Congratulations to the Scouts from Pack 54, King Crabs sled, for winning the 2008 Webelos sled flag competition, combining a seascape and ship and a lively namesake on a colorful blue flag. This years Iditarod flag theme was based on a traditional Alaska learning theme “Wildlife and scenes of Alaska”, and we had a list of animals native to Alaska for our Judges to check (surprise, no penguins to be “found” wild in the Northern hemisphere). Best flags did attempt to display simple Alaskan animal types (Bears, Sled Dogs, Sea Creatures and/or Moose characters were seen) and Nature scenes they might be found in.

Second place went to the Puffinators Webelos team from Pack 157, Midland Park. Third place went to the Pack 54 Sockeye Salmon team for the colorful swimming Salmon. The Scouts of Troop 54 Ho-Ho-Kus, Team Caribou took first place honors in the Patrol flag competition. Second place went to the Kodiak Island Bears flag from Troop 59, Allendale and third place went to the Huskie’s team flag also from Troop 59, all three producing a colorful home made flag around there team name. There were many other nicely done team flags, all Scouts are congratulated for sharing there talent and enthusiasm. Teams are distributed into Webelos only and Boy Scout and mixed Scout divisions.
Webelos Overall Iditarod event winner was the Pack 157 Webelos “Artic Eagles” sled of Midland Park – “tied” with the 1st place Ho-Ho-Kus Pack 54 Team, the Sockeye Salmon team, well done. The Alaskan King Crabs sled from Pack 54 were a close second place sled and the Den of Warriors sled from Pack 175, Ramsey finished with the third place Iditarod metal, who just nipped 4th place team, the Big Foot sled from Pack 306 Ramsey.

Winning Troop Flag

Tour de Force

In another part of Crestwood park, the Swiss Wristwatch team from Troop 258 and Frozen Snowmen from Troop 133 survived the “Older” Scout Trek event in another first place “tie”. Following their lead the “Crazy Awesome” Trek team from Troop 50 Mahwah came in a solid second. Finally Trek team Polar Express from Troop 15 Glen Rock, secured third place to close out the advanced Scout skill class, only a few points back (7 teams total). Trek events are more challenging for older Scouts and stresses Scout knowledge and independent thinking. Trek Scouts are unusual due to no “adult” help is allowed, Scouts form teams of 2 or 3 persons, and there stations are harder and more advanced and are not even found on the event Map (they seek out the Trek Mayors and their tests, who are usually near the regular event towns). Lets just say that we had a bumper crop of 7 Trek teams, and you should have seen the many homemade wooden Scout water buckets (no glue nor metal fasteners allowed) they made from scratch, well done Scouts.

Culinary Delights!

Each group was required to bring their own provisions for meals along the trail. Scouts and Webelos were to bring a trail lunch. Trekkers were to provide provisions to prepare a trail meal. Seven scratch meals were prepared by the trekkers. Chili, Shrimp Jambalaya and Lasagna, since the event only ran 45 minutes was available some choices were a challenge. The meals was prepared in a dutch oven. Trekkers are senior scouts, so they were given the scenario in advance and they were to provide there own equipment for the trek. They were scored based on the equipment and supplies they packed. Additionally for the trekkers lunch was a competitive event and they were score for taste, time and appropriateness of their meals.

The Prize
Carrying Coal to New Castle

New this year was a Town “Mayor” competition (internal and invisible to the sledders), each Area the teams visited had a host or “Mayor” running his /her units Scout Skill area. This Mayor sets up th e town and the tasks to be completed, and recruits helpers. The new award was based on host team/Troop spirit, who helped, Scouts helping(Y/N), town identification sign, Mayors paperwork in order, leaving-no-trace and how well (IMO) they conducted there Town training and day of event tests for both older Scouts and Webelos sleds. As we initially had a 9 best town (Mayor) tie; but on reflection this Governor award was issued to the two very “best” towns, Iditarod River (T89, Orienteering station) and Point Barrow (T77, First Aid station), whom tied for the “best of the best” – by doing their Better than best - and then some. Well done to those Scouts and Mayors, enjoy your Iditarod Ice Cream (Rita’s) certificates later in March. Maybe your unit can try to plan to try to win something at next February’s 2009 Iditarod.

Spectators could sample the culinary delights of the Road Kill Cafe™. Venison chili, Venison sausage, some kind of patty, hamburgers, hotdog's, hot coffee and cocoa were standard fair for the day. There was plenty of food and hot drink for those in attendance. Everything was one dollar, reasonable by today's standards. Thanks to Lee, Dave, Rick Tom,and Bernie, You made our guests feel welcomed.

If you weren't early you missed your opportunity to sample Toad in a hole for breakfast. the food was great the company was even better. If you talked to the group you would have discovered over two centuries of Scouting experience. If you listened, you would have heard some great stories

In case you were wondering with all the food and refreshments in an outdoor setting what does one do for relief? Port a-johns were available for all to use.

Sorry about the "no Snow", we predicted Global Warming last October in theTrek [rules] pages, but lack of snow did not Dampen our Scouts resolve to Try and Win a show of Scout skills, teamwork development and learning fun! Note, We have random Reports of ...Roaming wolves, Straying Caribou, an occasional an rare siteing of an Alaskan Penguin, and Long distance Voyagers still "Out" on the Scout Idirtarod Trails (Please don't mention the 27 Wolves chomping out on unsuspecting NJ Webelos Scouts, nor of why there are many footprints measuring the 133 foot distance to the middle of the lower Allendale pool area to the DPW guys), nor claim knowlege of why there are candy bits and random wrappers in the Bear Claw and TOK areas, nor why the 59 species of NJ birds are feasing on pizza at the Gold Creek seaside.

The Team Caribou sled from Troop 54 Ho-Ho-Kus earned the victory this year for a traditional (all Boy, 8 max.) Scout sled team. This is a local phenomenon that a patrol from T54 earns first place (must be some intense reference material in the Troop 54 Iditarod/Cliff notes library). Second place honors went to the Alaskan Huskies, from Troop 59 Allendale and Troop 133 Upper Saddle River, the Snow Eagle’s team followed with third place

Learning

While most events are meant to be entertaining or demonstrate scout craft, some are designed to be learning experiences, provide opportunities to work with adults other than their parents or their troop leaders, help to develop interpersonal skills or to learn something they have not encountered.

This year we had a fire starting event for the trekkers. They were to make fire using the tools that are identified in the scout hand book. Flint and steel was a technique that most have mastered. The second method was to use a battery and steeel wool. most of the boys were able to accompish a fire in this manner. The third method is ancient one, using a bow and spindle to create an ember and then make a fire. This is not an easy skill but we had one team succeed! The fourth and final method was to use a magnifying glass to start a fire, no one succeeded. Without adequate sunlight it became impossible, hence the need to know more than one method and the Scout motto "Be Prepared"

We thank all the many helpers at this years event, and please encourage all Adults that this kind of large event can only occur successfully if you support the event staff, event if for a couple of hours. Garbage collection, Town set up and break down, and other behind the scene activities do not happen by themselves, and if the weather is marginal, the workers in the early periods would really encourage walk on helpers to get the training chores and judging activities done quickly. We had (as Towns) Orienteering (map hiking/reading), basic knots, Tarp erecting, fire making, a few games (caribou/Nature and prison w/lashing escape), distance estimation and cooking towns. Next year, expect more of the same at the next Iditarod (on Feb 7, 2009), but with various changes to make the learning easy for the Webelos Scouts but hard enough (rule changes) that the Older Boy Scouts also learn a thing or two. I also appreciate the efforts of the Scout “Red Jackets”, who provided low cost hamburgers and chilli and coffee, and Troop 369 leaders for cooking all the Free cocoa and hot soup water … teams needed at lunch. And as Always, we thank all the Mayors, the unit SPL’s, the many Scouts and support Mom’s and Dad’s who work behind the scenes, and of course, we thank the Scouts who man the sleds for participating in this sometimes crowded but always informative event. Gold Nuggets aside, I think All the Scouts who participated won more than award points and a patch, they get a memory and some good outdoors exercise, and learn more about team-work to boot!