Conquistador Council

Archive for the ‘Camps’ Category

Wehinahpay Mountain Camp

Located in Potato Canyon, in the Sacramento Mountains, near Weed, New Mexico, Wehinahpay has been the summer camp of the Conquistador Council since 1927.  The first council Boy Scout summer camps were conducted at Pine Lodge, at the foot of Capitan Peak and in Ruidoso, in 1925 and 1926.  The name We-hin-ah-pay means “The Place Where the Morning Sun Gathers.”  At 8,500 foot elevation, the camp is in a valley covered by pine and fir forest, surrounded by national forest land.  A welcome change from the prairie heat and humidity, the camp has low humidity, cool breezes, and no mosquitoes.  Elk are common, as are grazing cattle, and one might see an occasional wild turkey or the shy coyote.  Bears are known to travel through the camp but seeing one is rare.

Want to camp in a mountain camp for change?  Check out We-hin-ah-pay.

Wehinahpay Winter Wood Cut

September 17-19 is the Wehinahpay Winter Wood Cut and other “fix up”  projects.

Contact the council service center at 575-622-3461 or email conquistador@scouting.org by September 12 to confirm your attendance.

The morning plan (Saturday) is to split and stack wood for the Lake Lodge and the Maddox Center for winter use.  Other projects include painting the interior of the cook’s cabin and the painting the floor of the Maddox Center. 

The afternoon is time for Scouts to enjoy being in the mountains.

Dowling Work Party Goes Well

It was a chilly, and sometimes rainy, weekend at Dowling Aquatic Camp, as more than 30 Scouts and adults gathered to help make the camp ready for the summer.  Projects included installing sheetrock in the dormitory building, cleaning around the exterior of the building, and checking and cleaning the boat equipment.  Scouts learned to “measure twice, cut once” as they prepared and then installed sheetrock. 

Thanks to all the Scouts and parents from Carlsbad, Artesia, and Lovington, who turned out to help with the project.

And a special “tip of the ol’ campaign hat” to Steve Massey who installed the framing and later returned to complete the taping and prepare the new wall for painting.

There are more tasks to be completed:  building decks for the new tents, cleaning the floors in the dormitory, moving the kitchen equipment back into place, and setting up the new tents and cots.  Scouts will be called on once more before Dowling opens for the summer season.

 

 

 

Winter at Wehinahpay

Over 170 inches of snow fell on Wehinahpay, with over 4 feet on the ground most of the season.  The snow is melting off, and little damage is expected, but campsite damage is unknown.

The county highway and the Forest Service road into Wehinahpay are in good condition considering the rough winter.  With the recent warm weather, the camp roads should be open soon.

During a recent visit, a reminder that this is fire season came when Larry Crawford, the camp ranger, was called to assist fighting a fire started by campers.  Earlier in the week a burned a large field near Mayhill.  The winter snows should make the camp green and lessen likely forest closure and fire threat.

Mountain Man Trails at Wehinahpay

Ever sit in camp and ask “what’s beyond that hill?” 

Scouts attending Wehinahpay this summer will have a chance to hike beyond the skyline.  They will hike the trails once traveled by Apaches, Conquistadors, mountain men, cowboys, and loggers through the Sacramento Mountains of southern New Mexico.

Trail hikes will begin on Tuesday evening providing time for Scouts to be in camp programs for two days and also acclimatize to the altitude.

Trail Hike 1, the ”Sunrise Hike, will be an overnight backpacking trip, Tuesday afternoon, spending the night on a high point with a sunrise view, and returning to camp to join troops going on other day trips.

Trail Hike 2 to Sacramento Lookout will be a two-night experience, also starting out Tuesday evening, and returning on Thursday, with one night on the trail and one night camping near the lookout, where there is good view of the night lights of El Paso.

Trail Hike 3 to Sunspot National Solar Observatory, with possible observatory program or facility tour, starting out Tuesday afternoon and returning on Friday.

All hike groups require two adult leaders (could be shared leadership among troops) and will  be accompanied by a camp staff guide.

Participants must bring sturdy backpack, good footwear, poncho, sleeping bag or blanket, sleeping pad,  1 quart canteen or water bottle, and other items listed in Scout Handbook.  Food will be provided.  There will be an equipment review prior to start of the hike.

Forest Service travel regulations will be observed.  The possiblility of forest closure due to high fire danger is possible.

Rim Trail Hke:  Troops may want to use Wehinahpay as the base camp for a longer hike on the Rim Trail, starting at Cloudcroft.  Contact the council service center for more information about “base camp” opportunity.  Or, with adequate troop leadership, younger Scouts may be in Wehinahpay camp program while other adult leaders take older Scouts on the Rim Trail.

Registration:  Sign up for one of the hikes prior to camp to help camp staff plan for adequate support (trail guide, water, meals, transportation).

For more information about Wehinahpay Mountain Camp or Dowling Aquatic Base, contact the council service center at 575-622-3461 or email conquistador@scouting.org.

Views of Wehinahpay

New Mexico National Guard Repair Dowling Road

 

The National Guardsman from Carlsbad and Hobbs spent a drill weekend at Dowling Aquatic Base learning to operate heavy equipment, using the entrance road as their practice area.  The Guardsman also broke up and removed concrete and other waste materials from the area.  Posing below, with the BSA Centennial banner, are the National Guardsman who helped make your camp a better place.

Thanks to the New Mexico National Guard– you get the job done!

2011 Seeking Camp Staff Applicants

There are several adult camp staff positions open at this time.

Dowling:  Camp Director, Aquatics Program Director, Swimming Beach Director, Boating Beach Director, Cook, Kitchen Staff, Health Officer, Instructors

Wehinahpay:  Camp Director, Program Director, Climbing Director, Scoutcraft Director, Ecology Director, Shooting Sports Director, Archery Director, Trading Post Manager, Health Officer, Cook, Kitchen Staff, Instructors

The council is always interested in interviewing staff applicants who have camp staff experience in other councils.  The council is committed to providing competitive compensation, within the limits of the camp budget.

The rewards of being on a summer camp staff are numerous, but highest is the feeling of having helped someone learn a new skill and gaining confidence.

For staff position descriptions, salary and season information, contact the Conquistador Council at 575-622-3461 or email conquistador@scouting.org.

“Wild Man of Wehinahpay” Programs

“There is something in each of that yearns for the wild.”

Building on that theme, there will be some new contests at Wehinahpay this summer, like the  “Wild Man Cookoff” and the “Wild Man Contest.”

The ”Wild Man Cookoff” contest will have two parts.  The Scoutmaster cookoff will feature a main dish prepared by Scoutmasters.  The Mountain Man Scouts will make their own Mountain Stew. 

The “Wild Man of the Mountains” Contest:  Each troop will be able to enter one Scout costumed as a “Wild Man.”  The Scouts will then parade through the dining hall and one will be selected as the “Wild Man of the Mountain.” 

More information will be distributed in the Camp Leaders Guide.

Peter Hurd Painting of Scout

Peter Hurd, a New Mexico artist from  the Hondo Valley, painted this picture of a Boy Scout cooking in camp and presented it to the Conquistador Council.