Troop 652 Klondike Derby

Troop 652’s annual Klondike Derby happened on the day of February 10, 2007.  This year it took place in Aldie, Virginia at Camp Highroad.  It was sponsored by troop 111.  The Klondike Derby is a sled race that is done in patrols.  It is also separated into junior and senior groups, both groups going the opposite direction.  The course is about 3 miles long, going over very rugged land.  The sled is made by the patrol, and it requires some work.  You are also given a list of supplies that you are to collect from each patrol member and secure to the sled, most of which you will need during the race.  Some of these items include food for the whole patrol, two gallon jugs of water, a patrol first aid kit, a compass, bungee cords to secure things to the sled, two army blankets, etc. 


All Scouts had to meet at St. Dunstans at 7:00 in the morning, and the drive was about 1 hour long.  Everyone left at about 4:30 pm.


Throughout the race, each patrol from each troop will pass 5 villages where their skills will be tested and they will receive gold nuggets depending on how well they do.  On one of the stations the judges will stop the clock for 30 minutes for you to have lunch.  Because of lack of patrol members, the Marshmallows and Dragons patrols worked as one patrol (the Dragonmallows).


The first village tests your skills on first aid and lifesaving, where you have to create a series of lifesaving tools including a sling, a stretcher, etc.  In the second village, you must build a fire large enough to burn the twine above, and you are graded on how many matches you use and how much time you take.  There is also an extra station here where you can earn more nuggets.  The third village is the village where you can have lunch.  After your lunch, you have to tie a series of knots and lashings to make certain objects that are shown to you.  The fourth village requires you to do a series of things in 25 minutes, so you have to split up your patrol.  In one section you have to build a fire hot enough to heat a cup of water  In another, you have to either tie four knots or sharpen two blades.  On the third section, you have to build a shelter in 15 minutes (20 minutes if you build it Philmont style).  In the final village, you are required to take an Orienteering course and take a quiz on map symbols.


The second place winners of the Junior group was our very own Dragonmallows patrol made up of Jason N., David, Nick A., Quinn, Martin, and Evan, and the third place winners of the Senior group was our Venture crew of Peter, Gibson, Jason K., Michael, and Derek.  The winners were graded on how many nuggets they got and the time they got.