Klondike Derby
What is a Klondike Derby ?
Klondike Derby is a Boy Scout Winter Skills and Camping event, held every winter in the snow. It includes an optional overnight campout and multiple Camporee type competitions, where Scouts compete against each other. Boys are divided into patrols which use sleds powered by Scouts instead of dogs. The Scouts pull the sleds loaded with their personal and patrol equipment through woods and fields, and up and down hills, and stop at different activity stations, where they compete on different Scout skills. The Scouts may have to use a map and compass to navigate themselves and their sleds to their activity stations. At the activity stations they are timed and tested on their Scouting knowledge, team work and problem solving skills.
Some of the competitions may include:
- Sled and equipment inspection.
- Finding food.
- Finding dry wood for a fire.
- Starting a fire in the snow without matches.
- Cooking a meal for the patrol.
- Building a shelter.
- Building a bed to sleep in and keep warm.
- Pitching a tent in the snow, frozen ground or ice.
- Map and compass navigation.
- First aid, for hypothermia, broken bones, CPR, etc...
- Pioneering - Lashing and Knots, building useful projects.
- Cutting wood with a hatchet, ax and bow saw.
- Emergency Search and Rescue.
- Rescue from icecovered water.
- Sled racing with a heavy load.
- Four men walking on one set of skis.
The competition is held on Saturday, and prizes are awarded in the afternoon.
When is a Klondike Derby ?
Klondike Derbies are usually held in February, when there is the best chance of having a good layer of snow on the ground. Sometimes mother nature doesn't supply the needed snow and the Scouts make do in the rain, mud, slush, or frozen ground. The Scouts never know what they'll be working with until the weekend of the event, so they have to be prepared for anything. Check your District Calendar to see when your Klondike Derby is scheduled.
Who should attend a Klondike Derby ?
Boys Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Explorer and Venture Scouts are the
ones that this event is intended for. Webelos Cub Scouts are
invited to attend for the day events. Webelos usually compete against
other younger Scouts. The skills tests for Webelos are usually
not as strenuous or difficult as for the older Scouts.
Adult leaders, of course, must always accompany Scout activities.
The adults are frequently asked to assist with running stations or
helping with other duties during the Klondike. There may also be
events especially for adults, such as a Scoutmaster Dutch Oven Cookoff.
What should you bring to a Klondike Derby ?
Clothing -- Scouts need good outdoor winter clothing, such as thermal underwear, gloves, hats, warm coats, multiple pairs of socks, waterproof boots and rain gear. They should be prepared for a long cold weekend in cold, wet, snow. The best idea is to dress in layers, so that layers can be added and removed as required.
Equipment -- Each Scout should bring water, since winter air is commonly very dry and dehydration can easily occur. Sunglasses and sunscreen should also be brought to avoid sunburn and snow blindness. It may be advisable to bring snowshoes, depending on the expected conditions at the Klondike location. Walking through deep snow can be cold, exhausting work. Scouts can make their own snowshoes if desired, following plans available on the internet. For competitions, each team should have firemaking gear, a saw or hatchet, rope and a compass.
The Sled -- Competing teams (patrols/dens) of Scouts are encouraged to bring a Klondike Derby sled. The sleds are fashioned to look somewhat like Alaskan dog sleds, but powered by Scouts. Sleds may be constructed of just about any type of lumber or pipe. Old skis are frequently used as runners. Screws are recommend over nails in the construction of the sled because nails may come loose under the strain of the competition. Plans for sleds may be found at various internet locations.