MANSFIELD, Ohio – The Boy Scouts Johnny Appleseed Trail’s traditional Klondike Derby brought over 230 boys from the area this weekend to the Richland Rural Life Center in Mansfield.
The derby started on Friday and ran through Saturday. In attendance were 20 troops from the Johnny Appleseed Trail District, which covers Ashland, Richland and part of Crawford counties. .
“This is just some outdoor fun today,” said District Advancement Chairman Kyle Baughn. “It gives the guys some camaraderie and challenges them too.”
Some of the troops set up camp on Friday to wait for the activities on Saturday. During the event, Scouts threw axes, made fires, climbed rope ladders, sawed logs, set up dutch ovens, practiced rope rescues, navrgated using only a map and compass, pulled logs, and raced sleds.
Among some of the favorite ativities were the rope ladder climb, the ax throw, the cross-cut saw, and the sled race. The sled race was the last event on Saturday. All troops were broken into three heats and were required to pull and push their sled up a hill. The sled was filled with supplies and one member from each troop.
During each event, the troops were rated by a patrol officer. They gave points for a variety of criteria like teamwork, communication, leadership, creativity, and completion. The three teams with the most points at the end received plaques and each Scout received a badge and a pocket knife for their participation in the derby.
The Klondike Derby dates back in Mansfield to approximately 30 years ago, said Baughn. He and Galion Troop 304 Scoutmaster Alan Allwine remember taking part in the Klondike Derby when they were Boy Scouts. The name of the event is believed to have come from the Klondike Gold Rush, which took place in Yukon region between 1896 and 1899.
Allwine and Baughn are now part of the Galion 304 Troop. They have helped host the derby for three years. Before their leadership, the derby was held in different locations around Mansfield.
“(The Klondike Derby) gives them a healthy competition and it allows for them to interact with some of the other troops,” said Allwine.
