Klondike Derby a Success (Even Without Snow)

THIS YEAR MARKED the 50th anniversary of the Klondike Derby event on MMA’s campus. MMA Sea Scout Ship 1941 hosted more than 200 BSA participants from across New England on February 1.
The highlight of the event was a competition between groups who ran with home-built sleds full of gear through Witherle Woods (despite the lack of snow) as they completed challenges at various skill stations.

“Not everything went exactly according to plan, but we managed to smooth the bugs out so that our participants wouldn’t feel the effects too drastically,” says Midshipman Third Class John R. Hall, Bosun’s Mate of the Ship 1941 Sea Scout program.

Ship 1941, founded just two years ago, is small in numbers (7) but has had a big impact, providing community service and fostering volunteerism.

Sea Scout units—called Ships—are established across the country adjacent to oceans, bays, rivers, and lakes. For more than 100 years, the mission of Sea Scouts, a program of Boy Scouts of America, has been to improve member boating skills through instruction and practice in water safety, as well as to encourage outdoor, social, service experiences and knowledge of American maritime heritage. Sea Scouts is the official youth program of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Hall says the group’s hopes are to expand its membership and host future events on the TS State of Maine. “This year’s accomplishments— which included the Klondike, blood drives, and more— were a huge step in the right direction.”█

Photos: Christine Spratt

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