Lane Zimmerman, top, and Tyler Law work on their two-man carry with mock victim Hunter McBride as Scouts from Troop 400 in Mars practice winter first aid at the annual Klondike Derby at Camp Bucoco on Saturday.

SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Despite the lack of snowfall, nearly 200 Boy Scouts and leaders descended on Camp Bucoco to compete in the Moraine Trails Council's Klondike Derby on Saturday.

Steve Loeffler, organizer of the event, said the “February Freeze Out Camporee” drew Scouts and leaders from across the region to the camp to compete in challenge stations and test their scouting knowledge.

Loeffler said the event included Scouts of all age ranges, from Cub Scouts on up, who competed in the different stations, testing their skills and learning new ways to make knots, build snowshoes, build fires and test their winter first-aid knowledge, as well as partaking in several demonstrations.

He said demonstrations included those by the Pennsylvania Trappers Association.

“There are several different scenarios that the Scouts must complete, demonstrating their knowledge of these essential skills,” he said.

Each station awarded the Scout groups with points, with first, second and third places receiving plaques.

Loeffler said the event ties into the Boy Scouts “be prepared” theme, as it tests them on skills needed to survive in the wilderness.

“The thing I like most about the Scouts program is that Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts learn very good life skills,” he said.

The three areas that participated from the Moraine Trails Council were Glacier Ridge in Butler County, King Beaver in Lawrence County and River Valley in Armstrong County.

“This is one of our two big, councilwide programs,” Loeffler said.

The overall opinion of the event from the Scouts seemed to be that it was fun, but is better when there is snow.

Matthew Gourash, patrol leader for Troop 400 in Mars, said he had been to the event in previous years, and the big difference when there is no snow is the Scouts can't use sleds, but rather have to roll trailers along the trail to each station.

Hunter McBride, also from Troop 400, said he was having fun during the first-aid challenge because he was the designated victim and “didn't have to do anything” other than get wrapped up on a stretcher.

Photographer Dave Prelosky contributed to this report.