FACTORYVILLE TROOP 175 NEWS
The second weekend in February 2007 was one for the record books, Boy Scout Troop 175 of Factoryville, Pa record book at least, as they competed in one of Scouting’s toughest events of the year. The event was the annual Klondike Derby, held at Goose Pond Boy Scout Reservation. The troop had not entered a sled in the event in more years than any current leaders could remember and there was no memory of even placing by the former scouts as we called in the reserves to train our young scouts. They decided to enter three separate sled teams many months before the race date. The Scouts worked during their usual once a month campout dates to build the sleds and train for the various activities.
Knowing that it was important to experience the entire derby, the troop was one of only 4 troops to brave the elements and camp over on Friday night before the opening day. With single digit temperatures and wind-chill below zero overnight, the sunrise was a welcome sight that Saturday morning.
Revelry at 7:00 am had the boys dressed, fed and eager to pack out their full sleds. The games started at 8:30 am after a brief meeting of the 425 Scouts competing on over 60 sled teams. By lunch time the boys were still running hard and had stopped by occasionally at camp to warm up by the fire. By 2:30 our boys were all but finished with the events and realized that they were in the running once we added up their great scores on each skill station. At 3:30 we were gathered together with all the competing sled teams to hear the results. After a few jokes, songs and praises the winners were announced. Troop 175 had captured the 1st place finish in the whole event and 2nd place in the junior competition.
This years winners were:
In the Brownsea Division
3rd- Troop 73 (Throop) Beavers
2nd Troop 175 (Factoryville) Justice League
1st Troop 102 (Lake Ariel) Penguins
In the venture division
3rd Troop 73 (Throop) Road Kill
2nd Troop 322 (Dickson City) Patriot
1st Troop 175 (Factoryville) Keystone Rent-a-Cop
