The Rush is On, Tamanend District Scouts Go For Gold at Klondike Derby

Over 300 scouts and adult volunteers descended on Ockanickon Scout Reservation in Pipersville for Klondike Derby last weekend. As snow fell, teams of sleds competed in various tests of skill in the event which is a loose re-enactment of the Alaskan gold rush in which people raced to stake claims and earn riches.

Troop 29 Scoutmaster Dave Clark, who was one of the organizers, describes weekend event as a series of stations replicating situations that may have occurred during the gold rush. Scouts are called on to demonstrate traditional scout skills identifying trees and animals, rendering first aid, knot tying, starting fires, cooking and lashing for which they earn points based on their proficiency at the skill.

There was a separate program run by Pack 19 Cubmaster Joe Papp in which Webelos and Arrow of Light scouts earned “gold nuggets” at 13 stations set up for the younger boys. Members of Order of the Arrow were on hand to assist with the event. The Boy Scouts of American requires volunteers to participate in training sessions prior to working with youth; a number of new volunteers earned their trained patches in Scoutmaster Specific and Introduction to Outdoor Leader skills over the Klondike weekend.

Tornadoes from Pack 19 took first place in the cub scout sled race, followed by Pack 20’s Rebels and Pirates of the Caribbean out of Pack 19. The top spot in the overall cub scout competition went to the Rebels sled with Pack 99’s District 12 and Pack 30’s Red Dragon sled finishing second and third.

Troop 5 took top honors in the boy scout sled race followed by Troops 153 and 219. In the overall Gold Rush Competition, Troop 153 took first and second place with Churrow Wagon and Spartans sleds respectively. Troop 5’s All Stars and Troop 130’s The People sled tied for third place. Troop 91 won the Dutch Cooking Competition as well as the Campfire Award for their rendition of the Pancake Skit.