Boys Scouts from the Magnolia-based Troop 157 and the Webelos Den from Pack 157 joined other Scouts from the Neta District for the annual Klondike Derby, recently held at Camp Tuscazoar. The activities included pushing/pulling a sled, loaded with the tools and equipment they needed, through a "circuit of challenges." The challenges included building a fire from scratch with only two matches and using it to boil soapy water in under 25 minutes, putting up and taking down a tent, launching a catapult, tying knots to build structures, cooking food over a fire, knowledge of first aid and Boy Scout history, making a bear bag and more. The emphasis was on teamwork.

This year's Klondike was a "balmy" 40 degrees warmer than last years. The warmer temperatures made the hilly trails of camp Tuscazoar a wet mixture of mud and slush, but that didn't slow the boys down. They finished the day with a snowball fight, followed by a game of capture the flag. They then crawled into their sleeping bags to sleep, returning to Magnolia on Sunday morning-- happy and tired.

PICTURED ABOVE: Webelos Scouts from Pack 157 work together to pull the ropes on a crane to pick up a can and place it in a target. From left are, Aleks Rymer, Richie Barlett, Ethan Minor, Casey Crowl and Danny Lampe.

BELOW: Boy Scouts from Troop 157, from left, Seth Nichols, Tyler Lebold, Michael S. Rymer, Brandon Lebold, Micheal J. Rymer, and Jamie Moore.