Scouts test their outdoor skills at annual Derby

Scouts from East Rockaway’s Troop 332 gathered in the chilly early hours of January 27 at Schiff Scout Reservation in Wading River, NY to put their skills to the test. Like many Scout Troops from across Nassau and Suffolk counties, they were there to compete in the 2024 Klondike Derby, an intense but friendly competition of Scout skills, teamwork, and leadership.

Scouting organizations all over the US and Canada have been running Klondike Derbies every winter since 1968, when they were first conceived as an event that celebrates the lore of the Klondike Gold Rush and blends it with the focus on individual and team achievement that is a hallmark of Scouting. The goal of a Klondike Derby team is to pull their team’s homemade sled, fully laden with Scouting equipment, from one skill station to the next, demonstrating what they’ve learned in Scouts as quickly and correctly as possible.

During this year’s Derby, “Ramen Patrol”, Troop 332’s team, navigated their sled around the perimeter of Schiff’s 30-acre pond, stopping only to quickly demonstrate their prowess in campfire-building, first aid and rescue, knots, lashings and other key outdoor skills. One of the most challenging stations, the Snowblind Tent Set-Up, called for the Scouts to set up a tent while blindfolded by only listening to verbal instructions from their patrol leader.

The day’s activities culminated in an exciting — and hair-raising — Sled Race and the Derby Awards. After all the scores were tallied, East Rockaway’s Troop 332 achieved 1st and 2nd place ribbons in several of the day’s challenges. The Troop’s Scouts were most proud about receiving the top award for Sled Gear Check-In, since it confirmed their commitment to living the Scout motto: “Be Prepared”.

“The best part of Klondike is seeing the Troop come together on a shared goal”, said Troop 332 Assistant Scoutmaster Lissette Bernal-Cruz. “Scouts guiding their fellow Scouts, learning from each other while having fun – that’s the ethos of Scouting in action.”

Scouts BSA Troop 332 meets on most Friday evenings at 7:30 at the St. Raymond’s gymnasium, located at 263 Atlantic Ave. in East Rockaway. Parents of boys aged 11 to 17 who are interested in learning more about Scouting can visit a meeting, or contact Frank Honerkamp, Scoutmaster of Troop 332 for more details at t332fwh@yahoo.com.