In the news...

STANHOPE, NJ - Scouts BSA Troop 280 of Chatham, a newly formed all-girls troop, placed second out of 15 teams competing in the Fishawack District Klondike Derby on Saturday at Boy Scout Camp Allamuchy.

Chatham Troop 280 was the only all-girls troop competing in the six-hour sled and skills marathon.

Just a day earlier, Troop 280 officially chartered with Scouts BSA (previously the Boy Scouts of America), making it part of the pioneering first wave of Troops for girls in the region. The Troop sent a team of nine girls to the Klondike, and has a growing number of registered Scouts.

"It was really difficult at first, coming into this new, but we all pulled our weight and helped one another," said Chatham's Azniv, team captain in Saturday's race. "It's incredible how much we got to know each other. Everyone got a chance to be a leader, and having this opportunity meant so much to all of us."

The team competed in the age 11-13 Division.

The freezing morning of 6 degrees Fahrenheit didn't deter the new Troop's early start. "I've never been so cold in my life," said Kalis .

Troop 280 is chartered by Stanley Congregational Church on Fairmount Avenue and led by Scoutmaster Daniele Basralian. Troop 28 and Venture Crew 28 are also chartered by Stanley and provided materials to the new troop. The girls trained for just a few weeks and several of the girls have been members of Arrow of Light Scouts with Cub Scout Pack 6 in Chatham since September.

Troop 280 meets most Thursday nights, 7 to 8 p.m. at Stanley Church and conducts many of its adventures on weekends. They can be reached by emailing troop280chatham@gmail.com.

Troops of boys and girls are not commingled. In Scouts BSA, girls and boys have equal opportunity, form their own separate Troops, and develop the skills, character and teamwork abilities they'll need in life.