On Saturday, February 19th, 2004 the Iaoapogh Mountains District Cub Scouts visited the Graydon Pool and Park in Ridgewood with All IM Cub Scouts invited. Cub Scouter John Frielink (P33, Hawes school, Webelos leader) was the District Gold Rush event sheriff and organizer (3rd year running it), and he had about a dozen deputy sheriffs from the following units: Pack 3 members from Byrd school Mike Turanchik (Tent Pole Toss Station), Pack 8 John Murphy and 4 friends ( Wooden Ski station), Pack 9, Coleman school Dad's (Sack Races), Pack 27 Bob Rycharski (Map Reading station), and Troop 5 helper Scout Eric Frielink, (Shooting Gallery way station), Pack 33 Sean and Eric Frielink, and Will Shadbolt (Snow ball throw and fishing) Pack 14 Larry Chiarelli who all constructed a Cub venue near Maple Ave in the park (Obstacle Course), and Pack 55 (Sled Pull station) Mushed on by Linsay Shadbolt & Jim Conboy. We commend the good sportsmanship shown by the Troop 5 station teams, and encourage other area Troops to participate in the "Scout Fun" next year like Troop 5 and any other Troop Scouts (unknown to this reporter) have been doing, to show leadership and set the "Scout service" example to our district Cub Scouts.

We owe Thanks and a "High Five" to Mrs. Denise Frielink and Lisa Clough for helping with hot cocoa, donuts and coffee at the Pool side - park picnic area with assistance from other Pack 33 helpers. It was a very cold 20-25 degrees, mostly cloudy and a windy day, with brisk 10 plus knot winds at times that made everyone colder, so the Scouts really needed the hot chocolate and donuts to keep them warm. By the way the pool was freshly frozen, and Scouts explored the Ice but we leaders shooed them off for safety's sake.

As the day went on Over 100 or more Scouts (we are not real sure, to cold to count them all) participated in collecting Gold Nuggets by visiting 10 Cub way-cool-stations, and trying their best to complete each activity or skill while showing den teamwork. Each Scout earned a few Gold Nuggets at each station, with bonus nuggets available for team work, high spirits and Scout courtesy. At the end of all the fun, all Scouts went to the IM district trading post to redeem their Gold awarded by each station-sheriff for the 2005 limited edition Cub Scout Gold Rush patch, one for each prospecting Scout. Sheriff John from Pack 33 reported enthusiastic Scout yells when he asked: "Did ya have FunNNN?" - and they always responded, "YASSSS!!". FYI, this event was rescheduled because of lack of use permission at another park in January.
As examples of the Gold Rush activities, sack races were run in the park across the path from the roller rink, and there were reports of a lot of trampled beach sand in that area. At the map reading station, Scouts used a 8 X 12 scaled power point, 5 color map of the Graydon pool/Maple park area to hike around the pool (and earning Gold nuggets) to 6 pre-marked stations where the teams answer 6 map or park related questions. Amazingly, about 6 Scouts in 2 dens that hiked achieved 2 bonus gold nuggets, and ~25% of the Cubs earned 1 bonus gold rocks, for being quick on course and answering the hike questions correctly. Map and compass belt loop training by interested Scouters at home should be considered, as the Gold Rush dens had just completed part 1 of 3 towards earning that Cub belt loop. Parents/leaders are asked to consider completing simple parts 2 and 3, at home later with their Scouts and complete the activity belt loop.
Near the map station was the Pack 33 poolside fishing area, using fishing poles, patience and mousetraps, not easy to do in the cold. The stiff winds caused concern at the CD rubber band gun shooting range, but the Scouts there improvised. At the spear throwing station, the spears were really tent poles used to aim at improvised net targets. At the obstacle course the Scouts ducked under & weaved around poles and showed agility among other feats of quick hiking, against a stopwatch. Many Scouts also team skied there way around the park, and also Pack 3 deputy sheriffs manned the ever popular Scout sled pull. Near a borrowed stove, Scouts worked as a den to make the biggest stack of firewood (hence the Frenzy) in one or two minutes, to be burned by their cold parents in a metal stove. Many a fine cord of Scout wood was seen to materialize out of the nearby woods to the delight of the half-frozen parents who warmed themselves by the fire. Rounding out the events were some creative Scouters creating custom Gold Rush neckerchief slides using simple labels and materials, thanks guys. We thank John and his district event workers, and all the many IM unit deputy sheriffs for organizing this outdoors Gold Excitement! I am sure these Scouts appreciated all the fun served up at this Glen Rock and Ridgewood Gold Rush! Remember, in spite that it's cold and winter-like, Cub Scouts Love the outdoors. See you next year!

PS. I had many complements about the Gold Rush Map of the Graydon Pool area, a simple Power point color map with 6 checkpoints to be visited in about 15 Minutes. This Map is available from me for the asking via email, let me know (great for hiking later in the spring). This short map hike on February 19 does satisfies One (the first listed below) of three requirements towards the Cub Scout Map And Compass 'Sports' Belt Loop. FYI Den leaders can review and complete the other two even simpler requirements and complete the effort for those attending Gold Rush (assuming the Den Map Hiked), which follow: Map and Compass Belt Loop Requirements: 1. Show how to orient a map. Find three landmarks on the map. 2. Explain how a compass works and 3. Draw a map of your neighborhood. Label the streets and plot the route you take to get to a place that you often visit.

Cub Scout Gold Rush Helpers List

1. Rubber Band Shoot Pack 33 Ridgewood Hawes School- Eric Frielink and Will Shadbolt (of Troop 5) and Sean Frielink (Pack 33)

2. Snowball Throw Pack 33 Ridgewood Hawes School-Eric Frielink and Will Shadbolt (Troop 5)

3. Map Reading Pack 27 Glen Rock St. Catharine RC- Bob Rycharski and Walter Tarr, Sr.

4. Firewood Frenzy Pack 33 Ridgewood Hawes School - Bob Seroka, Brandon Firemann and Woody Wildfire

5. Fishing Pack 33 Ridgewood Hawes School - Sean Frielink head sheriff (Pack 33), occasional help by John Frielink (we saw you catch a BIG mousefish)

6. Sled Pull Pack 55 Ridgewood Somerville School - Linsay Shadbolt & Jim Conboy

7. Team Skiing Pack 8 Ridgewood Orchard School - John Murphy, Brett Inlander, Ken Marshall & Eric Seifert. & Steve Larkin

8. Tent Pole Toss Pack 3 Glen Rock Byrd School - Mike Turanchik

9. Sack Races Pack 9 Glen Rock Hamilton School

10. Obstacle Course Pack 14 Glen Rock Coleman School Larry Chiarelli

11. Neckerchief Slide Making District Activity Chair - Gary Ferwerda and Paul Pascinyk

12. Refreshment stand and Hot Cocoa - Lisa Clough, Denise Frielink and John Frielink

Event Sheriff John Frielink Pack 33 and Troop 5

Event Photographer Lisa Clough Pack 33 Gold Rush 2005

General Help and assistant sheriff Mike Turanchik Pack 3