Webelos from Cub Scouts from Pack 253, Oyster Bay-East Norwich, recently placed first in the annual Klondike Derby sponsored by the Shelter Rock District of the Boy Scouts of America, here at the Muttontown Preserve.

Pack 253's team, which consisted of eight Webelos Cub Scouts-all fifth graders at James H. Vernon Middle School, East Norwich-placed first in a field of 20 teams from Webelos patrols from other Cub Scout Packs in the Shelter Rock District of the Theodore Roosevelt Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Members of the team are: Stephen Vlavianos; Richard Kuehhas; Christopher Roerden; Jason Halpern; Mikey Schuler; Sterling Simonee; Joey Sheehan; and Berkeley Golon.

Teams from Boy Scout Troops in the Shelter Rock District also competed in junior and senior Boy Scout divisions. The Shelter Rock District encompasses northern Nassau County.

Braving frozen grounds and frigid temperatures, each team pulled a sled resembling a dog sled and raced to different "towns" set up along the trail Along the way, each team was tested on Scout knowledge and skills, including the 12 points of the Scout Law, first aid, survival skills, navigating, teamwork, and courtesy.

Each team earned points for speed, successful navigation of the course that each team was given, and successful completion of their tasks.

Gus Vlavianos, assistant Cubmaster for Pack 253 and Pack chairman for the Klondike Derby, praised the Cub Scouts from his Pack and Boy Scouts from local troops for their help in preparing the younger boys for the competition.

"Everyone on behalf of Pack 253, Troop 253, Troop 299 and the entire Oyster Bay-East Norwich community are most proud of the accomplishment achieved by our Webelos II Scouts," Vlavianos said. He credited Boy Scouts of Troops 253 and 299 "who were invaluable in assisting the Webelos Scouts in their training and preparation for the event."