Santa Ana Officer Presents Scouting’s Case to Latinos : Youth: Recruiting specialist offers the 80-year-old organization as an urban alternative to drugs and gangs.

Jose Vargas is out to change the way Orange County minorities view one of the nation’s oldest youth groups.

In an effort to attract Latinos as members of the Boy Scouts, the Santa Ana police officer said he has attempted to erase a perception of the organization as an elitist, all-Anglo group.

Vargas believes that he can accomplish his mission if parents see the Boy Scouts as a real alternative to drugs and gangs.

To aid in the recruitment effort, the Boys Scouts have translated manuals and handbooks from English to Spanish and have hired more bilingual staff to meet the needs of the growing minority population in Orange County.

Much of the new literature was available at a news conference last week where parents, Boy Scout officials and police officers listened as Vargas urged them to enroll their children in the “gang in green.”

As guests entered the Santa Ana City Hall lobby for the conference, they were met by two mannequins. One was dressed in the traditional Boy Scout uniform: khaki shirt and green pants. The other in traditional gang-member garb, with tattoos emblazoned on one arm and standing against a backdrop of graffiti.

For Vargas, the message to parents was obvious:

Would you rather have your children wear the colors of a gang or those that represent an 80-year tradition of growth-oriented activities?

Vargas is one of 12 specialists hired by the Orange County Boy Scout Council to recruit from Latino communities.

Although minorities make up nearly half of Orange County’s school-age population, Boy Scout officials say very few Latino boys are Scouts. An ethnic breakdown of membership was not available from the organization.

Recruiting officers say there is no shortage of boys wanting to join the program, but it is often difficult to persuade parents to grant permission. They say parents often balk at the expenses, including $43 uniforms and the $7 annual membership fee.

But Vargas said as long as parents allow their children to enroll, fees can be waived and uniforms are not required.

“We will never keep a child from being a Scout because he doesn’t have a uniform,” he said.

Males, ages 6 to 21, are eligible to join the group, starting at the Cub Scout level. Parents are often volunteer Scout leaders who keep youths busy with activities that range from camping trips to horseback riding.

Joey Rose, a 16-year-old sophomore at Saddleback High School, was recruited while attending Lathrop Intermediate School three years ago. Rose, a Latino and Santa Ana resident, described his activities with the Scouts as challenging and satisfying.

“It gives you a feeling of worth. Like you’re really needed,” he said. “It’s a sense of being somebody. A feeling of importance.”

Rose said he likes the leadership qualities the Scouts instill.

“You get higher ranks,” he said. “They put you in charge of other kids.”

His biggest achievement came in 1989 when he was employed as a chef at Boy Scout camp.

“They needed someone who was responsible and they chose me,” said Rose. “(Scouting) gives you something to do. If I wasn’t doing that, I’d be sitting around on my butt doing nothing.”