The Thorn-apple Valley Council’s
SNOW-DERBY 2025
The Cadet Snow Derby is a fun teaching and learning event held outside on a farm where the Counselors may teach the cadets about some camping and survival skills. If the already know, they may show the judges their skills.
Grand Rapids Council Clubs / Teams are invited to join Thornapple Valley. If you are interested call or email Jeremy Bush 616-204-6407 or jsbush@gmail.com
Feb 1, 2025 Snow Derby will take place at Lakeside Community Church (6201 Whitneyville Ave SE, Alto, MI 49302) Lunch served at noon, Please bring 1 can of soup for donation.
Sled judging to begin at 12:30
2025 Snow Derby Judges Sheets: Know these: At each station: Cadre Chief say clearly and respectfully to the Judges: Church name & Cub #: cadets reporting for duty. What can we do for you today?
Sled Judging station
Theme: LEAD THE WAY
Theme Verse: 1 Timothy 4:12
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
Sled Construction: skies, container to hold gear, rope to pull with, push bar
Compass
Distress call:
A group of 3 loud noises (whistle, shout, etc.) followed by silence and then repeated.
Trail signs: See attached
Cliff Rescue/First Aid
Difference between Cadets and Boy Scouts:
The Cadets program is faith based. God and his creation are central to all programs, events, and merit badges.
Knots and Lashing
Demonstrate: Clove Hitch, Timber Hitch, Square Lash, Diagonal Lash
Fire Building
Materials must have been collected today on snow derby site.
5 types of cooking:
Bake
Simmer
Fry
Broil
Roast
4 steps of cleanup:
Wash dishes
Put the fire out
Dispose (hang) trash
Dispose (bury) dish water
3 sizes of wood:
Tinder: What you start with; sap, bark, or char-cloth or toothpick size wood
Kindling: Pencil size wood
Fuel: Arm size - larger wood that burns and produces coals
Axe-man-ship
Woodsman’s code:
I will use my axe and knife as tools, not as playthings
I will keep them sharp and clean
I will practice so that I will become skillful
I will rest when tired
I will obey all safety rules set by my counselor
I will respect the property of others
I will not harm living trees needlessly
Rotating stations are:
Axe-man-ship,
Knots & Lashing,
Compass reading,
Cliff Rescue & First Aid,
Wrist-Rockets,
Tent setup, (an assembled tent will be provided at the Tent station to save time)
Fire with Cleanup as the last event.
The Snow Derby is usually finished by about 4:30 pm
Thornapple Valley Council
SNOW-DERBY
Equipment required to be on the sled at Judging (If you need to borrow a Snow Derby Sled, ask any board member or DCE. There are a lot of Snow Derby Sleds around.)
Hand axe or hatchet (with file and stone for sharpening)
Bow or Bushman Saw
Matches in a water proof container
Compass
100’ of lashing twine
Tent w/ ground sheet
2 blankets & 2 poles for stretcher
Materials for splint and first aid supplies
2 Jack knives – NO SHEATH KNIVES ALLOWED
Kerchief for each Cadet (hint – you may need to use it)
NO fire wood - materials must be found on site during the Snow-Derby
Cadre Flag
A SNACK FOR CADRE ON SLED SNOW DERBY
( If you need to borrow a Snow Derby Sled, ask any board member or DCE (Developer of Counselor Education). There are a lot of Snow Derby Sleds around.)
Things your cadets will need to know to compete or just bring a bunch of cadets out to learn and train without joining the competition.
What is the universal distress call? Distress call is: 3 quick blasts on a whistle, horn or 3 quick shouts followed by silence then repeated at 1 or 2 minute intervals.
Know the Compass:
▪ 8 points of the compass: N, S, E, W, NE, SE, SW, NW.
▪ Degree readings for N - 0 & 360, E - 90, S - 180, W - 270
▪ Each Cadet should know their step length or the number of steps for 100 feet.
What to do when lost:
1 Carry survival kit every time you hike
2 If lost stay put, use your head not your legs
3 Find or build a shelter to keep warm & dry
4 Build a fire in a safe place and keep it burning with lots of smoke
5 Stay within sight of your camp & find the highest spot to see where you are
6 If still lost, stay calm and take time to talk with God about your situation
Know what the definition of First-Aid and Hypothermia
• F-A: The immediate and temporary treatment until professional help arrives
• Hypothermia: The body temperature drops below 95° F, sign shivering
Know the 3 criteria for selecting a camping site:
• Good firewood supply nearby
• Level open ground where sunlight is not blocked
• High ground for good drainage.
Be able to identify the traditional trail signs.
Know the Landmarks!!! & be able to recite them (there are 6 of them)
• Shield of 3 “C”s forming a cross, represents: Calvinist Cadet Corps
• Cadet Verse
• Cadet Code
• Cadet Motto
• Cadet Pledge
• Cadet Hymn
Be able to explain the difference between Cadets & Boy Scouts!
• Cadets is Calvinistic meaning Christian learning about Christ’s salvation from the Bible
Know the theme and verse for this year.
LEAD THE WAY
1 Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
Skills you need to show at the Snow Derby
• SLED: Stand orderly while receiving instructions and listen carefully to the judge at every station. Repacked the sled in an orderly fashion after each event.
• AXEMANSHIP: Carry an unsheathed hatchet or axe, pass and receive an unsheathed hatchet or axe. Demonstrate how to sharpen a hatchet or axe, and a knife. Use a “Chopping block” to chop kindling and fuel to proper length.
• CLIFF RESCUE AND FIRST AID: Treat the victim for shock, team attend to the injury and install the splints and bandages properly. Assemble and use the stretcher properly.
• COMPASS: Use a compass to find the correct spot and give the correct degrees for a sighted object. Be able to follow compass coordinates course.
• KNOTS AND LASHING: All team members must show clove hitch and timber Hitch. The team must demonstrate square lashing and a diagonal lashing with tight frapping.
• WRIST ROCKETS: Hit the targets
• TENT: Prepare the ground properly and show the proper use of ground sheet. Place the tent properly with the door facing the correct direction. Tent will be provided.
• FIRE BUILDING: All materials will need to be collected between the first 6 judging stops. Assemble the assigned fire lay properly. Maintain fire for at least five minutes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Snow Derby Registration is due before January 28, 2025
Church Name __________________________
Council _______________________________
Team Name __________________________
Number of boys on the team _______
Number of adults attending _________
Each person to bring 1 can of soup.
2025 SNOW DERBY JUDGING
SNOW DERBY
SLED JUDGING
SLED NUMBER ___________ CHURCH _______________________
Did the sled Team Leader address you properly? 0 1 2
Did cadre stand at attention during inspection? 0 1 2
Did the sled have a snack on the sled? 0 2
Sled Construction
Is sled constructed properly? 1 2 3 4
Items
Hand axe and bushman saw 0 1
Matches in a waterproof container 0 1
Twine for lashing & knot tying 0 1
Tent with ground sheet 0 1
Blanket and poles for stretcher 0 1
Material for splints 0 1
Compass 0 1
Jackknife 0 1
Cadre flag 0 1
Special Questions
Recite Theme and Theme Verse for this year. 0 1 2
Total Sled points earned ______________
COMPASS
SLED NUMBER___________ CHURCH __________________________
Did the sled Team Leader address you properly? 0 1 2
Was the cadre orderly while you gave instructions to Team Leader? 0 1 2
Did the team have the proper equipment? 0 1 2
Was the activity understood after only one explanation? 0 1 2
Did all cadre members participate? 0 1 2
How accurate was the cadre? 0 1 2 3 4
Did they go to each station in order?
Was the sled repacked in an orderly fashion? 0 1 2
Special Questions
What is the universal distress call? 0 2
Describe the 5 traditional trail signs? (1 point each) 0 1 2 3 4 5
Total Compass points earned _____________
CLIFF RESCUE AND FIRST AID
SLED NUMBER___________ CHURCH __________________________
Did the sled Team Leader address you properly? 0 1 2
Was the cadre orderly while you gave instructions to Team Leader? 0 1 2
Did the team have the proper equipment? 0 1 2
Was the activity understood after only one explanation? 0 1 2
Did all cadre members participate? 0 1 2
Did the team treat the victim for shock? 0 1 2
Did the team attend to the cut? 0 1 2
Were the splints and bandages used properly? 0 1 2
Was the stretcher properly assembled? 0 1 2
Was the sled repacked in an orderly fashion? 0 1 2
Special Questions
What is the difference between Cadets and Boy Scouts? 0 2
Total CR & FA points earned ______________
SNOW DERBY
KNOTS & LASHING
SLED NUMBER___________ CHURCH __________________________
Did the sled Team Leader address you properly? 0 1 2
Was the cadre orderly while you gave instructions to Team Leader? 0 1 2
Did the team have the proper equipment? 0 1 2
Was the activity understood after only one explanation? 0 1 2
All team members must show clove hitch. 0 1 2
Demonstrate Timber Hitch. 0 1 2
Demonstrate Square lashing. 0 1 2
Demonstrate Diagonal lashing. 0 1 2
Was frapping and wrapping tight or loose? 0 1 2
Was the sled repacked in an orderly fashion? 0 1 2
Special Questions
Total K & L points earned ______________
SNOW DERBY
AXEMANSHIP
SLED NUMBER___________ CHURCH __________________________
Did the sled Team Leader address you properly? 0 1 2
Was the cadre orderly while you gave instructions to Team Leader? 0 1 2
Was the activity understood after only one explanation? 0 1 2
Demonstrate the following: receive 1 point for each correctly done.
Carry an unsheathed hatchet or axe. 0 1
Pass and receive an unsheathed hatchet or axe. 0 1
Demonstrate how to sharpen a hatchet or axe. (**) 0 1
Sharpen a knife. 0 1
Use a “Chopping block” 0 1
Chop kindling and fuel to proper length. 0 1
Properly split kindling and fuel. 0 1
Store knife, hatchet or axe when not in use. 0 1
Rope off chopping area and tell the purpose for roping it off. 0 1
There are 7 points to the Woodsman’s code.
(Earn 1 point for each that the team can recite) _________
Special Questions
What are the Cadet Landmarks? (1 point each, Max. 5 points) ________
Total Axe-man-ship points earned ______________
(**) Judge to have dull axe for demonstration.
Revised Nov. 10, 2009 by voice vote
SNOW DERBY
WRIST ROCKETS
SLED NUMBER___________ CHURCH __________________________
Did the sled Team Leader address you properly? 0 1 2
Was the cadre orderly while you gave instructions to Team Leader? 0 1 2
Did the whole cadre participate? 0 2
How many Cadets with sled? ___________
Total Targets hit by all Cadets. ___________
Average hits per cadet. __________
Points awarded by committee based on the best average. ( 1-10) ________
Total WR points earned ______________
SNOW DERBY
FIRE BUILDING AND CLEANUP
SLED NUMBER___________ CHURCH __________________________
Did the sled Team Leader address you properly? 0 1 2
Was the cadre orderly while you gave instructions to Team Leader? 0 1 2
Did the team have the proper equipment? 0 1 2
Was the activity understood after only one explanation? 0 1 2
Was the ground prepared properly? 0 1 2
Did the team identify tinder? 0 2
Did the team identify kindling? 0 2
Did the team identify fuel? 0 2
Number of matches used Points awarded
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2