Wilderness Grace

[1] The Wilderness Grace in its most commonly used form is as follows: For food, for raiment, For life, for opportunities, For friendship and fellowship, We thank Thee, O Lord.

This original version is copied here verbatim from a handwritten copy of The Worth Ranch Grace written on a small piece of note paper by James P. Fitch, Region Nine Scout Executive, during a trip to Worth Ranch in the 1930s.

At the top of the paper, also written in Fitch's handwriting, is the title "The Worth Ranch Grace."

If it were not for Jim Fitch's interest in recording The Worth Ranch Grace as it was used in the 1930s, we would not have this earliest version.

Dunn, a school teacher, became a member of the Philmont Staff in the summer of 1945 with the position of Personnel Director.

If it were not for Clarence Dunn, The Worth Ranch Grace would have never been introduced to thousands of Philmont Scouts from every part of the world over the past decades.

The Northern Tier National High Adventure Bases, have modified and added to the Wilderness Grace for use in its canoeing programs: For food, for raiment, For life and opportunity, For sun and rain, For water and portage trails, For friendship and fellowship, We thank Thee, Oh Lord.

Northern Tier staff claim the Grace originated with them 90 years ago and that Philmont adopted and adapted by dropping the third line, as there's little water and no portage trails in New Mexico.