Staff News

Philmont Training Center Staff News

We hope to use this page to keep former staff members updated on each other. We will add pages as we get more news and/or photos. See the photos on the staff photos page. If you have a personal web page with photos and stuff, please let us know.

I am Rita Bowden Johnson. My father (Gene Bowden ) was the director of the VTC in 1963. My brothers and I practically grew up there and have lots and lots of fond memories. Thank you for doing this. I feel like finding this website has given me a warm and nostalgic blast from the past.

Hi everyone. Big news to announce!!! Christine and I are now expecting!! (yes, it was planned... not an oops!) Christine is 12 weeks along as of last week (September 16). We waited to tell because, being our first, we wanted to make sure that everything was ok and growing right. This past weekend we told our parents and families and they are all very excited!!!! I'm including the sonograms that were took last week. The one is of the heartbeat -- we actually got to hear that one which was really a highpoint for me. The other really good one, the baby has its leg sticking out. One is the crown to rump measurement. The other is of it rolling around -- its quite the active one. So far everything seems to be going ok. Normal heartbeat and measurements. We are hoping that everything stays ok for the next 6 months (as any first parents would). Christine's due date is March 31st. We are very, very excited!!! -Ben and Christine Hurley

I can't believe it's been a decade since my first summer! I'm still a Juvenile Probation Officer - three years in one job! I'm still climbing, but got slowed down after I dislocated my shoulder last spring. I still get in some backpacking - just went to Kolob Canyon in Zions with my cousin and visited Heather Simkins while I was down there. I also got into running this year and did my first half marathon a few weeks ago. I spend a good bit of time with my six nieces and nephews taking them hiking and teaching them to love the outdoors (my two year old nephew is fascinated with the Tooth of Time). I love Boise and plan to stay here for awhile, so if you're ever in the area, let me know! Renee Waite

An update on the Wiegand Family well, both of my son's are engaged to be married to wonderful ladies. Matt in October of this year, Mike in September of "09". I have a wonderful job with the Alton School District I have been there since Feb. 06. I am currently with the best Special Education Team ever. They are wonderful ladies. We have had a bit of bad news this last year as well. We lost my brother-n-law in October. What a life changing experience. He was only 49. I took my sister out to Philmont this last week and she fell in love with the place. We were hoping to introduce her to Joey as she likes to work in cafeterias but, we were unable to find him while there. We thought living in God's Country would help her with her grief. We also lost Ron's mom in January. Another life changing experience. I am just happy that I can rely on God to help me through the tuff stuff. Kem Wiegand

I am back at Philmont for the 5th summer in 10 years. Even though I am working "across the street" I am still a part of PTC. This is my 3rd summer as a mountain trek ranger. In the real world I am teaching high school Government/Economics, coaching cross country, and serving as the assistant director of our school musicals. Matt Carpenter

Hello fellow PTC staff! I am doing well and my family and I are staying very busy. We live in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The kids are growing fast. I've got 5 kids now, Durin (10), Mark (8) he was named after my favorite boss, you know :), Kiaya (4), Ephraim (2) and Miriel (2 months). I can't believe I'm old enough to have a 10 year old. I did my first year of homeschool this past year and we really enjoyed it. We are talking to the boys to see if they want to do it again this coming school year. I stay busy at church, always working with the kids. Good to hear how everyone is doing. I think of Philmont often and miss the fun I had there. Especially the tornado! Have a great summer. Molly (Toups) Baron (1996)

As for any news...do you guys remember when I passed out and couldn't be revived, and ended up going to the hospital? Well, it took over ten years to properly diagnose and successfully treat, but it's been done...finally : I've got a form of narcolepsy...the doctors told me that i've probably had it my entire life and that the older I got the worse the symptoms got. So, I'm not passing out anymore, or sleeping too much, or not sleeping enough. For the first time in a long time, I feel awesome. Happy camping, JoAnn Brooks

My wife Laurie is taking a second year off from teaching to stay home with our daughter Tessleigh who is now about 14 months old. She crawls at the speed of light and should be walking any day now. I am still teaching 6th grade Math at Vulture Peak Middle School in Wickenburg, AZ. Laurie and I are waiting for Daughter number two to arrive. Her name will be Adalie Grace and she is due July 8th. My brother Robert, whom some of you know worked at Handicraft ,aka, the Craft Shack, is doing well. He is a assistant manager for Toys R Us in Mesa, AZ and loves his job. He keeps getting promotions and continues to make record sales. Some day he will run his own Store if he keeps this up. We all miss Philmont and long for a time when our schedules and crazy lives will allow us to return again to God's Country. We hope everyone is happy and healthy and we wish everyone a H-A-P-P-Y Summer and Year. Ben Newman

I got married back in November 2006 to Candice Ritter (Seton Museum 2003). We're currently living in Lafayette, LA with our two terriers who have gotten much enjoyment out of making our backyard look like the surface of the moon. Steve Benelli

My wife, Christine, and I are still doing well. Christine is going into her 5th year of teaching, with a new position teaching Library and Media at Emma K. Doub in Hagerstown, MD. I am going into my 6th year of teaching, continuing with 5th grade at Pangborn Elementary also in Hagerstown. We have been making progress into making our house into a home and are working on starting a family. Ben Hurley

We are still in Idaho. Mark still works for the Boise Police Department. And I am still chasing Cora, almost 4, and Claire, almost 2, around all day! We are all healthy and happy. Our life is nice and simple and we love it that way! Mark and Amber Abercrombie

All is well in the Dannenberg Household. Susan and I will not be working at a summer camp this summer and we are very excited about not working camp. After 13 years enough is enough. Susan and I are really enjoying being parents and are very excited that we have another on the way. We still live here in Denver while I work for the Boy Scouts. Pat Dannenberg

Update on the Shylo van Gass/Duane Wheeler family-Our oldest Megan just got her learners permit and passed Drivers Ed. I haven't been brave enough to drive with her yet...The younger four kids are bracing for another summer out of school. I have been in contact with Seth Baise (Ranger 1992 from South Africa) He is busy, busy in Durban South Africa.

Dublin (Clawson) Ruesch and family are all doing well. Cameron works for Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan. We love it but miss the mountains. We welcomed our new baby September 30, 2007. His name is Cole, full name Joshua Colfax Ruesch. We know, Philmont geeks. Addie is finishing up Kindergarten and Rachel is a fun, bouncy three year old. We had a strong urge to pack up and move somewhere in May, especially to New Mexico but settled with getting outside a lot a taking the kids camping.

I am living in Iowa and working at the University of Iowa as a clinical assistant professor in pediatric gastroenterology. I have 3.5 year old boy named Gavin and a 14 month old girl named Paisley. I hope to come back to Philmont as a Health Lodge Doc when they are a bit older. Dawn Ebach

It seems everyone discusses their children, of which I have none. I can say that I finally graduated this past month with my degree in Telecommunications Engineering from Texas A&M and now live and work in College Station, TX with my husband of four years, Zach. I about to start my first "grown up" job as an engineer at a firm called Lockard & White based here in town and things are going really well for us. Zach and I are enjoying traveling as well as visiting family. We spent Christmas with Robert and his wife Faith in Utah and I am about to go spend a week with Carrie in Dallas. She and her husband just had their third baby, Harvey a couple of weeks ago. Everyone is doing wonderfully. I am so happy to have stumbled across the site. I look forward to contacting some more of the old gang! Catherine (Torres) Christensen (99-00)

My name is Torrey Weaver and I was a cook at the PTC dining hall from 1994-1997. My time at Philmont is still one of my fondest memories. I also have a number of photos from back in the day which I finally recently scanned. I'm not sure which photos go with which year as they got a little mixed-up. There is a link to my flickr page on the contacts page. If you have problems, let me know! Former Booyah tribe member (a particular group will get this)

Howdy, This is Shylo Wheeler (van Gass), I am touching bases with other fellow PTC staffers, I was on staff 89-94, and my husband followed me out in 94 and we got married out there. I spent 3 years at the handicraft lodge, and small fry director for two years, were I helped with the new building--so much better then the old pony barns. Duane and I have been married 14 years this summer. Our oldest daughter (from his previous marriage) will be 16, next Alexis 12, Bryan 10, Casey 7, Carson 6. Philmont is still a lot on our minds. We live in Roy, Utah.

This is an unofficial site owned and maintained by former members of the Training Center Staff at the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. The content in no way represents the Ranch or the Boy Scouts of America.