Mark joins the show to highlight the sustainable impact and dedicated work that the Philmont Service Corps has accomplished throughout the last year and a half.  In the second portion of our conversation, Mark shares a collection of storie...

Today I want to highlight a parent perspective of the impact that Scouting can have on ones family.  Specifically the family of Tom and Georgia Stoeber. Tom is a 60 year veteran of the BSA, including 25 years working as a Scouting professi...

Molly Gatewood joins the show to highlight the important work of the Philmont Training Center Housekeeping department.  From bathrooms and luxury tents to the mailroom and Villa Philmonte, the housekeeping staff at Philmont is integral in ...

Today Arizona Duff joins the show.  She discusses her first experience on trek, navigating the fundamental challenges and shifts that occur while on the trail.  Namely - several moments at Cypher's Mine where she began to feel the lov...

This year, 2025, the Philmont Training Center will celebrate 75 years of service as the National Volunteer Training center for Scouting America.  To commemorate this milestone, PTC staff and volunteers are planning a summer long celebratio...

Today Kara Noonan Stevens joins the show to share her experiences on staff in the 90s and on staff last summer at the Welcome Center.  She describes the Welcome Center as "Philmont's Front Porch."  It's where all crews begin their Phi...

Dan and Karen Ashton met at Philmont in 1977, and recently celebrated 31 years of marriage.  Their story is untraditional and adventurous - much like the paths we traverse in the rugged backcountry hills.  The couple shares stories as...

Happy birthday Silver On the Sage Podcast!  Today the podcast begins it's fifth year of sharing stories and highlighting the immeasurable impact that Philmont has had on all of our lives.As of today, the show has totaled 95,000 dow...

David is currently the Director of Wilderness Adventures at Northern Tier, and was formerly a Senior Associate Director of Program at Philmont Scout Ranch.  During his thirteen year tenure at Philmont he implemented several new safety and ...

Today we travel to 2012 when Jeremy Cunningham and I, along with several other phenomenal individuals, spent the summer at Beaubien - calling it our home.  This episode is special for me because it's the first interview I've done with a fe...

As we close out Season 8 of Silver On the Sage Podcast - I share with you an episode from the vault.  In late spring of 2021 I interviewed my sister Claire Ficke.  We had intentions to co-host the podcast that summer, but - had to del...

In today's episode I get to chat with the current Director of Program at the Philmont Training Center, Maddy Houk. In addition to discussing what this new era of PTC has to offer, we highlight the success of a special project that Maddy is very...

Eric Locklar, known to several of you as Lock, joins the show to share many a story and a heartfelt appreciation for all that Philmont Scout Ranch has given him. From the Ponil Rootbeer challenege to the 1996 Harlan Tornado radio call - Lock em...

The next 90 minutes will showcase original songs, poems, and stories shared to celebrate the life and impact of Doug Palmer who served as Philmont's Associate Director of Program for over 23 years.A heartfelt thank you to everyone who s...

Ever since his experience as a Kit Carson Trek participant in 1972 and working on staff as a Ranger, John has looked for ways to give back to Philmont Scout Ranch.  He's done so via his time and dedication to the Philmont Staff Association...

A bonus episode for this month to highlight the historic, spiritual, and otherworldly encounters that many of us have experienced at Philmont Scout Ranch.  I want to thank Kathy Schroder, Forky Rudin, and JJ Stevens for sharing their stori...

Forrest, better known to some of you as Forky, shares his passion for the Ranger department - including in 1982 when he achieved the triple crown as a Roving Ranger, Rayado Ranger, and Mountain Trek Ranger. Among the more wild and adventurous s...

Reid Templeton - original Tobasco Donkeys member and co-author of BSA Topping Out Climbing/Rappelling Manual. Reid deems Philmont as "the gateway job" to careers in leadership and outdoor education.  His career today as a leadership, team,...

Fred has been a Philmont trek participant, seasonal staff member, full time employee, and dedicated PSA volunteer.  In our conversation today Fred shares a myriad of stories and insights - from the infamous 1996 Tornado to interacting with...

Seventy years ago in 1954, Joe spent his first year on staff as a wrangler at base camp headquarters.  Dr. Armstrong went on to have an extremely successful career in the horse and cattle industry as an international judge, educator, breed...

Tim Rosseisen spent 11 summers on staff throughout the 80s and 90s, only to return again as Special Projects Manager in 22, 23, and 24.  He shares a lighthearted mix of stories from back in the day, to meaningful experiences since returnin...

Today Charley Charlie shares her story as a young Explorer trekking at Philmont to a Rayado Ranger, Conservation Forman, and more.  After Philmont, she founded two Facebook groups committed to women of high adventure - the groups are the P...

Mark Stinnett joins the show to discuss his extensive involvement with and dedication to Philmont Scout Ranch and Scouting alike.  We chat about his role as the Editor of the award winning PSA High Country magazine, his experiences on Ranc...

Ed Dolensky joins the show to chat about the Philmont Scout Ranch Food Service Department.  Ed discusses the numerous angles of food service from backcountry commissary deliveries and trail meal packaging - to camper, staff, and PTC dini...

For 16 summers Steve Nelson witnessed staff and participants experience influential moments time and time again.  And not just in the summertime, but year round - from 2008 to 2023 Steve worked full-time as the Associate Director of Campin...