On the fourth weekend of the month of January, the scouts camped outside for two nights with temperatures dropping below 20 degrees for the annual Klondike Derby. The Derby is held at the Muskingum Valley Scout Reservation in Conesville, Ohio. There were 150 scouts registered from the three districts that make up the Muskingum Valley Council.
Troop 122 has seven scouts ranging in age from 11 to 15. The troop is lead by Scout Master Rick Cooper. The Senior Patrol Leader is Hayden Weck. Other leadership positions include Assistant Patrol Leader Aaron McConnell, Quartermasters Eli McDonald and Dalton Cooper, Scribe Jack McDonald, Outdoor Ethics Guide Preston Ferrell and Chaplain Skyler Gillard.
Earlier in January, the scouts built a catapult from trees found on their Scout Master’s property. Using teamwork and their lashing skills the scouts tied the trees together to create their catapult that they brought with them to the Klondike Derby. The Troops competed to see how far they can launch tennis balls from the catapults that they built. Troop 122 earned first place in the competition.
“I was so excited that we won the catapult. I never dreamed it would happen. It shows that hard work pays off! We worked as a team, and it showed!” said SPLHayden Weck.
The scouts competed in other areas too including First Aid, Riffle Range and Woodman Skills.
There will be another camp out at the Scout Reservation in February, but this time they will be sleeping in heated cabins.
Also this winter the boys are attending Merit Badge College which is also held at the Scout Reservation. This is a three Saturday event that allows the scouts to earn merits in areas such as cooking, personal fitness, personal finance and journalism.
This May, five older scouts from Troop 122 will be starting their Eagle Projects. They are looking for ideas that can benefit the local Tri-Valley community and are open to suggestions and funding opportunities.
“My plan is to update the picnic tables and public archery range for the Tri-Valley Wildlife Area off St. Rt. 666 for my Eagle project,” planned Aaron McConnell, an upcoming Life Scout.
