Scout's honor

Boy Scouts | Despite legal challenges and controversy, Boy Scouts turns 100 | Warren Cole Smith

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In northern New Mexico, the Boy Scouts of America owns the largest youth camp in the world. Philmont Scout Ranch covers 137,000 acres in the Sangre de Cristo—the "blood of Christ"—Mountains. Every day this summer, approximately 300 Scouts, Explorers, and their leaders will arrive at Philmont. A total of more than 18,000 will complete a 12-day Philmont trek this summer, hiking at least 50 miles over mountains that reach up to 12,000 feet.

And there are that many more on a waiting list. It has been that way for 10 years. "We've never been stronger," said Philmont's Director of Program Mark Anderson.

Many organizations that celebrate "duty to God and country"—words from the Scout oath—have either fallen on hard times or have abandoned such values. The Girl Scouts, for example, no longer requires members to believe in God, and it allows openly gay leaders.