Klondike Derby Activities

responses to an inquiry by Michael J. Cook, Sr <mjcooksr@OCEANA.NET>

Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 17:03:38 -0600
From: Michael J. Cook, Sr <mjcooksr@OCEANA.NET>
To: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L <SCOUTS-L@TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU>
Subject: Klondike Idea's Wanted
> 
The Shelby Boy Scout - Troop 1151, is sponsoring the District
Klondike in January of 1997. I would like to come up with some fresh
ideas, or at least some new one's added to the klondike for some
different flavor. We are located in Michigan, and the snow can be
anywhere from a few inches to a couple of feet deep, along with
temperatures between 15 - 35 degree's F. during the day. I am
looking for idea's to test scouting skills in every imaginable field.

PLEASE send your idea's and suggestions to me at my
personal E-mail address:
---- mjcooksr@Oceana.net ----

Howabout a catapult contest where troops build a catapult to launch snowballs (or water balloons if weather is uncooperative) at targets. You can award prizes for accuracy, distance, whatever. - Michael Derleth

An idea that has been a favorite of mine is a log sawing station. Lots of fun and teaches team work.

You need a BIG 2-man crosscut saw, 2 sawbucks, a stop watch, and a board to post times. Also a roaring campfire and a hot drink make the station welcome. Lumberjack clothing for the station crew also helps add atmosphere!

Naturally the idea is to saw through a log in the minimum time. Put 2 boys on each end of the saw and have them saw off a piece from the end, making one log serve for all teams. They can take their slab as a souveneir (sp?) or burn it in the fire.

At the end of the Klondike Derby, the winning team can be presented with some trophy like a toy ax embedded in a log (like the Woodbadge emblem). - Bill Schoonmaker

At our Klondike Derby we have commissioners soup, it's great on the cold day. Each boy brings a can of soup as part of his derby inventory. We do have some restrictions. No "Cream of" soups. The Beef based soups (Red) are mixed together and the Chicken based soups (Yellow) are mixed together. It's heated up and available to at or near one of the stations. The boys stop for a mug of hot soup, it's great on a cold day.

A list of things each patrol should have on their sledge is given out at our Round Table about two months before the Klondike. The boys can use anything on their sledge at the stations to complete the given task. The people running the stations may bring other items the boys may need that are not on the list.

Our List is as follows:

Station Ideas:

1. Rope Maze where the boys go through blindfolded. It's a timed event.
2. Flint and steel fire starting. It's timed event where the boys have to burn through a string about 16" above the fire. A nest of frayed dry rope makes a great fire starter for flint and steel.
3. Group ski race. This is with Eight foot 2"x 4"s with wire through them that the boys can hook their feet into. You get about four boys per set of boards and they all have to work together to move each board forward. Its fun to watch. It's a timed event.
4. There's and 8 ft plywood wall the boys have to work together to get their patrol over. The boys make a human ladder. Make sure you have adults nearby as they do this one, some boys slip and fall. It's a timed event.
5. There's also the usual First Aid situation the boys must solve, lashings, compass course the boys must successfully follow.

Hope this helps,
Wayne whill@coe.drexel.edu

Some Klondike fun ideas off the top of my head:

1. create mini-ice sculptures from a block of ice frozen in a milk carton or jug
2. stamp a trail to follow in a snow covered field, make a maze or intricate pattern for the boys to follow or try to play fox and hounds
3. star gazing in the winter night sky
4. team building activities for the patrols - several are on the internet under scout related sites, multiple end tug o war, or tie lengths together to "rescue" someone on a cardboard square and pull them to safety
5. 'create a commercial' skit kit - give each patrol/den a box with the same items in it ( a log, a coat, a roll of TP, string, newspaper, cans, wide marker, and any items the boys have in their pockets) challenge them to make up a commercial using the kit, have the boys judge their favorite. Suggest titles like the 'goofy patrol' demonstrates how not to use floss, 'the whiners' are cold without this coat, 'the fastest talker in the world' sells his paper, 'the ufo' sells TP, the 'He-men' sell cans of pop. Include an adult patrol to demonstrate or participate. Video tape all of them to show at evening assembly.
6. Mock interviews on tape. Have one boy off to the side ask a question to a video camera like 'demonstrate your best friend's smile', stop the tape, then off tape ask another boy who doesn't know the question 'show me how an ape acts' and tape him, ask the next question off to the side (but on camera) 'show me how you greet your Aunts when they come to visit', then ask the next boy to pantomine hitting a baseball, Show me how the scoutmaster drinks his coffee..., then ask the boy how a baby sucks his thumb.... show the tape when through. (You could do the same process using Ad-libs word games.)

Ideas I got plenty, the polish and follow through need help.

YIS,
John Van Blarcom

I don't remember off hand what we called this game, but I believe it is from Germany. The target is 25 feet from a marked starting point. It's marked off with points much like an archery target.

We have a very large board painted like a target hanging between two trees. Scouts are blindfolded and given a 6 ft long pole. They can study the target for a few minutes before they are blindfolded. They then try to touch the bulls eye with the pole. Each member of the patrol tries this. They get XX amount of points depending on what portion (if any) of the target they touched. You average the score of all participants for their patrol score.

Another variation is to spin the blindfolded person (PL) around then let his patrol members verbally guide him to the bulls eye.

YIS, Cliff Golden
Scoutmaster Troop 33; DeKalb, Illinois

I am located in Northern Illinois and the yearly Klondike is an important program for us here. We also run a popular Okpik Cold Weather Camping Course each year (4 indoor sessions and a "final exam" overnight in January)

Several Klondike events come immediately to mind:

1. Snow Snake: contestants throw a stave-sized wooden rod along an ice-covered furrow in the snow (make the furrow, then sprinkle water in it to create the ice) Points for distance. We are told this was a popular Native American winter game.
2. Rope throw: throw a rescue rope to a "victim" to simulate an ice break-through rescue. Variation: Scout sits on an innertube and rope is thrown to him. He ties bowline around himself or the tube and is then pulled by the Patrol across a finish line.
3. Centipede race: just the same as the summer game but doing it on snow and ice is really tricky...and funny. (Use 2x8s with ropes up to the three or four riders) Takes real teamwork.

Hope you find something in these that you like!

Bates Noble
Signal Hill District

At our most recent Klondike Derby the trail itself was a loop trail with ten stations. A shotgun start was used to start ten percent of the participants at each station. Whatever station you started at became your finish line.

1. Pioneering-/A very simple lashing project such as a entrance gateway was to be built by each competing patrol. Materials needed were at hand and a sample was standing nearby. Patrols were timed and judged on quality of project (sturdyness, triangulation etc.), teamwork, and scout spirit.
2. Toxic Flood-/ Patrol is told that the chemical plant above the dam has blown up and they have seven minutes to get their sled secured at a height equal to their shortest scout. Patrols were timed and judged on quality of project (strength, safety, etc.), teamwork, and scout spirit.
3. Knots-/ Patrol had five minutes to produce ten knots as specified. Patrols were timed and judged on quality of project (correct ID, tightness etc.), teamwork, and scout spirit.
4. Snowblind-/ All of the patrol members save one is blinded in a snowstorm (blindfolded) and the one who can see is injured. He must use his vision to direct his fellow scouts in the raising of a tent as a team. Patrols were timed and judged on completion of project, teamwork, and scout spirit.
5. Ravine Crossing-/ Each patrol must get their sled over a ravine (creek) without getting the sled wet. (Using ropes etc.) Patrols were timed and judged on quality of project (safety , success etc.), teamwork, and scout spirit.
6. Signaling-/ Give the patrol five minutes to decide on a method of signaling a message to a line of sight outpost (no sound). Ask them to pick two scouts. Give these two scouts a short message. Send them to a visible point, i.e. 75 yds down the trail, have them signal the message back to their mates. Patrols were timed and judged on quality of project (accuracy of message), teamwork, and scout spirit.
7. First Aid-/ Create a situation the requires First Aid. Press the patrol into service. Grade them.
8. Fishing for Snapper-/ No scout skills, just fun. Set mousetraps at a five yard distance from a line that the scout(s) may not cross. Have fishing rods(bamboo poles) and line (twine) and bait (nuts and washers) available to the scouts. Scouts must catch two "Snappers" in five minutes. (We never limited this to one boy per patrol but the boys all assumed this was the case)Patrols were judged on quality of project (Success of mission), teamwork, and scout spirit.
9. Fire Building-/ Patrol had twenty minutes to build a fire using two matches and hard boil an egg. Points were awarded for each part i.e.(two matches or less, Did the fire start, did the water boil, as the (egg hard boiled etc.), teamwork, and scout spirit.
10. Orienteering-/ This is the only one that required timing over a course. The starter at this station has to have his watch sychronized with a finish line Judge at the next station. Over this course the patrol must measure the height of something and solve other problems posed on the instructions. Patrols were timed and judged on accuracy of answers (height etc.), teamwork, and scout spirit.

Scoring at each of these stations had a 20 pts possible. 13 for the task itself, 4 for teamwork, 3 for scout spirit.

There was also a sled inspection at which 100 pts were possible. This inspection included checking to see that the patrol had all the supplies with them that they were told ahead of time to bring.

There was also a campsite inspection score that was worth 100 pts.

In case of a tie the elapsed time on the orienteering course is the tie-breaker.

Notes :
Since scoring IS subjective the guy who scores a station should score that station ALL DAY. Also you should plan each station so that at least two patrols can be doing the station simultaneously. All stations should have hot water available for soup or hot chocolate.

YiS
Donald Scruggs

We used this as an extra credit...

Nice large bondfire, pile of wood, comfortable chair for a well liked scouter (older than dirt) for judge (the fire to keep him warm)

A collection of safety goggles and a few dozen eggs

At this station, each participating patrol receives 2 eggs. The object is to COOK them and present them to the judge without using utensels... "cook them on a stick" in 10 minutes.

The goggles add to the charm (and safety - they could explode)

The judge, when presented a cooked egg, would peal it open, examine the quantity of cooked egg matter (remaining), even taste it with a dash of salt, all the time complementing the boys. The judge may answer questions, including "How would you cook an egg on this fire".

It made a cool grey damp day fun.

Nate Mann
CA - P40
ASM T40 Venture Scouting

I ran the Scout Klondike Derby as part of the St. Paul (MN) Winter Carnival for several years several years ago! Many of our stations were variations of traditional summer camp and camporee competitive events and I trust you have received many of these. We did some other things that might be of interest.

All scoring was done using gold pieces (each station awarded up to 10 pieces) which the patrol carried from event to event. One of their requirements, in addition to building a sled, was to have a bag for gold. We tried to get fairly small gravel (pea gravel is the term I remember) and painted it in large quantities. Each station had a large enough supply to give 10 nuggets to every patrol if needed. We typically ran 100-200 patrols during the event.

All starts were shotgun starts. Patrols had a map (received at checkin) which told them where various stations were located. They could visit stations in any order they wished. We made sure stations were somewhat widely separated (we had a 1 mile by 1 mile square to work with) terrain was rolling hills with a couple of gullies that were easy to get into but hard to get out of (sides were slick when it snowed).

We had a couple of sets of claim jumpers who would "hold up" unsuspecting patrols as they passed (patrols were warned about possible claim jumpers). Patrols were asked Scout related questions (i.e., what are three points of Scout Law? What do stars on badge stand for?). For each one they missed, the claim jumpers stole a specified amount of gold (usually five nuggets). Sleds were then marked with a ribbon so they wouldn't be "jumped" again. Just in case anyone got by without being jumped enroute, there was a bandit just outside the assay office!

We used stocking caps to designate all official personnel. They were always a distinctive color easy to see from a distance. Typically we purchased a gross of hats and had the Klondike Derby patch sewn on them. The sub committee chairs and I all wore special parkas - distinctive enough to be visible in a group. One year we gave a different color stocking cap to SMs whose patrols registered by December 15 (Derby was typically last weekend of January). That was a big hit and we had our highest level of participation that year (208 patrols).

We always had big pots of soup on at headquarters (everyone brought a can and they were all dumped into big BOOYA pots and heated over wood fires). All patrols were required to take at least a 30-minute lunch break (up to 1 hour if they wished) that didn't count against their overall time. This gave us an opportunity to check for frost bite, etc.

We set up stations that could handle at least five patrols at a time. We tried to minimize waits at stations and required patrols to compete in the order they arrived. The fact that stations were spread out helped but we also tried to have two stations close enough together that if one was very busy, patrols could choose to go to the other without too much loss of time. To avoid the big circle approach, we had a couple of stations that required people to transport someone or something to the central area. An official there also was able to tell patrols where the shortest lines were. One year one of my devious sub committee chairs took a sled out early and made some distracting trails which started in the general direction of an adjacent station but looped around (patrols were told that they could break their own trails as long as they didn't destroy the shrubs and trees!)

We had some central area activities to keep early finishers occupied. This included some displays (snowshoe making, sled dogs, igloo building) and one year included a volleyball game--the net was an 8-foot wall of snow. You couldn't see the ball from the other team until it cleared the net! That was pretty wild and seemed to be a lot of fun.

Hope you can find something useful in this collection of stuff.

jim sleezer

All I can remember were a station were we had to start a fire and bring a pan of snow to boiling and a sled race for speed. We did a Cub Scout winter event last year and had snow-soccer, which the boys really enjoyed. Looking forward to getting your list.

Jim Peterson
Cubmaster, Pack 379, Auburndale, Wisconsin ("\/")

One station that I set up was a sawing skill station. I used two man saws and imporvised sawbucks for the scouts. Scouts had to saw there way thru a 6" log against the clock for scoring purposes. Let them keep the chunk they saw off the log. Keeps everyone warm and gives you a good opportunity to teach proper handling of tools.

At another station, I set up 5 rope making machines. After the scouts made the rope at this station, they had to use it down the line in a rescue situation that tested their knot tying ability. I went through over 9,000 feet of twine at that station.

Also I set up a team skiing event. I improvised skis out of 4X4 about 12" long with yellow cord set up for tying around their boots. Had to navigate a short course with a turn. The patrol either worked together or fell helplessly apart at this station.

Received good reviews for all three stations and still some talk about the monster ski station in my troop.

Jon L. Butler
Klondike Chairman 1993, 1994
JButler517@aol.com

As a quick station I've seen in the past: It is an SRM (Search & Rescue Mission).

1. Group is checked in to an area and admin is done.
2. Patrol Leader is brought to station HQ for a briefing.
3. PL is given a hiking plan submitted by a solo hiker that has not returned (Plan can be as detailed or distanced to fit area you need to work with).
4. Goal is to navigate with the hiking plan and find a partially buried dummy. Then treat the victim, we pinned a list of items to the dummys shirt that were the symptoms. Send for help (hiker is injured to severly to move) after determining exact location and injuries.
5. Teams graded on Nav skills, First Aid, Buddy System, and time to report back to HQ with correct position.

Scouts got a big kick out of this one and you can run many teams at one time with more maps and dummys.

Ken De Vilbiss Byte Bear NC-171
Louisville, CO

I couldn't remember if I sent you anything, if I did it would have been a "turkey shoot." Where we had pie plates decorated as turkeys, and had the boys shoot slingshots at them. Actually what they shot was dog food kibble. Being cold up here, the frozen kibble worked very well, plus it becomes critter food on the ground so you don't have to worry about picking it up. The last time we did this, it was one of the sites you had to kick the kids off of.

Jim Lindberg | ACM Cub Scout Pack 116
Chippewa Falls, WI

I don't know if anyone suggested a tracking station. Works well if there is snow on the ground. Also the timed pancake cooking contest, build the fire cook the pancake.

Greg Gough
SM Troop 201, Ozark, MO. I used to be an Owl but I will always be an Eagle!

Our Klondikes have always just tested the boys on scouting requirements and given them a 'gold' (gravel sprayed gold) nugget for correct answers. The patrol with the most nuggets wins. - Don Shull

Date: Mon, 22 Jan 1996 09:41:11 -0600
From: James A Lindberg jal@CRAY.COM
Subject: Klondike Derby
To: SCOUTS-L <SCOUTS-L@TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU>

The Trailblazer District of the Chippewa Valley Council had their Klondike Derby this weekend. The weather was a bit of a concern, we had about an inch of rain Wednesday til Thursday morning, then got socked with 11 inches of snow to be followed with -20F temps and -30F to -50F windchills on Friday.

Weather Saturday was clear and calm, temps was -14F at the start and warmed to a balmy 1F. Yet the sun felt warm and the wind stayed down. We did a good clothing check of the boys, we had 2 sleds, one with 5 Boys Scouts the other with 2 Boy Scouts and 3 Webelos. The Webelos patrol took @nd in the Webelos division. The different stations all went well and were interesting, there was a max of 10 points per station, plus you got gold beads.

Station 1 - First Aid/Ice Rescue Station 2 - Nature (no show) they drank hot chocolate B^) Station 3 - Norweigen Skiing (team building) Station 4 - Knots (the old clove hitch around the tree (without touching it)) Station 5 - Shelter Building (provided with tarp, twine and poles) Station 6 - Winter Survivial (camping in the winter) Station 7 - Wildlife (DNR talk on radio collars with demonstration) Station 8 - Blindman Obsticle Course (team building and following instructions) Station 9 - Ax and Knife Safety Station 10 - Compass Course (get bearings and distance between 3 objects)

That took up the morning, then we ate followed by the Klondike Sled races and the awards ceremony. Everybody seemed to have a good time and our boys stayed warm.

Jim

Jim Lindberg
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 USA

From: "George R. Davis" GRDRV@AOL.COM
Subject: Re: KLONDIKE DERBY EVENTS

We are trying something new this year (for us). We will have our "traditional" course for the Webelos and younger scouts, with individual stations for first aid, fire building, etc., and will use pre-built Klondike Derby Sleds. There is also a designated required equipment list.

We are also going to have a "Challenge Course" for the older scouts. The scouts are being told to come prepared for a 4 hour backcountry winter orienteering meet, during which they will have to solve one or more problems using scout skills. The only required equipment is a stamp pad (we are using alphabet rubber stamps for the orienteering checkpoints), lunch (their choice but it must be appropriate for the conditions), and a fuel or hobo stove if they intend to heat anything (there are fire restrictions in the county park where we are holding the event). The remainder of their equipment is up to them - but they have to carry it. The first stop will be inspection - make sure everyone is properly clothed and that they have suitable equipment in addition to the above minimums. This will be scored, and they will have to justify anything else they are bringing, or why they aren't bringing something the staff thinks is necessary. With assistance of the Park Ranger, we have gotten some orienteering maps of the park which were developed by the local orienteering club. The scouts will be given a course to follow.

At a designated point in the course, each patrol will be interrupted to join in a search activity - a scenario with a bus accident has been drawn up. Each patrol will be given a second map with their designated search area shown - and they have to get to it, search and then provide first aid to the victim. This assumes that they know where they are, and how to get to the search area. The search "victim" will be a dummy (stuffed pants, shirt and bag head) provided by the patrols - 1 per patrol. After the searchers have found their dummy, a live victim will be substituted - (we are recruiting Webelos-age sisters of scouts) who will be marginally conscious and able to respond to diagnosing questions. Obviously, hypothermia will be involved, as well as sufficient other injuries that the scouts would not be moving the victim any great distance. This will require shelter building, getting heated liquids for all, and sending a party back to the Ranger station for help. The return trip for those sent to get help will find the original route blocked, so that they have to find an alternate return route. The idea is to make the scouts have to think, work together and put what they know to use. We are hoping to use this to get some of the older scouts more active in these district events.

After the completion of the above activity, there will be a Klondike Challenge Sled Race. Instead of using the typical sled, each patrol will have a basic platform - douled up 2x4's that are curved in front for runners, with a plywood deck and 4 dowels glued into the platform/2x4's on each side - dowelsa extend 8" above the deck. They also have poles and rope. At the starting signal, the team lashes the poles together and to the sled base, load on their dummy, and proceed around the race course. Sleds may be pulled, pushed, carried or some combination of the above. There will be a few small obstacles on the course. Sleds may be "repaired" up to the midway point of the course. Score will be a combination of time and judging of the sleds at the finish line. It may pay to spend a little more time on the lashings to get the points at the judging. (We got this sled idea from a neighboring council). The patrol has to work together.

Some of our "traditional" stations also require teamwork - shelter building, some of the first aid problems, cooking lunch (this is a judged and timed event). Last year we had the scouts tie a large rope to a tree with a clove hitch. They weren't allowed to stand within 5 feet of the tree while doing so. We got some very inventive solutions to the problem.

I don't know how well the Challenge Course will work - our derby isn't until 2/3, but I'll post a follow-up afterwards. Hope this helps.

From: Jim Beesley <Hoowah6@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: KLONDIKE DERBY EVENTS

The last Klondike Derby I planned was about two years ago. We opted for a "non-traditional" derby i.e., no sleds or ahkios. (No snow = no sled) We required the scouts to navigate crosscountry by patrol to find each station. To accomplish this we made maps available two months in advance, as well as offering to teach skills at troop meetings. it helped that the USGS office that stocks the maps was located in our district! (Rolla, Missouri) In spite of almost spoon feeding them, ther were still troops who showed up with no maps.

The events included: fire building, where the scouts had to lay a fire and heat water for a hot beverage, then consume the beverage(this was a test of skills and also ensured hot fluids in them); survival shelters; an ice rescue on dry land, for safety; how to recognize and treat cold weather injuries. Some of the events were contests, others were instruction. The real competition was in getting from one point to another (we gave them a grid location and also had the points on a master map that they could copy from). A local explorer post helped run the derby. Most every one had a good time.

YiS, Jim Beesley

From: Preston Morgan pmorgan@ICCB.STATE.IL.US
Subject: Klondike Derby Ideas

The Abraham Lincoln Council held a very successful Klondike Derby last weekend. We had about 50 patrols enter the competition. It was a delightful chilly (temperature mid 20's) winter day. Although we didn't have much snow when we started, it started snowing early afternoon and we finished with a "flurry" (g).

Some of the events included: Log Saw (Bow); Fire Building-Flint and Steel; First Aid-Carries; Archery-Shoot for Accuracy; Travois Build and Pull; Four-Six Man Ski Course; Log Toss; Giant Clove Hitch; Snow Shoe Course; Hot Rock Move; Sled Obstacle/Compass Course; Survival Rope Throw; and Shelter Building.

We are now beginning to plan for next year. I would like to hear from others on this list of successful and fun events that you have had at your Klondike Derby. You can e-mail at pmorgan@iccb.state.il.us and I will summarize for the list.

YiS Preston Morgan ASM Troop 13 First United Methodist Church Springfield, Illinois

From: Mike Murray Mike2M@AOL.COM
Subject: Re: SNOW or lack of it!

Klondike without snow! Our district Klondike was Jan 12. For all the brave campers it was a balmy 34 degrees (should we subtract 2 polar bear points?) on Saturday we had highs in the 60's. Mind you this is IOWA it should be about 15 degrees and 2-6 inches of white stuff. About 400 boys and adults turned out for a fun filled day. As far as the event chairman (yours truly) was concerned it was a success. The kitchen went smoothly (served about 600 meals) and there were no first aid emergencies (the closest to one was a scout who fell running to his car on his way home and skinned his hands). After being on staff for the past 6 derbies and serving as chair for the past 2 it was a blast.

We hold it at a local camp for handicapped (not sure of the most proper PC term) children. They have a large lodge building which allows for sit down indoor meals and movies on Fri and Sat nights. A large meadow area for campers within a quick strole to the building to warm up when it is normal winter time (last year it was -8 on Fri night)

Our sled race was strange with the sleds running in the mud. At least two sled pushers ended up face down in the muck (yuck).

If you need any Klondike ideas let me know I have a collection from the past few years. We changed our derby from static display staions to a patrol competition format with different troops manning stations and boys in control of the stations.

Mike Murray used to be an Eagle...

From: Mark Orlovsky <morlovsk@EXECPC.COM>
Subject: Re: Klondike Derby

This year our District has picked the theme "Blue Hawaii". Many of the events will have a "Hawaiian Theme" such as "scuba flipper snow walk" or golfing at the Greater IMR Hawaiian open..

Last year we had a Lumberjack theme where the activities were centered on lumberjack events: Cross cut saw, wood drill, etc.

Mark P. Orlovsky morlovsk@execpc.com
Scoutmaster Troop 117, Wauwatosa, WI

From: Kenneth De Vilbiss <K_E_DeVilbiss@MSN.COM>
Subject: Re: All Cubs, All Packs Events

We hold a Cub Klondike in Arapahoe District. It is a game day suited to all Cubs. Each Pack registers to bring a game that can be played, snow or no snow, outside in a large field. The boys circulate around from game to game for about 2 - 21/2 hours. Hot Chocolate is served by a Troop or the OA Lodge, and patches are handed out to a Pack representative for awarding to the boys who participate. Some years we are cold, some not, some years are white, some not, but it has only been canceled by the weather once, when the temp, without wind-chill was 10 below. It was held last year with temps in the single digits & teens, we lucked out and had no wind. The only causality was the Activity Chair running the event. She got mild frost bite on the first 2 fingers of her right hand. (Probably from trying to get attention with the Cub Scout Sign). Events include Tug of War, Catapults, stilt walking, snowshoe races, tire bowling, Frisbee golf, and my favorite that cooperation game where 4 - 6 boys try to walk with the world's longest 'skis'. (Two 2X4's with rope handles spaced along their lengths. Boys must lift with the ropes and slide the boards forward one at a time. They can only do it if they are perfectly coordinated.) We usually have about 15 - 20 different games and around 200 boys. I also remember the Turtle Race. Our Tiger Group did it when Jason was in Tiger Cubs. (He's 12 now) The host had pre-cut them and we only had to sand, paint & race. It was a real hit. Jason still has his turtle hanging on his bulletin board.

YIS,
Ellen De Vilbiss K_E_DeVilbiss@msn.com

From: "George R. Davis" <GRDRV@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: KLONDIKE DERBY EVENTS

We are trying something new this year (for us). We will have our "traditional" course for the Webelos and younger scouts, with individual stations for first aid, fire building, etc., and will use pre-built Klondike Derby Sleds. There is also a designated required equipment list.

We are also going to have a "Challenge Course" for the older scouts. The scouts are being told to come prepared for a 4 hour backcountry winter orienteering meet, during which they will have to solve one or more problems using scout skills. The only required equipment is a stamp pad (we are using alphabet rubber stamps for the orienteering checkpoints), lunch (their choice but it must be appropriate for the conditions), and a fuel or hobo stove if they intend to heat anything (there are fire restrictions in the county park where we are holding the event). The remainder of their equipment is up to them - but they have to carry it. The first stop will be inspection - make sure everyone is properly clothed and that they have suitable equipment in addition to the above minimums. This will be scored, and they will have to justify anything else they are bringing, or why they aren't bringing something the staff thinks is necessary. With assistance of the Park Ranger, we have gotten some orienteering maps of the park which were developed by the local orienteering club. The scouts will be given a course to follow.

At a designated point in the course, each patrol will be interrupted to join in a search activity - a scenario with a bus accident has been drawn up. Each patrol will be given a second map with their designated search area shown - and they have to get to it, search and then provide first aid to the victim. This assumes that they know where they are, and how to get to the search area. The search "victim" will be a dummy (stuffed pants, shirt and bag head) provided by the patrols - 1 per patrol. After the searchers have found their dummy, a live victim will be substituted - (we are recruiting Webelos-age sisters of scouts) who will be marginally conscious and able to respond to diagnosing questions. Obviously, hypothermia will be involved, as well as sufficient other injuries that the scouts would not be moving the victim any great distance. This will require shelter building, getting heated liquids for all, and sending a party back to the Ranger station for help. The return trip for those sent to get help will find the original route blocked, so that they have to find an alternate return route. The idea is to make the scouts have to think, work together and put what they know to use. We are hoping to use this to get some of the older scouts more active in these district events.

After the completion of the above activity, there will be a Klondike Challenge Sled Race. Instead of using the typical sled, each patrol will have a basic platform - douled up 2x4's that are curved in front for runners, with a plywood deck and 4 dowels glued into the platform/2x4's on each side - dowelsa extend 8" above the deck. They also have poles and rope. At the starting signal, the team lashes the poles together and to the sled base, load on their dummy, and proceed around the race course. Sleds may be pulled, pushed, carried or some combination of the above. There will be a few small obstacles on the course. Sleds may be "repaired" up to the midway point of the course. Score will be a combination of time and judging of the sleds at the finish line. It may pay to spend a little more time on the lashings to get the points at the judging. (We got this sled idea from a neighboring council). The patrol has to work together.

Some of our "traditional" stations also require teamwork - shelter building, some of the first aid problems, cooking lunch (this is a judged and timed event). Last year we had the scouts tie a large rope to a tree with a clove hitch. They weren't allowed to stand within 5 feet of the tree while doing so. We got some very inventive solutions to the problem.

Last edited: February 22, 2004

The NetWoods Virtual Campsite, Steve Tobin, Campmaster