On Feb. 9, Webelos from Pack 411 were invited  to participate in the Wild River District Klondike Derby. The Derby is a winter activity that pits Boy Scout patrols against each other competing in different scouting skills. With temperatures near zero and wind chills in the dangerous zone, these scouts came prepared for winter weather.

Webelos (l to r) front row: Matthew Braun, Dakota Burgerson and Aaron Sistrunk; Eagle scouts in back row are Zach Mattson and Garrett Smetana.

Each patrol builds a sled and hauls their equipment from town to town where they perform a scout skill and receive gold nuggets for their efforts, ever mindful that the “claim jumper” was waiting to test their scout knowledge and try and steal their gold. This year they competed in compass, first aid, fire building, log sawing, canoe race (tent pitching), knots and lashing, rescue throw and finally, the snow snake competition.

Although these Webelos don’t have all the scouts skills that were tested, Troop 411 provided two eagle scouts as patrol leaders. Using the patrol method, the  scorpion patrol from Pack 411 managed a respectable first place for compass skills, second for first aid, and took first for best patrol with the most gold nuggets collected for the day.