Gold Rush to be held at Camp Tuscazoar

Teams of Scouts will brave the winter weather in a competition to earn “gold nuggets” at the annual Gold Rush event Jan. 26-28 at Camp Tuscazoar. While most will be snug inside their homes, the teams will compete in activities that involve skill, endurance, strategy and luck to determine the winning team.

There’s a lot to look forward to including trail side stations that require outdoor skills, a campfire program and an auction where teams can use their “gold nuggets” to purchase items. Teams also are provided with breakfast and dinner on Saturday and a 2024 Gold Rush patch. Including teams and volunteers, organizers expect 300 people will visit Camp Tuscazoar for the event.

Skill stations will require the teams to show off their outdoor skills. The teams even earn points for lunch. The stations are timed, and the fastest team wins.

The event is similar to the Klondike Derby that was held by the Boy Scouts prior to the sale of Camp Tuscazoar in 1988. That event was moved to another Boy Scout camp, and Camp Tuscazoar volunteers set up the annual Gold Rush event. The event is being organized this year by Spenser Long.

“The Scouts are broken up into patrols in their troops, and as long as the weather cooperates, they pull their sled loaded with different forms of equipment around from the various stations,” Long said. “Each patrol is usually made up of anywhere from six to eight Scouts. Most of the Scouts will pull the sled, and the patrol leader will steer the sled from the back.”

The Camp Tuscazoar event is not just for Scouts.

“Normally, it’s just Scouting groups, but we’ve had other groups that have come in the past. Youth from different churches might get together and form a team,” said Seth Arkow, a director on the Camp Tuscazoar board. “And now that there are girls in Scouting BSA, we have girl troops that come down as well.”

Participating in the event isn’t something you can do on the spur of the moment. There is a list of items needed to compete, the first being a Klondike-style sled — some with runners or wheels depending on the weather. Other items needed include poles, rope, food, a compass, an axe, a handsaw and a knife.

Stations may be placed anywhere around the 900-acre camp.

“We have stations set up throughout the central camp area and then around the outskirts. Some are pretty far away; some are pretty close,” Arkow said. “The kids will demonstrate their Scouting skills at each of the stations.”

Some stations may contain games.

“They’re fun, and it’s a competition,” Arkow said.

The Scouts will start the day after flag raising.

“Their sled is judged on how well equipped it is, how good the patrol spirit is. Part of the sled judging is going to each patrol and making sure they have different forms of equipment that they will need throughout their day. The competitions starts at 9 a.m., where the teams are started in five-minute intervals,” Long said. “During sled judging they are given a packet with their score card, map and a crayon. When they get their packet, they are to remove their score card and write their patrol name, troop number, start time and how many patrol members are in their patrol.

“They are not allowed to look at the map until after they are released at the beginning. Once they start, they are free to go. The Scouts will go from station to station until 3 p.m. when the event ends.”

He complimented organizer Long for bringing in new activities each year.

“Some things are pretty constant, and then some things change,” Arkow said. “(Long) will bring in a new element. He’s really good at that, and he tries to keep it fresh every year.”

The auction is a highlight of the event with donations of items from new camping equipment to gift cards. One popular item is large jars of cheese balls.

“The kids see those, and they want the cheese balls. They go crazy,” Arkow said. “Last year there was a Dutch oven that was given away. There were tents and sleeping bags and different things, all brand-new stuff that we secure as donations. Then they’re all given out to the kids based on the auction. The kids have to decide what’s more valuable to them.”

For anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors, the trails at Camp Tuscazoar are open to the public. Visitors are asked to sign in at a kiosk near the camp office, not only for safety reasons, but also tracking the number of people using the site helps them secure grants to maintain and improve the property.

Volunteers to help with upkeep and events are always needed, and more information can be found on the website.

The camp also has cabins and a small campground for tents and recreational vehicles available for rent. They host many events and fundraisers throughout the year.

Camp volunteers are already preparing all the necessary sap lines and equipment to make maple syrup at the sugar shack on the property, which leads to one of the biggest events of the year. The annual Camp Tuscazoar Maple Days will be held March 23-24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. The event is a fundraiser for the camp.

The meal consists of all-you-can-eat pancakes, eggs, sausage, applesauce, orange juice and old-fashioned maple syrup. Transportation will be provided to and from the parking area.

Seating is available indoors and out, and to-go boxes will be available. Tickets are available in advance or at the door. Call 330-859-2288 or visit www.tuscazoar.org. For online ticket orders, visit https://givebutter.com/MapleDays.