philmont Scout Ranch left on July 4th, 2019 and returned on July 17th, 2019. 24 total youth and adults participated in two crews of 12 each.
