Klondike

[summertop]

Last year I took the scouts to Klondike Derby (winter camp). I asked, "Anyone want to have fun?" To which I got all the cheers expected.

So then I said, "STAY DRY!"

Within 10 minutes it was MY son that went into the river. Aaarg!:?

So how do your districts run Klondike? In ours, we have the leaders of each unit create a "Station" to test scout skills (first aid, flint and steel, knots, etc.). The scouts go from station to station. We have ribbons for the troops with the highest scores. (skills and spirit). At the end we have a race with the "Dog Sleds".

[lifescoutforlife]

Ours is alot like yours but they haul the dog sled station to station while doing the skills and they are timed. We do not camp there it is just a afternoon thing and every kid bring's a can of soup that goes into a pot with water onions, carrots and other veggies and it cooks while they race and they get some at the end. tastes pretty good but is different every year.

[DadScout]

For our district (actually OA chapter) run Klondike is held at a local preserve and runs from early morning to mid-afternoon. It's in two tracks, one for Scouts and one for WEBELOS-II. The boys pull their sledges, which for the Scouts has weight specs, thru the snow (we hope) from city to city (station to station). The Scouts are on a longer trail than the WEBELOS and in fact in different sections of the preserve. As they go from City to City there are older OA members or adults who test them on scout skill and give them gold nuggets based on their performance of the skill. In the end they're scored on # of nuggets and time.

[scoutaholic]

For our district (actually OA chapter) run Klondike is held at a local preserve and runs from early morning to mid-afternoon. It's in two tracks, one for Scouts and one for WEBELOS-II. The boys pull their sledges, which for the Scouts has weight specs, thru the snow (we hope) from city to city (station to station). The Scouts are on a longer trail than the WEBELOS and in fact in different sections of the preserve. As they go from City to City there are older OA members or adults who test them on scout skill and give them gold nuggets based on their performance of the skill. In the end they're scored on # of nuggets and time.

That is what I thought Klondike was supposed to be. All based on the theme of the Alaskan Gold Rush of 1896. We did it that way every year when I was a young scout.

I have been in charge of our district Klondike for the last 4-5 years. In that time I have discovered that many scouts and leaders have different ideas about what Klondike should be. Many want the sled race to be separate from the other games/stations. Some have other ideas for games/stations that may not be about scouting skills and teamwork activities. Some don't want to camp. Some don't want to do Klondike at all.
This year, the other ideas won. "Klondike" is being planned with the local hockey team. Attend a game Friday night, meet some players after the game, spend the night in the arena, play games there in the morning. Could be lots of fun, but I wouldn't call it 'camping' nor 'Klondike'.

[summertop]

This year, the other ideas won. "Klondike" is being planned with the local hockey team. Attend a game Friday night, meet some players after the game, spend the night in the arena, play games there in the morning. Could be lots of fun, but I wouldn't call it 'camping' nor 'Klondike'.

No, not camping...but sounds like fun. Let us know how it goes. the Utah Grizzlies have always been great supports of scouting.

Scoutaholic, as a side note, I've heard that Hogle Zoo also sponsors scouting. I was talking to a zoo keeper a couple of weeks ago. He said, during the summer, the zoo has a "camping" experience for scout troops. The troop can camp overnight (on the grass in front of the great apes building). They have a special tour after hours for the scouts. Sounded fun to me!

[scoutaholic]

... I've heard that Hogle Zoo also sponsors scouting. I was talking to a zoo keeper a couple of weeks ago. He said, during the summer, the zoo has a "camping" experience for scout troops. The troop can camp overnight (on the grass in front of the great apes building). They have a special tour after hours for the scouts. Sounded fun to me!

They have a "Zoosnooz" program once or twice each summer. It is billed as a family event, but I'm sure it could be done as a troop. Sounds fun, but it is not cheap. I'm not aware of an overnight experience intended for scouts, but I may not have asked the right question.

They also teach Merit Badge classes in their education department. Bird Study and Insect study are regular recurring classes on their schedule. The don't teach Mammal study, because it is easy and the local council camps all teach it and they don't want to compete. They won't teach Reptile and Amphibian study because there is a requirement that they don't approve of and won't perpetuate. (Catching a Reptile/Amphibian in the wild, keeping it for a month, and then returning it to it's home is not acceptible to the zoo ideology. It would likely kill the animal, disrupt the ecological balance, and does not encourage responsible animal ownership/care.)

[skriser]

This year our troop is hosting the Klondike. We have set up several stations that will test the scout skills.

We are trying to pattern it after the original klondike in the Yukon wilderness. We have 2 different trails the boys can decide on. Easy and Hard. Hard earns more points.

We also are working with businesses to give items that we can issue to troops who come in 1-2-3 place.

So far the planning has been fun and trying.

We will see how it works out at the end of the month.

Sam

[jr56]

Yes, my council has a Klondike with various scout skills stations, also the dog sled race.