Camp Bomazeen holds Klondike Derby

Camp Bomazeen photo credit: Camp Bomazeen, BSA Maine

Submitted by Chuck Mahaleris

Camp Bomazeen, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, hosted the 2020 Scout Klondike Derby on February 1. Approximately 100 Scouts and leaders attended the frosty fun time on the shores of North Pond where Scouts competed in challenges that were both fun and designed to test their Scouting knowledge.

Camp Bomazeen Director Julie McKinney served as the chairman of the event. “What a Great day! Weather was just right. So many smiles,” she said. “It went nicely. We had Scouts from the Skowhegan, Augusta, Winthrop, Gardiner and Waterville areas take part including both boy and girl troops.

It was great to show off camp and how much fun it is in all of Maine’s seasons.” She said that Scouts were part of a patrol and each patrol pushed a dog sled from one of ten stations to the next competing in challenges such as lashing, first aid, fishing, etc. The sled carried all the gear they had brought that they would need to complete the challenges. “Water boiling was a challenge for some of the Scouts as some didn’t know how to get the fire going outdoor on the wet ground in a short amount of time.

“Tomahawk-throwing was a huge fun event that everyone loved and slingshot shooting was a hit as well,” she said. McKinney praised the Scouting volunteers who helped plan and run the event. One of the leaders of the event was Scott Adams, of China, who said that his Scouts in Troop #479 “had a good time. It was a great event.”