On Saturday, February 8 at Camp Yawgoog in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, the long tradition of local scouts participating in their Klondike derby continued. Since the Scouts of America are now integrated, hundreds of boys and girls participated in this year’s event. Klondike derbies, named after that of the Canadian gold rush to the region, are held across the US and Canada and are made up of various stations and workplaces where scouts test their abilities outdoors and their leadership skills. The scouts at Yawgoog built their own sleds and flew between stations in them.
Marion Scout Pack 32 was present, along with many other local groups. This was the first year this derby was integrated with both genders present. The “Boy Scouts of America,” now known as “Scouting America,” also celebrated its 115th anniversary on February 8. The NBC 10 News story that featured the scouts is titled “They’re not just the Boy Scouts anymore” and can be viewed online.
By Sam Bishop