Hampton Bays Boy Scouts Participate in Klondike Weekend

Boy Scouts from Hampton Bay troop 483 braved the cold last weekend and participated in the an annual Klondike Weekend, held at the Boys Scouts' Baiting Hollow Scout Camp in Calverton.

According to Scoutmaster Allen Schneider, the scouts arrived in the dark on Friday night to find their campsite covered with 15" of snow.

"The first thing the scouts had to do was dig out spots for the tents to be set up," said Schneider.

To accomplish the task, the scouts set up propane lanterns and dug out a fire pit to get a fire going to keep warm — temperatures were in the teens.

Schneiderman said after their site was set up, he sat with the scouts to talk to them about survival in the cold.

"I had a long talk with the boys around the campfire before they went to sleep in their tents on Friday night, explaining that the conditions were very hazardous and if they were in anyway cold or uncomfortable they were to tell me or one of the other leaders immediately," he said.

The scouts learned about the proper ways to dress inside their sleeping bags, as well as other precautions they should take to prevent frostbite and hypothermia.

By morning, the scouts were fresh and ready to participate in a variety of challenges the Suffolk County Council of Boys Scouts had set up for them including a sleigh course.

Prior to the camping weekend, the scouts had designed their own sleigh to participate in the event.

"The scouts completed all the challenges and did very well," said Schneider.  "And they all agreed that they had a great time and learned a lot about the challenges of winter camping and how to take care of themselves in cold weather."