On Saturday, January 28, 2023, Troop 542 Scouts participated in the Baden-Powell District’s Gold Rush/Klondike Derby at Musser Scout Reservation. The Gold Rush is a regional event during which patrols from each participating troop compete against one another in 10 challenges. These challenges, dubbed towns, are scattered across Camp Delmot, and the patrols are given the task of navigating from town to town across the woods. Each patrol loads a sled with personal gear, food, cooking tools, and other supplies and pulls the sled to each town, using the luggage to complete challenges. The challenges test each patrol’s Scout skills and include axe-throwing, paintball shooting, performing first aid, tying knots, cooking burgers, and more. After participating in each event, the patrol is scored on a blue sheet. The blue score sheet is collected at the end of the competition, and scores are tallied. The patrol with the highest score is declared the winner.
From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., five patrols from Troop 542 scuffled across muddy paths and bumpy roads to reach each town. While it seemed easy at first, the Gold Rush quickly proved to be much more difficult. Patrols were given true freedom: the freedom to fail. The difficulties presented by the muddy terrain and the challenges at each town taught the Scouts far more than they could learn in a classroom setting. During this day-long adventure, patrols learned the values of leadership, craftsmanship, creativity, and communication, which proved essential for success.