The purpose of this section is not to script what visiting foresters say—but to provide some examples of how to approach crews, topics etc.

It helps to meet the crews coming through on the trail. Start by asking the standard Philmont questions:

Where are you from?

Where are you coming from?

Where are you going to?

INTRO IDEA 1:

Hi, I’m ______. I am a visiting forester. My role here at the ranch is to provide information about forestry. If you only have a few minutes, I can share some quick ideas with you. If you have time to drop your packs, I can do more detailed programs.

INTRO IDEA 2:

Hi! Philmont has placed me here to take pictures for you of your crew with Cathedral Rock and Cimarroncito Reservoir. No really, I am a visiting forester, but I would be glad to take your picture. If you have time to drop your packs we can also do a program on forestry and the demonstration forest. Otherwise, let’s just take the picture…say “Forestry”

PHILMONT MYTH BUSTING

MYTH: Some say that you can tell the sex of a ponderosa pine by the smell. Girls smell like Vanilla; Boys smell like Butterscotch.

BUSTED: Although some tree species like one-seed juniper are have individual trees that are either male or female, most tree species at Philmont including ponderosa pine have both male and female flowers on the same tree.

      The male cones grow on the lower limbs. That way, when the wind blows, the pollen is blown away from the tree to avoid self-pollination. The female cones that produce the seed are at the top of the tree.