On Monday we will start prepping for the Klondike Derby. Please note that the Klondike Derby is *NOT* the Pinewood Derby to be held in April. The Klondike Derby is an event modeled after the Klondike Gold Rush. The boys will pull a supply filled sled from station (town) to station (town) performing various activities. While most are fun and games, sometimes a few will challenge their skills/scouting knowledge.
The cost for the Klondike Derby at this point is $12 per scout and it includes (for the scout) lunch, hot cocoa, a patch and loads of fun. . We need a final headcount and payment no later than Monday January 13th.
As the date approaches we will be sure to let everyone know of the weather for the day. Considering it is Winter expect it to be cold. If we are lucky we will have snow. Snow just makes the event that much more fun.
BE PREPARED
To make the day successful lets and fun for the kids lets start with what you need to be prepared..
- Parents, be prepared yourself; you want to make sure you are warm, comfortable & dry yourself. The Klondike Derby is an outdoor event and we will be outside from approximately 8:30am until 3:30pm.
- Make sure that your boys are dressed for the weather, in layers and prepared for a change of weather.
- NO SNEAKERS OR SHOES – BOOTS (Waterproof) ARE MANDATORY. — The boys will be outside pulling a sled, playing games and more in cold, and possibly wet, wintry weather.
- Hat, Gloves, Scarf — Mittens are warmer but gloves offer dexterity. A great option are the soft cotton (knitted gloves) inside a pair of mittens. This way they can maximize hand warmth but still have finger dexterity for activities without having to expose their hands.
- Snow/Rain gear — In the event it will be a wet wintry mix or even snowy, if your boys get wet, they will get cold faster. Their clothing should be in layers, which can be altered as necessary, with the innermost layers providing comfort & warmth and the outer most layers protecting against wind, snow & rain.
- Spare socks & Shoes – Feet sweat, feet can get wet. There is nothing worse than soggy feet on a cold day. Bring some extra socks and shoes to keep in the car. This way your boys can change their shoes before heading home to keep your car clean and their feet warm.
- Make sure your boys have a bottle of water with them. Yes, your boys will be provided food and drink but the cold air dehydrates you quite rapidly. For safety reasons it is absolutely mandatory that each scout has a bottle of water with them, labeled with their name.
- Bring your Handbooks & Neckerchiefs, we must have a minimum of one each per sled.
- Excitement – Have your boys bring a boat load of excitement. The day is all about FUN FUN FUN!
SLEDS
I will be bringing the sleds, for your information each sled will have a box/crate containing the following items;
One to Two Tarps- Four to Six 6′ lengths of rope.
- Four Scout Staves
- One Gallon of Water
- Trash bags
- Compass
- One of each rank Handbook
- Fire building material (enough to build 1 fire per sled)
- Tinder & kindling
- A Lot Of Positive Energy
SKILLS & ACTIVITIES
- Shelter building
- Knots
- Fire building
- First Aid
- Rescue situations
- Team building
- Compass points
- fun, fun and more fun.
I want to thank all of the scouts, leaders, parents and siblings for their support of this annual program. While it can be tiresome and seem trivial on the surface this program goes a long way to to helping families who worry about where their next meal will come from.
