First Ever Cherokee District Klondike Derby January 18-20, 2008 Scoutland

First Ever Cherokee District Klondike Derby January 18-20, 2008 Scoutland

What is a Klondike Derby? It is a Boy Scout Winter Skills and Camping event, held every winter in the snow. Usually it involves an overnight campout and multiple Camporee type competitions, where Boy Scout Troops and Boy Scout Patrols compete against each other. Boys are divided into patrols and each patrol uses a Dog Type sled that uses Scout power to pull it instead of dogs. The Scouts pull the sleds that are loaded with their personal and patrol equipment. The Scouts journey through woods and fields, up and down hills and stop at different activity stations (sometimes named after Alaskan towns) where they are tested on different Scout skills. Usually the Scouts have to use a map and compass to navigate themselves and their sleds to their destinations (each activity station). When they arrive at these stations they are timed and tested on their Scouting knowledge, their team work and their problem solving skills. Usually all the traveling and the tests are performed on Saturday morning/afternoon and all of them are timed on a stop watch and count toward ribbons that are presented at the Saturday night camp fire. When is a Klondike Derby? Klondike Derbies are usually held in January and February each year, 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 even on just 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. All BSA Councils hold there Kloondike Derby on different weekends. Who can attend a Klondike Derby? Boys Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Explorer and Venture Scouts are the ones that this event is intended for. Sometimes Webelos Cub Scouts are invited to attend as the guest of a Boy Scout Troop or the BSA Council and stay for the day events. When Webelos compete, they usually do it against other Scouts their own age and use their own sled for their Den. The skills tests for Webelos are not usually as strenuous or difficult as what the older Scouts do, but it gives the younger Scouts a good idea of what to expect when they become Boy Scouts. Every BSA Council has their own rules for this event. What kind of equipment do you need at a Klondike Derby? The Sled -- Every competing team (patrol/den) of Scouts needs a Klondike Derby Sled. The sleds are fashioned to look somewhat like Alaskan Dog Sleds. Some materials that are used include, plywood, 1x2's, 1x4's, 2x4's pine boards, old fiberglass and wood skis are sometimes used for the runners, sometimes PVC pipes are used to form the body of the sled, wooden dowels, old broom sticks and handles, wood screws, nuts and bolts, rope, etc... It's not recommend to use nails in the construction of the sled because they come loose under the stress/ strain and banging the sleds take.

2008 Klindike Derby Items Required for Each Sled 1. Patrol Flag 2. Patrol Duty Roster 3. Compass 4. (1) Two-Man Tent with ground cloth 5. Klondike Assignment Card (to be given at Orientation Saturday Morning) 6. First Aid Kit (to include cravats, splints, bandages, etc.) 7. Hand Axe with sheath 8. Bow Saw with sheath 9. At least one watch per patrol 10. 40 feet of lashing rope 11. Pocket Knife (minimum of 2 per patrol) 12. 1 Small Mess Kit Cooking Pot (with Hanging Handle) 13. Roll of T.P. (kept dry) 14. 2 Yule Logs for Saturday Night Campfire (3-4 feet, 5-8 inch diameter) 15. 1 small box of matches with striker (kept dry) 16. 1 blanket 17. Patrol Lunch if eating on Klindike Trail 18. Back Packer Shovel 19. Scout Handbook 20. Klondike Sled

Circle one: Cherokee District Winter Camporee Klondike Derby Registration Form Scoutland Troop Crew Unit #: Name of Scout Master/Crew Advisor: Phone #: Adults available to staff an activity station (we need volunteers please) Early Fee: $10 (Received by Dec. 7th) Participants at $10each On Site Fee: $20 (Day of, Jan. 19 th )* Participants at $20each Regular Fee: $15 (Received by Dec. 18 th ) Participants at $15each Each additional camporee patch: $3.00 Pathes at $3.00 Your registration fee includes one patch per participant. *Participants registering On Site cannot be guaranteed a patch. Patches will be received at Checkout by your acting Scoutmaster. Be Sure to stop by Camporee Headquarters before leaving in order to Check-out and receive your patches. Please make checks payable to: Northeast Georgia Council, BSA Or Circle: Visa Mastercard Discover Card No. Exp. Date Cardholder s Signature Name Address City, State, Zip Phone # Questions? Please contact: Greg Schultz @ 706-224-3087 or Mike Dorothy@ 706-255-0543 Mail Form To: Attention: Cherokee District Camporee Northeast Georgia Council, BSA PO Box 399 Jefferson, GA 30549