Scouts Jam Park for Jamboree

About 6,400 Boy Scouts from across the Southland learned to cook, build model planes and throw tomahawks Saturday as the Western Los Angeles County Council began a three-day Jamboree, its first in 10 years.

Woodley Avenue was closed and turned into a parking lot for hundreds of vehicles, while a tent city sprang up in the Sepulveda Dam Basin.

“We think we’ll probably have 8,000 people before the day is over,” said Hugh Travis, a Boy Scout spokesman.

The Jamboree was held at three adjacent sites: Sepulveda Dam Basin, Woodley Park and Balboa Park. Families began arriving Friday night, with about 3,400 Scouts sleeping over.

The Jamboree continues this morning, culminating in a Civil War reenactment at 10 a.m.

A full agenda of activities kept the Scouts busy Saturday.

Some launched canoes and model boats on Balboa Lake; others took nature walks. Dozens of Scouts lined up to learn mountain-man skills from Joe Purnell.

The retired RTD driver, looking every bit the mountain man in fringed boots and a fur-tailed hat, taught the tomahawk throw.

“It’s just like throwing a rock,” he said.

Purnell of Saugus also cracked the whip, literally, demonstrating the use of a bullwhip.

He began teaching at Scout camps, schools and other events in 1986.

“I do mountain-man stuff in summer and Santa Claus in the winter,” he said, stroking his chest-length white beard.

Phil Parlett of the Western Museum of Scouting displayed memorabilia from his 40-year collection, including handbooks, badges and uniforms from the Boy Scouts’ 1907 beginnings.

Members of a Los Angeles Police Department SWAT team, the Los Angeles Fire Department and all branches of the military were on hand with information and exhibits. The event also included a bicycle stunt show.

But the highlight of the day was the 1st North Carolina Cavalry Regiment’s Civil War battle reenactment in Woodley Park.

Boys with backpacks and baseball caps lined the field as foot soldiers and the cavalry, including the famed African American Buffalo unit, charged one another.

“Load! Ready! Fire!” the officers shouted. “Re-form! Protect the colors.”

Scouts cheered as the Stars and Stripes crested a small rise. Gunfire and cannon booms rumbled through the air.

Elias Small, 8, of Cub Scout Pack 311 in Valley Village attended with his dad, Gregory Small, and younger brother, Jacob.

“I liked it when the Union guys all came down the hill,” Elias said.

Samuel Karp, 9, also of Pack 311, liked the cannon fire.

“It felt like an earthquake,” he said.

Lewis Hatkoff, 9, of Cub Scout Troop 118 in Chatsworth learned to fly two of the remote-control planes on an aviation field in the Sepulveda Basin under the watchful eye of the Valley Fliers, an aviation enthusiasts group.

“What’s nice about this is you you have Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting right in the middle of the city,” said Lewis’ dad, Brian Hatkoff, who shares troop-leading duties with other fathers. “You could be 100 miles from Los Angeles, and it wouldn’t feel any different.”

Vinnie Ruggieri, chairman of the Jamboree, worked for a year with 300 Scout leaders and 1,000 community volunteers in collaboration with city, state and county agencies to put on the event.

“This is another example of bringing Scouting to our local community, and that’s what we’re here for,” Travis said. The national Scouting council has a Jamboree every four years on the East Coast, but time and expense prevent many from attending, Travis said.

About 32,000 Scouts and 6,800 registered volunteer leaders are members of the Western Los Angeles Council, which represents 65% of Los Angeles County.

The council’s membership area stretches from Edwards Air Force Base in the Antelope Valley, south to Marina del Rey, and from Agoura to West Hollywood.

General admission for non-Scouts and the public is $7.50.