Belgrade camp hosts Klondike Derby

Members of Damariscotta Troop 213 attend a Klondike Derby at Camp Bomazeen in Belgrade. From left are Finley Greenleaf of Jefferson, Eddie Seiders of South Bristol, Nevan Paulino of Nobleboro, Peter DeLorenzo of Jefferson, and Elijah Smith of Boothbay. Mike Labbe photo

The Klondike Derby drew Scouts from surrounding area towns and as far away as Boothbay Harbor and Gorham to the fields and trails of Camp Bomazeen in Belgrade Jan. 21. There were more than 100 Scouts and Cubs in attendance.

“I loved seeing all the Scouts active and enjoying themselves,” said Klondike Director Julie McKenney of Belgrade, according to a news release from Chuck Mahaleris, district chairman for the Kennebec Valley District of Scouting.

McKenney and volunteers spent months preparing two separate outdoor programs; one for younger Cub Scouts and one for Scouts in troops.

Allison Dorr, a member of Winslow Troop 433G, demonstrates how to start a fire on snow in the woods. Mike Labbe photo

“The Klondike Derby is a fun-filled activity patterned after the days of the Yukon Gold Rush,” McKenney said. “Patrols build sledges like the early prospectors used as they hunted for gold. The members of each patrol serve as a team of huskies to pull their patrol’s sledge around the course. Each patrol visited a number of stations, each having an Alaskan/Yukon town name. At each town the patrol was confronted with a problem requiring Scout skills to solve. Depending on how well the patrol works out the problem, determine the number of Gold Nuggets they received at that station. The patrol with the most gold nuggets at the end of the day was the winner.”

Damariscotta Troop 213’s Bear Patrol won the overall program, with Gardiner Troop 672’s Shark Bait patrol coming in second overall and Gorham Troop 73’s Burrito Patrol coming in third.

Colin Patrick, 1st Class Scout from Hartland, is a member of Troop 428 in Pittsfield. He took part in hatchet throwing. Mike Labbe photo

The sledges carried items needed by the patrol for the program such as cooking equipment, two gallons of water, two tarps and a first aid kit. The Scouts competed in activities such as fire starting, blindfolded shelter building, compass work, hatchet throwing, rifle shooting and big foot walking.

Scott St. Amand of Gardiner ran the program for the Cub Scouts. “It’s awesome to see families coming out during a time of year when it’s easy to want to stay in, meet new people and make new friendships,” St. Amand said. “For the Cub Scouts, the s’mores making station was universally their favorite.”

Troop 485 Scouts Derek Corson, left, and Taylor Hayden, both of Skowhegan, show off the emergency shelter they put up while blindfolded. Mike Labbe photo