KLONDIKE DERBY
SIGNALING COMPETITIONS
Archive of the Sunrise District, Greater Cleveland Council, BSA
 
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Morse Code (from Klondike1997)
Objective: To send and receive a message using morse code
Items supplied:
Flags
Procedure:
Part of the patrol will be given a message to send to the other members who will write it down. Then the receivers will be given a message to send back.Patrols must use Morse Code.
Time limit: 
15 minutes
Scoring:
Based on a percentage of the message that is received correctly: 100 points maximum if done with code memorized 75 points maximum if aids are used to translate code
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Telephone (from klondike 2000)

Objective: To send a message without speaking or writing.
Procedure: The judge will ask the patrol to be split into 5 stations containing at least 1 boy each. The judge will hand the members of the first station a short written message. The message will be sent from station to station using some non-verbal method. Speaking and writing the message so that the next station can view it will disqualify the patrol. When the message reaches and is written at the last station the judge will take this final version of the message and compare it with the original message. There is a 15 minute time limit.

Equipment Provided: Nothing
Equipment Needed: 5 pencils and paper.
Scoring: The scoring will be based on the percentage of the final version of the message that agrees with the original message. If the message does not get to all 5 stations, then credit will be given in a pro-rated manner.
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Signaling  (from Klondike 2001)
Objective: To communicate a message by either Morse Code or the "5x5" code.
Procedure: There will be three stations for each Patrol. The Patrol is to divide their members up as evenly as possible to man each station. All Patrol members are to participate. A message will be given to Station 1. They are to send the message to Station 2. Station 2 is to receive the message, determine where it came from, then send the answer of where it came from to Station 3. For example, Station 1 may be asked to send "On my Honor", Station 2 receives it, determines that it comes from the Scout Oath, and sends "Scout Oath" to Station 3. As another example, Station 1 is asked to send "Law 5", Station 2 receives it, and sends "Courteous" to Station 3. The second message will be given to Station 3 and the process is reversed so that Station 1 gets to receive a message. Timing starts when Station 1 starts to send the first message, and ends when Station 1 tells the Judge the answer from the second message.
Message Text: must be sent in code, visually, without talking (or any other sounds), and will include letters and possibly numbers but no punctuation other than an "end of message" (hands straight up in the air, together). Only the Scout Oath, Law, Motto, Slogan, and Pledge of Allegiance will be used. Every effort will be used to make the messages the same size for all Patrols.

Equipment Provided: None, but pad and pencil recommended; code crib sheet permitted without penalty.
Equipment Needed: 3 pencils.
Timing: This is a timed event with a limit of 15 minutes per Patrol. We will not check the text of the received messages, but will grade the communication on the correctness of the answer. Two answers are required from each Patrol: one from Station 3 then one from Station 1. If an answer is incorrect then the Patrol can keep trying up to the 15 minute limit.

Code Information:
Morse Code is fairly well known and is described in numerous books.

The "5x5" code is not so well known. It was initially used by American Prisoners of War (POWs) during the Korean War, and again during the Vietnam War. If the letter K is dropped from the alphabet, then there are 25 letters. You can now write the alphabet in a block of 5 letters across in 5 rows, then number the rows and columns. Each letter can be represented by a 2-digit number where the first number is the column and the second number is the row, as shown below.
 
  5
1 E
J
P
U
5 Z

So an A is 11, and O is 43, and an S is 34. Prisoners used either tapping or the fingers on each hand (5 fingers = 5 numbers) to designate a letter. The code was learned very quickly (see how easy you learned it!). Some prisoners could converse in code as fast as talking using their hands or tapping.

Scoring:
Participation 5 Points
Each correct answer 10 Points
Timing Scaled by time: fastest get 75, slowest zero, where
Patrol Points = ((Max Time-Patrol Time)/(Max Time - Min Time))*75
Maximum total         100 Points for the fastest
                                  25 Points for the slowest (assumes 2 correct answers)
                                  Note: scores are scaled from 25 to 75, not as in other timed events

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To Klondike 2002 Index

Nonverbal Communication Relay (from klondike 2005)
Objective: To relay a message without speaking or writing.
Procedure: The judge will ask the patrol to be split into 5 stations containing at least 1 boy each. Stations will be positioned so as to not be visible except by the next station. Stations will be 25 to 50 feet apart. The judge will hand the members of the first station a short written message. This message may contain letters and numbers and spaces. It may just be a sequence of letters, numbers, and/or spaces and not recognizable word(s). The message will be sent from station to station using some non-verbal signaling method. Making noise of any kind, speaking or writing any part of the message so that the next station can hear it or view it directly will disqualify the patrol. When the message reaches and is written down at the last station the judge will take this final version of the message and compare it with the original message. There is a 15 minute time limit.
Equipment Provided: Nothing
Equipment Needed: 5 pencils and paper; flags or cards or other signaling method.
Scoring: The scoring will be based on the percentage of the final version of the message that agrees with the original message. Any ties will be broken by time taken to relay the message.
Maximum 10 Points for Teamwork, Maximum 10 Points for Patrol Spirit

Suggestions: Patrols can use any nonverbal, completely quiet signaling method that does not display the message representationally as written or spoken text or numbers. You may use Morse code (hold up flags or cards for dots and dashes), Semaphore, 5 by 5 code, or a signaling code of your own invention. Patrols can use reference materials during the sending and receiving of the message.

Code Information: (see above in 2002 description)

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