Local Boy Scout Troop Hosts District Klondike Derby
Local Boy Scout Troop Hosts District Klondike Derby (photo provided)
Jamie Leonard
After months of planning, local Boy Scout Troop 71, Chartered by the Central United Methodist Church, hosted the 1st Annual Mid-Iowa Council Woodland Trails District Klondike Derby at Lake Keomah. The Klondike Derby has been an annual event held for decades. This is the first Klondike Derby since the Mid-Council redrew their council from five districts to three last year.
The Klondike Derby is an annual winter event to not only test Scout’s knowledge, it is to remember the forgotten times of the Klondike Gold Rush. Just before the turn of the last century, gold prospectors traveled the sub-zero reaches of Alaska by means of dogs and sleds. They camped out in all kinds of winter weather, and therefore needed adequate survival skills which they learned from the native Eskimos.
On Saturday, January 20, Troop 71 hosted 80 Scouts, 29 adult leaders, and 20 volunteers at Lake Keomah. Several of the Troops camped all weekend using the Lake’s Group Campsite facilities. The Scouts working together in patrols, covered a course laid throughout the park. The Scouts had 5-1/2 hours to complete 14 activities spread out over 6 stations that tested their scouting knowledge and skills, all while pulling a travois. The Scouts were tested on tying knots and lashings, team work, ingenuity, bear bag hanging, search and rescue, orienteering, first aid, survival shelter building, as well as fire starting and cooking. One of the team work stations required one Scout to instruct his patrol mates on setting up a tent. Sounds easy, unless your patrol mates are all blindfolded.
After the derby was completed, the patrols assembled on the beach for a dog sled race. Each patrol sled had to have a passenger, any number of dogs (Scouts) pulling the sled, and one musher. All ten patrols were started together and it was a dash to the finish. Once the dog sled race was completed, the Scouts assembled back at camp to receive their food for the food cooking challenge.
Each patrol was given a chicken breast, a potato, carrots, an apple, and 2 raw biscuits for each Scout and adult. They were given two hours to prepare a meal for their patrol using all of the ingredients gave to them. They could add anything else that they brought with them, as long as they used all of the food provided. The food was cooked over charcoal, wood fires, and propane stoves. The meals were judged on originality, appearance, and taste. Once the judging was completed, everyone enjoyed the potluck.
The Klondike Derby concluded with awards and presentations. Troop 71 would like to thank the many volunteers that helped to make this event a success, and recognize DNR Ranger Chad Malone for allowing us the use of Lake Keomah, as well as the support that he provided.
