Provided by Darrell E. Groman, Assistant Scoutmaster
Ten scouts from Bluffton Boy Scout Troop 256 participated at the 50th annual Klondike Derby of the Black Swamp Area Council. This event was held on Saturday, Jan. 23 at B.S.A. Camp Lakota, near Defiance.

Based on the Alaskan gold rush of 1896, the Scouts pulled their six-foot wooden sled packed with their day supplies for the seven-hour race on 3-4 inches of snow.

Bluffton's Burnt Sock patrol, led by Patrol Leader Tecumseh Kibele and Assistant PL Misha Groman, raced to seven different Alaskan "towns," testing their Scout skills, mettle and endurance.

The towns which they visited included Attu, Fairbanks, Nome, Polar Cove, Skagway, Yukon Peaks, and Kodiak where the Bluffton scouts demonstrated their skills at map - reading, knot - tying, first aid, compass reading and orienteering, fire - building, using a two-man saw and identifying merit badges.

Of the 64 patrol sleds entered, the Burnt Sock patrol finished the race in 58th place. For the nine 6th graders and one 7th grader, this was their first Klondike Derby and their first visit to Camp Lakota.

They each have learned from this experience and are looking forward to next year's Klondike Derby, which will be held at the council's Camp Berry, near Findlay.

The Bluffton Scouts who participated on the 2010 Klondike Derby Run were: Jacob Barnett, Clay Burkholder, Jeremiah Garmatter, A.P.L. Misha Groman, Austen Herron, P.L. Tecumseh Kibele, Tyler King, Carrick Lancaster, Jared Metzger and Roger Zeits.

Adult leaders attending from the local troop were Troop Committee member Mike Metzger and Assistant Scoutmasters Jeff Burkholder, Darrell Groman and Clair Zeits.

Seven Bluffton Webelos Scouts from Bluffton Cub Scout Pack 256 were present as spectators at the Klondike Derby. The Bluffton Webelos were: Christian Groman, Kaleb Jefferson, Brice Metzger, Nolan Nickels, Casey Purcell, Kaden Reneker and Nate Staley. The Webelos were led by Pack Cubmaster Eric Reneker and Pack Committee members Doug Nickels and Dan Staley. The Bluffton Webelos had an opportunity to work on their compass, orienteering and fire - building skills.