Conquistador Council

Scout Shop- Council caps

The Conquistador Council has caps in several colors featuring the council logo, or the logos of Dowling Aquatic Base or Wehinahpay Mountain Camp.

Check out what’s new at the Conquistador Scout shop.  575-622-3461.

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.

Wehinahapay-Open Program Week- July 4-10

Come to the mountains, come to Wehinahpay.  Enjoy the peace of the high forests, the soothing breeze, or the energy and excitement of a mountain storm!  Relax in the high places.

Wehinahpay Specialty Week is a new idea and will use an “open program” concept.  Camp staff will be on hand and a variety of program opportunities will be available.   Typically this week has low Scout attendance so the camp is open for more opportunties.

Scout Family Camping:  Want to camp in the high mountains of New Mexico without the hassle of a community or state campground?  Someplace peaceful and secure?  Check out Wehinahpay for Scout family camping.  (Details are still being worked out, but should be available soon.)  There is plenty for a Scout family to do in the mountains of New Mexico!

Venture Camp:  Crews can take advantage of all the programs offered in camp, from Outdoor Living Skills to COPE and Climbing, to Shooting Sports to Fishing.  Try out some backcountry hiking and test your backpacking skills!

Traditional Troop Camping:  The full Boy Scout program will be available for troops attending camp this week.  One advantage is that fewer Scouts means more learning opportunity!  Or, if your troop wants to conduct it’s own program of exploring the New Mexico mountains, using Wehinahpay as a base camp, that can be arranged also.

Cub Scout and Webelos Family Camp:  Activities are planned for the Cub Scout and Webelos Family Camp.  Information will be distributed to pack leaders soon.  This multi-day program provides outdoor learning opportunities preparing Cub Scouts for the Boy Scout adventure.  It’s a great get-away time for Cub Scout families.

Contact the council service center for more information and to get on the reservation list:  575-622,3461 or conquistador@scouting.org

Coming to Camp From Another Area- Contact Us

Planning Travel Through the Conquistador Council

If you are planning to travel through the Conquistador Council en route to another camp (Philmont), or to visit the Carlsbad Caverns area, or on your way to Wehinahpay Mountain Camp or Dowling Aquatic Base, contact the Conquistador Council service center at 575-622-3461 or conquistador@scouting.org for information about sightseeing highlights that may have some interest for your Scouts.

For example:  Hobbs– Museum of Western Heritage; Carlsbad Living Desert Museum State Park; Artesia- downtown artwork; Roswell- Goddard Museum of Rocketry; Clovis- Blackwater Draw Museum (Clovis Man). 

There is more to see in southeast New Mexico than open space, oil wells, and cactus.  We can help you get the most out of your travel.

Stay Over At Dowling

Troops can make arrangements to stop over at Dowling.  There may be a small fee, but the camp is centrally located in Carlsbad and has hot showers and toilets.  Contact the council service center to make arrangements.

DAY OF TRAINING March 6, 2010

The council-wide “Day of Training” is set for March 6 in Roswell, again using the rooms provided by the LDS church and in the S.P. Yates Scout Service Center.  Information will be distributed at December roundtables.

The “Day of Training” is intended to provide specialized training courses, requested by leaders, that are not provided in other training events or not in enough depth. 

Every participant has something to offer, so bring your “best practices,” success stories, and any materials that you wish to display or share with others.

A schedule will soon be distributed.  Sessions are for Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Venturing, Junior Leaders, Commissioners, and District/ Council leaders.

The Junior Leader Workshop is a very good session and Scoutmasters are encouraged to bring their “Green Bar” team to learn more about patrol and troop leadership.

The session for Unit Committee Operations will be very valuable to help all unit leadership understand the importance of the unit committee in the overall Scouting scheme.

Mark your calendar and plan to join in this special training day.

For more information contact the council at 575-622-3461.

Minor Huffman in Old Wehinahpay Lodge

ca. 1927

Minor Huffman and Boy Scout in the old Wehinahpay Lodge.  Only the stone foundation pillars remain of this early camp building.  This is the only known photo of the old lodge.

1967 Council Staff at Wehinahpay

 Some leaders may remember these Scouters, the council staff of 1967.

Front row:  Doyle Boyd, Jack Stoltz, Bill Tarter

Back row:  George Miller, Bill Law

Scouting alumni may want to share some stories about Scouting in 1967.  Please send comments to conquistador@scouting.org

Camp Strategic Planning Group

Under the leadership of Rich Kestner, the council has formed a Camping Strategic Planning Committee, to establish the future of camping programs in the Conquistador Council.  Each district was represented during the initial meeting.

Discussion centered on three main topics:  What unique features do our Scout camps offer in competition to other camps; what are we doing now in camp that will bring Scouts back to camp; what can we do on our facilities year-round for Scouts and other youth organizations.

A number of ideas were presented, such as adding a “float trip” to the Dowling program, backpacking at Wehinahpay, a summer-long community day camp at Dowling, and a special program weekends at both camps during the off-season that will increase use.

The committee did consider review the impact of increased use as it relates to the costs of operation and maintenance, property utilization, camp programs to be offered, and methods to increase use of the properties.

The committee also discussed additional merit badges and the need to recruit future camp staff.

Future information gathering meetings will be conducted in each district and at roundtables.

For more information about the camps and camping programs of the council contact Conquistador Council at 575-622-3461 or email conquistador@scouting.org

Camp alumni- Send us your story

1967 Council staff at Wehinahpay

Back row- L-R  George Miller, Bill Law, George Budd

Front row- L-R Doyle Boyd, Jack Stoltz, Bill Tarter

The Calkins House at Wehinahpay