The 2009 North Star District Klondike Derby
was held the weekend of January 16-18
at Camp Iyataka 

Last updated 01/19/09

The 2009 North Star District Klondike Derby was held at Camp Iyataka the weekend of January 16-18. Three troops arrived Friday evening, with a number of Scouts camping outside to earn Polar Bear Points towards the Sioux Council’s Polar Bear Award. One Scout slept in a snow shelter that was built by Scouts from a troop who had camped there last weekend. The remainder of the units arrived Saturday morning.

Those units who arrived Friday evening played Chess, Checkers, Score Four, and other card games. There was also a challenging math challenge for Scouts and Scouters to solve. Friday evening the movie, “Second Hand Lion” was also shown.

A total of 88 people attended this year’s Klondike derby, double the participants from either of the past two years.

Units that participated include, Troop 23 of Clark, Troop 19 of Clear Lake, Troop 33 of Webster, Troop 35 of Sisseton, Troop 188 of Aberdeen, Troop 51 of Aberdeen, Troop 45 of Milbank, and Troop 209 of Watertown.

Many of those who chose to camp outdoors changed their plans about 3:00 am in the morning when the winds picked up and started blowing the tents around. As it turned out just about everyone decided to sleep indoors after that.

The winds continued to blow throughout Saturday, resulting in 2 to 3 foot deep drifts on the road west of the camp, which resulted in four vehicles full of Scouts to get stuck. Dan Meyer, local farmer who keeps an eye on the camp offered to bring his tractor with a large snow blower attachment to help keep the roads clear so vehicles could come and go without much problem. Several other Scouters also helped get the vehicles pulled out. Everyone eventually arrived safely.

The sky was clear and calm Friday night, but became windy and overcast the remainder of the weekend, with temperatures in the twenties. The snow conditions were the best seen in many years, with about two feet of powder snow on the level and deeper drifts in many of the open areas - especially at the upper level of the camp.

Due to weather delay Scouts were allowed to go sledding and tubing until everyone arrived.

Steve and Mary Hall prepared a hot breakfast of an egg bake with eggs, sausage, bacon, bread and cheese, along with hotcakes and cocoa, which was served until everyone had eaten.

The competitive events got under way at about 11:00 am.

At 12:30 pm the competitive events were put on hold while everyone enjoyed a hot meal from a community chili pot, hot dogs, brownies, cocoa, and other beverages.

Competitive events got underway again about 1:30, and continued until about 3:00 p.m., when the winners of the events were announced, and the Paul Bunyan Award was presented.

Thanks goes to those units who hosted the following events:

First Aid Stretcher Race - Troop 33
Frozen Duck Pond Crossing - Troop 23
Basic Scout Knot Challenge - Troop 19
Fire Starting - Troop 188
Cardboard Carpet Slide - Troop 35
Klondike Derby Sled Ride - Troop 209

The following are the units who won the various events:

Stretcher Race - Troop 51
Frozen Duck Pond Crossing - Troop 209 (Team A)
Basic Scout Knot Challenge - Troop 188
Fire Building - Troops 19/23
Cardboard Carpet Ride - Troop 45
Klondike Sled Derby Race - Troop 51

The Paul Bunyan Award - the giant skillet that’s awarded to the overall winner for the Klondike Derby Weekend went to Troop 51 of Aberdeen.

Place finishes for the Paul Bunyan Award were:

1^st Place - Troop 51 (31 pts.)
2^nd Place - Troop 209 ( 29 pts.)
3^rd Place (a 3-way tie) - Troops 188, 45, and 33 (27 pts.)
4^th Place - Troop 19/23
5^th Place - Troop 35

Due to a forecast for continued windy conditions winds, no units opted to stay overnight on Saturday night. Dan Meyer ran his tractor/snow blower over the roads again just before units started to depart for home.

Thanks goes to all the Scouts and Scouters who participated. A special thanks goes to those units who helped organize and host the various events; to Steve and Mary Hall for once again for taking charge of the menu, as well as purchasing and preparing the means and all those who helped serve the meals; Bob Vergamini for handling the registration Mike Schreiner for guarding and collecting the gold nuggets and keeping score for the events; Dan Meyer for helping keep the roads clear of snow; and to those Scouters who helped get the stuck vehicles unstuck.

  Click here to view the 2009 North Star District Klondike Derby Photos.

CAMP IYATAKA WEATHER

 

 

       Return to "Potpourii Page"