17-02-2025
Weekend snow provides perfect environment for Klondike Scout Skills competition
About 200 scouts packed their bags over the weekend and put their outdoor skills to the test with a friendly competition.
The Klondike Scout Skills competition is being held at Custaloga Town Scout Reservation in Mercer County.
Snow-heavy winter makes for good times at Peek'n Peak
Youth and adult troops worked as a team to get the most points to get prizes and a patch at the end of the day.
'We have [a] two-man saw where the kids learn teamwork, working together pulling a traditional two-man saw and logs. This is a timed event,' said Ryan Adams, committee chairperson of Lakes District of the French Creek Council Scouting America. 'Then we have things like fire building, slingshots, rifle range is open, building tents and shelters in the snow.'
Saturday morning, the snow that some people wished wouldn't come our way was everything these scouters wanted and more.
The French Creek Council has had to alter previous events with the recent mild winters.
'I think the snow adds a little level of difficulty to it because you have to work around the snow but it does make pushing the sled easier for sure,' said Alex Wildfire, a scout.
Each troop designed and built their own sled that was equipped with everything they needed to complete each of the stations.
'We have a fire building kit on the sled, we have a tarp, we have two sticks for a stretcher.''Being an Eagle Scout can help you get into certain colleges easier and job application it'll definitely assist there,' said Wildfire.
Wildfire has been a scout since kindergarten and said he has made lifelong friendships and skills — something that is seen across the organization.
Road crews preparing for another round of Erie winter weather
This year, Boy Scouts of America is celebrating their 115th anniversary and is rebranding to Scouting America.
According to the organization, this reflects their ongoing commitment to welcoming every youth and family to experience the benefits of scouting.
'We have some of the oldest councils in the country here in western Pennsylvania,' said Adams. 'And our inclusion of the boys and girls joining together it has been and awesome opportunity to see the growth of this program through the years.'
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