Despite a last-minute change of venue, the 2008 Winter Klondike Derby was yet another success for the boys of Katonah Troop 1! Building upon our experience at the Fall Camporee, one of Katonah's patrols took First Place in the overall competition! The theme for this year's Klondike Derby was paying "Honor and Tribute" to the men and women of the armed forces, especially those who fought in World War II. Designed by Assistant Scoutmaster Otto Vondrak, the event put Scout troops into the height of the 1944 Allied advance across France towards Germany. A map of the trail was overlayed with actual location names and landmarks from the Allied campaign as they drove the Nazi army back into Germany. Along the way, Scouts challenged their skills in First Aid (organized by Katonah Troop 1), Map Reading (Mahopac 271), Fire Building (Brewster 1), and Signalling (Patterson 440). At each station, Scouts were taught how the skills they were demonstrated would be used by soldiers not much older than them in a battle situation. Scouts were also judged on the construction of their Klondike sled and how well they worked together. Our troop was challenged every step of the way, but both patrols gave their best effort and came out in the top ten. Over 200 Scouts participated in this event, a record for district events.
This year's Klondike Derby honored the brave men and women of the armed forces.
Otto checks in a sled at Headquarters.
Katonah's Swamp Chickens Patrol starts their day at Headquarters.
Assistant Scoutmaster Otto Vondrak assembles the troops and leads them in opening ceremonies at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, January 26, 2008.
Mahopac 271 operated the Klondike Cafe for feed warm food to weary Scouts.
Katonah Troop 1 ran the First Aid station, seen here with Assistant Scoutmaster Hank Tschorn.
Katonah's Rabid Raccoon Patrol renders assistance to their fallen camerade at the First Aid station.
Hank Tschorn, Dennis Winthers and Jeff Kane compare notes at the First Aid Station.
Mahopac 271 ran the Observation Post, where Scouts were challenged in map reading skills.
Brewster 1 ran the fire building station, where troops had to quickly and safely build a fire to burn through a string.
A troop makes the dangerous crossing of the Rhine River from France into Germany!
Mahopac's "Manly" Patrol at the Signals Station.
Troops send a coded message in German to fool enemy troops at the Signalling station.
Patterson 440's Bob Cirelli ran the Signalling station at the Klondike Derby.
Weary troops arrive at the Signalling station.
On the trail, Assistant Scoutmaster Otto Vondrak checks back with headquarters.
A Mahopac troop re-enacts the flag raising at Iwo Jima.