Menifee Area Boy Scouts Demonstrate Skills, Craftsmanship

City councilman Tom Fuhrman races a Cub Scout in one of many activities at Saturday's Boy Scouts celebration.

In celebration of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' 100-year association with the Boy Scouts of America, more than 400 Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts participated in a campout and demonstration of activities this weekend at Wheatfield Park.

Tents were spread out across the north end of the park with scouts organized by troops sponsored by the 14 LDS wards in the Menifee Stake of the church. Each troop was identified by a "gateway," an arch made of wood, rope and other materials used by scouts in earning merit badges.

The Boy Scouts program began in 1910. Three years later, officials of the Mormon Church began sponsoring scout troops. Today, young men in the LDS church are urged to participate in the program in conjunction with church activities.

Boys do not have to be a member of the Mormon Church to join an LDS-sponsored scout troop. Activities within those troops are the same as non-LDS troops -- with emphasis on life skills that will develop character and self-reliance.

"We encourage non-members to join us," said the director of the event, Brent Ferguson, who has worked with 78 Eagle Scouts in more than 50 years in scouting. "The scouting program helps young men become better husbands and fathers. It helps develop leadership and involvement."

Roger Lovett, bishop of the Canyon Lake Ward, spoke about the importance of activities such as campouts and skills development in teaching young men the value of taking care of themselves and their family.

"If they're stuck in video games, that's their world," Lovett said. "Then when they get out into the work force, they don't have the life skills they need."

Members of the public were invited to walk through the makeshift complex and see the activities being demonstrated by scouts. Troops were judged on the creativity and effectiveness of their projects by a group including city council members Greg August, Wallace Edgerton and Tom Furhman and Planning Commissioner Lesa Sobek, who also is public affairs director for the Menifee Stake.

Activities and projects demonstrated included a rope suspension bridge, archery, obstacle courses, Pinewood Derby, knot tying and various other agility challenges.

City Councilman Wallace Edgerton tries the tire-stepping portion of the obstacle course.