International Harmony Is Scouts’ Olympic Goal

While other young Americans are pole-vaulting, running or swimming as part of the U.S. Olympic Team in Seoul next week, four Explorer Scouts from Orange County will be working behind the scenes as youth ambassadors.

The four college students were whisked to Los Angeles International Airport in a limousine Saturday, headed for a two-day stop in Portland to join the 20 other young Americans who will go to Seoul for the International Olympic Youth Camp.

About 1,000 young people from around the world will gather for the camp.

“The purpose is to work together in Olympic harmony,” said J. Carlos Vega of Santa Ana, one of the delegates from Orange County. “We’ll have a chance to learn more about each others’ cultures.”

Explorer Scout

Vega, 18, is an Explorer Scout for the Santa Ana Police Department and attends Rancho Santiago College. The three other Orange County representatives are Sue Cleland, 20, of Irvine, a Fire Explorer with the Orange County Fire Department and a student at the University of North Carolina; Steve Dulmage, 20, of Garden Grove, a Fire Explorer with the City of Orange Fire Department, who attends Rancho Santiago College; and Hanns Lee, 19, of Laguna Hills, an Eagle Scout who attends Stanford University.

The camp began in 1912 at the Stockholm Olympic Games, to which youths from around the world were invited. The Boy Scouts participated as part of their World Jamboree, said Devon Dougherty, a spokesman for the Boy Scouts. The United States still selects its delegates from among Scouts. “A lot of it is because of tradition,” Dougherty said. And “Scouting offers a good representation of youth. There is a male and female cross-section, different races and proven leadership of individuals.”

The Explorer Scout program for the Boy Scouts of America is divided into six regions throughout the nation. Four representatives from each region were selected to go to the youth camp.

The four from the western region are all from Orange County.

“The Exploring program is extremely strong in Orange County,” Dougherty said.

Selection was based on scholastic achievement and knowledge of international affairs and of other languages.

The Scouts are scheduled to arrive in Korea on Tuesday and will remain until Oct. 2. Besides joining in the cultural exchange activities, they will participate in the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games and will be able to attend some of the athletic events.

Vega, the Santa Ana Police Explorer Scout, said he will be particularly interested in the security at the Olympics.