Scouts from troop 175 start a fire as a part of the Klondike Derby competition on Saturday at Camp Kootaga. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

WALKER — Scouts from across the region braved frigid temperatures Saturday to take part in a Klondike Derby-style competition at Camp Kootaga, where this year’s theme transported participants back to the era of the Klondike Gold Rush.

The event, hosted by Scouting America Troop 20, combined traditional cold-weather Scouting challenges with a playful storyline featuring Camp Kootaga’s familiar “mountain monster” character. Alan Campbell, Scoutmaster for Troop 20, said the theme draws from a long history within Scouting.

“The theme this year is gold rush,” Campbell said. “It’s one of the classic Klondike Derby themes in Scouting, going all the way back to the 1920s.”

Campbell said organizers merged the historic theme with the camp’s recurring mountain monster narrative. In the story, the monster — previously revealed as simply wanting to belong in Scouting — became bored and began prospecting for gold, ultimately challenging Scouts to compete using core skills.

Five troops participated in the event, forming five sled teams that rotated through outdoor stations throughout the day. Challenges included tasks such as building fires, tying knots and working together to solve practical problems.

Scouts from troop 203 push their sled to the next activity during the Klondike Derby at Camp Kootaga Saturday afternoon.(Photo by Gwen Sour)

“It’s really about working together,” Campbell said.

The derby is open to Scout members ages 10 to 18. Campbell said the wide age range allowed both younger and more experienced Scouts to participate side by side.

“We have some groups that are more senior Scouts, and others that brought very young Scouts,” he said. “Most of the groups are somewhere in between.”

With dangerously cold temperatures and an approaching winter storm, safety became a central focus of the event. Campbell said organizers adjusted plans well in advance to ensure participants could stay warm and safe.

“Safety is really, really important to us,” he said. “This is cold-weather camping, and it takes extra fortitude to come out in weather like this.”

Organizers opened heated indoor spaces, including the dining hall and lodge, and expanded the time allotted between stations to allow Scouts to warm up. Hot cocoa and coffee were available, and Scouts were encouraged to use the buddy system to monitor one another for signs of cold exposure.

“If your buddy says, ‘I can’t feel’ a body part, then they need to be inside getting warmed up,” Campbell said.

Originally planned as an overnight event, the derby was shortened due to the forecast. The awards ceremony was moved indoors, and troops were given the option to head home Saturday evening rather than stay overnight.

“It’s a skill we’re trying to teach Scouts – you work with your environment,” Campbell said. “If things change, you need to be flexible and come up with solutions to make sure everybody is kept safe.”

Among the participants was Bentley Sherman of Troop 20, who said he attends as many Scouting campouts as possible.

Scouts compete in an Iditarod-style race during the Klondike Derby Saturday at Camp Kootaga. (Photo Provided)

“I’ve been going to all the Scouting campouts that I can make it to since I joined,” Sherman said, noting he first became involved in Scouting at age 5.

Despite the cold, Sherman said he enjoyed the day and the activities offered.

According to Campbell, a total of 72 registered Scouts and Scouters took part in the Klondike Gold Rush event, competing as five sled teams throughout the day.

When scores were tallied, Troop 203 of Parkersburg finished in first place overall, followed by Troop 175 of Middlebourne in second place and host Troop 20 of Vienna in third.

Campbell said seeing Scouts persevere through difficult conditions while supporting one another was a point of pride for leaders.

“I’m super proud of all of the Scouts and the leaders who came out on a seriously chilly day,” he said.