The Klondike Derby, February 20&21, 2015

Eighteen Scouts slept in their snow shelters last Friday night up at the Anthony Lakes area of NE Oregon.  Their gear was appropriate to the weather conditions--18 degrees and light snow--so they enjoyed a comfortable night.  Many of these boys were barely eleven years old, yet their enthusiasm lasted the entire time, and they were most proud of their accomplishment. And I, at the other end of the age spectrum, enjoyed sleeping out in a tree well inside a bivy sack, underneath the tree boughs.

Saturday morning they competed in Scout skill events, as well as fun challenges based on a medieval knight theme--a catapult to knock over buckets, a jousting where they held a long light pole to thrust through a small hole as they were being pushed on a sledge, a bridge to knock their opponent off of.

We had enough scouts for three patrols.  One patrol finished first, so naturally there was extra excitement. These opportunities are unique skill and confidence builders--lessons and memories to last a  lifetime.

My sleeping "quarters"

Jousting target

BSA Troop 514 rafting the Grande Ronde River

Thirteen Scouts and four adults from the La Grande Presbyterian Church Scout troop enjoyed an excellent three day, two night trip down the Wallowa/Grande Ronde River, June 21 through June 23. Each Scout had the opportunity to row and learn the intricacies of "reading" the water and the rapids. The showed great teamwork in hauling rafts upstream when we needed to move to a better campsite. The collaborated in three cooking groups to prepare two dutch oven dinners and two dutch oven breakfasts.

We started out in the rain, but by the time we set up camp Friday afternoon, the sun had come out and we were soon dry. The boys ages are between eleven and sixteen, yet still they enjoyed cross generation sharing and helping. Out pace was leisurely, and the lessons deep.

At the river put in point