SNAKE RIVER DISTRICT KLONDIKE DERBY - Mountain West Council

KLONDIKE DERBY – February 5, 2022

                               SNAKE RIVER DISTRICT

                      KLONDIKE DERBY
                                      February 5, 2022

The Snake River District will obtain a permit from the Forest Service so that units can arrive on Friday the
4th and stay till Sunday the 6th. The district will also arrange to have porta potties on site from the 4th to
the 6th. The actual district event will just be on Saturday the 5th.

                                           ANY QUESITIONS CALL

                           Klondike Committee Tom Wangeman 208-731-8636
                                     Klondike Committee Eric Carter
                              Program Chair McKay Lundgren 208-421-2070

KLONDIKE DERBY – February 5, 2022

We plan to charge $5 a person. This will include:
   •   Porta Potties
   •   Cracker Barrel for the evening campfire
   •   A patch for every participant
   •   Hot chocolate mix for everyone at the fire building station

Please turn in your registration and money by January 7th to the Scout Office.

Each unit will be responsible for their own meals. During Saturday’s events the
Scoutmasters will be the score keepers and provide feedback during the Start,
Stop and Continue.

WHAT IS A KLONDIKE DERBY?? Many years ago, men raced by means of dogs and
sleds across the frozen wastes of Canada in search of GOLD! Scouting has
capitalized on this theme and has developed the Klondike Derby as an activity for
Scouts.
Each dog team (so called because Scouts act as huskies) form a separate
expedition, and follows a course outlined on a map given to the team. Each team
driver (patrol leader) is handed a sealed envelope containing his instructions.
Each team then starts off to a different station as shown on their map.
An adult leader with the expedition will act as the judge and award points at each
station. Teams will be competing for a GOLD, SILVER or BRONZE award. Every
team will be eligible for a GOLD AWARD so go for the GOLD!
Sound good? You’re doggone right. Every Scout will want to be in the Derby. Look
over the enclosed plan, talk it up with the Scouts and get the patrols working
now! The Klondike Derby is the BIGGEST winter activity happening in the Snake
River District.

KLONDIKE DERBY – February 5, 2022

PLAN
Patrols report to the start location and are given general instructions and sealed orders, where
they proceed as directed by their orders. Upon completing the 6 stations, we will break for
lunch. After lunch we will have competitions: Sled races, Snow Shoe races, Tug of War and
Snow Ball toss.
As you get to each station read the instructions and resolve the problems or practice the scout
skills.
POINTS - Scorecard on the back
Points will be award for the following:
   1. Fire building
   2. First Aid
   3. Ice Rescue
   4. Orienteering
   5. Ghost Event
   6. Snow Blind Goggles
   7. Sled Race (time trial)
   8. Snow Shoe Race (time trial)
   9. Snow Ball Toss
   10. Having a skit for the campfire
   11. Sleeping in a shelter (this is not a tent)

Clothing
Proper clothing is a must, and should be layered so the Scout can remove some layers if too hot
or add layers if cold. Scout uniform is not required. No inappropriate shoes (tennis, athlete
shoes, etc.) will be allowed. The Scout Master and the SPLs should not allow Individuals to
come if they do not have the appropriately clothing. This should be covered at Boy Scout
meetings. This event will not be canceled because of cold weather. So, bring plenty of clothing
to change into to keep dry if necessity.

Troops must provide their own food for the entire weekend.

Cost
With Troops providing their own food the district will provide Porta Potties, a cracker barrel and
hot chocolate. This allows us to keep this event at $5 per person.

KLONDIKE DERBY – February 5, 2022

Equipment needed for shelter construction
Shovels, mini-shovels, buckets, scrapers, tarp, etc.
Please bring clothing and gear that is adequate for all types of winter weather.
Many times, the clothing and gear that you make a snow cave in becomes wet – bring a second
set of winter clothing and gear for the rest of the event.

Saturday night’s campfire will include troop skits.

                                      GENERAL INFORMATION

Klondike Derby will be a day of Scouting fun with a mixture of competitive spirit and outdoor
fellowship. The following information will help you plan for this district event.

1. The Klondike Derby will take place at Diamond Field Jack in the South Hills.
2. All troops are encouraged to camp out in Snow Shelters or other types of shelters that they
build either Friday night or Saturday morning before the events start. This is an excellent
opportunity to camp in the winter environment and to teach your boys the skills they need to
survive if they are ever caught out in the snow overnight.
3. Each patrol should have their own sled and compete as a patrol.

Pay particular attention to “Equipment Needed”! This is vital information.
Please advise your Scouts on the following:

1. Sleds must be functional to complete the course, and to finish with all gear stored on board.
2. Participating patrols should be natural patrols, in appropriate winter dress. (Scout uniform is
not winter dress.) No inappropriate shoes (tennis, athlete shoes, etc.) will be allowed.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED BY EACH PATROL ON SLED BEFORE STARTING COURSE
1. Two (2) blankets (camp style)
2. Eight (8) six-foot lengths of rope (strong 1/4 inch)
3. Solid fuel for fire building (natural material, birch bark, twinges, etc.)
4. 2 fire lighting methods - match, flint and steel or bow drill (no lighters)
5 Two (2) Compasses
6. First Aid kit – these items are for training so use strips of cloth to simulate. (Two sterile
dressings, two compression triangular bandages, and material for splints)
7. Fifty feet of rope (1/2-inch dia.)
8. Shovel
9. 5-gallon bucket
10. At least one set of snow shoes
11. Patrol flag

KLONDIKE DERBY – February 5, 2022

                                     SCOUT SKILL STATIONS

FIRE BUILDING
The patrol will set up a fire with natural materials normally found in the woods and natural
twinges not larger than your fingers in diameter, (about 8” to 10” long).
No commercial fire starters will be allowed.
                         You must bring your own material for your fire.
Start a fire and heat up enough water for each member of the expedition to have a HOT cup of
hot chocolate.

ICE RESCUE
Each patrol must select a victim who has fallen through the ice. The rest of the patrol will tie a
bowline in the end of a length of rope and throw it to the victim, 25’ away. The victim must
catch the rope and slip it under his shoulders. The rest of the patrol will pull him ashore. Each
patrol will be asked to tie 4 different knots, each knot will be tied by a different scout.

FIRST AID
Select a victim who will need to be treated for a broken leg, frost bite and hypothermia.

ORIENTEERING
Each patrol will use their compass to complete assigned tasks.

GHOST EVENT
This will be an emergency event that will take place out of the blue during the day.

SNOW-BLIND GOGGLES
Each scout will use material provided to build their own Snow-Blind Goggles.

                                         COMPETITIONS

CROSS COUNTRY RACE (time trial)
Your sled must be loaded with all equipment for the Cross-Country Race. Sleds must remain in
one piece. All scouts, sled and all equipment will race around a course and back to the starting
line. Minimum patrol size is four (4) Scouts. Each sled will run the course against the clock.
The patrol with the fastest time will be determined the winner.

KLONDIKE DERBY – February 5, 2022

SNOW SHOE RACE
Everyone that has snow shoes will be able to compete in this race. Each scout will run the
course against the clock. The scout with the fastest time will be determined the winner.

SNOW BALL TOSS
The entire patrol will throw snow balls into a 5-gallon bucket. Once the bucket has been filled
to the appropriate level two of the scouts will pick it up and run to the finish line.

Pre-Registration
       Please pre-register at the scout office or contact Jeremy.

Troop vs District
       This district event is just on Saturday and the district will not be providing any food
other than a cracker barrel at the campfire. We will be keeping troops 6 feet apart at all times.
A permit has been obtained from the forest service for troops to camp in the vicinity of
Diamond Field Jack from Friday 2/4 to Sunday 2/6. Troops will need to follow all State, County
and CDC guidelines for sanitation and social distancing. Below are areas to focus on.
   1. A survey completed by each scout and adult before attend the klondike.
   2. Temperatures taken of each scout and adult before getting in a vehicle together to
      come to the event.
   3. Your meals are not to be self serve. Individuals preparing food should have masks and
      gloves. Plates should be prepared and placed on a separate table where they can be
      picked up.

KLONDIKE DERBY – February 5, 2022

Saturday

      9:00 am – 1:00 pm          Klondike Derby Scout Skills Stations. Fire Building
                            1.   First Aid
                            2.   Ice Rescue
                            3.   Orienteering
                            4.   Snow Blind Goggles
                            5.   Ghost Event
     1:00 pm – 2:00 pm           Lunch (Troop provides not self serve)

     2:00 pm – 4:30 pm           Klondike Derby Competitions
                            1. Sled Race (time trial)
                            2. Snow Ball Toss
                            3. Snow Show Race (time trial)
     4:30 pm – 6:30 pm           Dinner (Troop provides not self serve)

     6:30 pm             Campfire –
                               (We will have 8-10 small campfires in a U shape.)
                         Each unit will be at a separate fire – inside the U is
                         where the skits and program will take place.
                               Skits
                               Program

                         Non self serve Cracker Barrell

     8:00 PM             District Klondike is officially over.