Building a Better Community, One Good Turn at a Time

July 22, 2026 | Greater LA Scouting, Scouting America

Cub Scouts Make a Difference at Griffith Park!

On Saturday, July 18, more than 60 Cub Scouts, family members, and volunteers gathered at the Griffith Park Soccer Fields for the Metropolitan District's annual Cub Scout Summertime Adventure. Teaming up with Friends of Griffith Park, Scouts rolled up their sleeves to help clean and beautify the fields in preparation for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

As they worked together to create a cleaner, safer, and more welcoming space for everyone, Scouts discovered how service can strengthen communities and bring people together. Along the way, they also made progress toward earning the Conservation Good Turn Award and the Messenger of Peace Award, proving that every act of kindness—big or small—can make a lasting impact.

A huge thank you to Friends of Griffith Park and all of our amazing volunteers who helped make this day a success!

The fun isn't over yet! Join us for our final Cub Scout Summertime Adventure on Saturday, August 8, at Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple for an exciting All Wheels Rodeo from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

All Wheels Rodeo

Get Ready for Popcorn Season!

The countdown is on! Join us on Saturday, August 1, for the 2026 Popcorn Campaign Kickoff and discover how your Scouts can fund their next adventure through this year's popcorn sale.

Hear the latest campaign updates from a Trail's End representative, learn proven fundraising strategies, explore incentive programs, and take home the tools your unit needs for a successful season. Scouts are encouraged to attend, too! One of our Top Seller Scouts will share firsthand sales tips and help younger Scouts build confidence before the campaign begins.

There will also be arts and crafts, goodie bags, four $50 gift card opportunity drawings, plus a continental breakfast and snacks for everyone to enjoy.

Saturday, August 1, 2026

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Cushman Watt Scout Center

Let's kick off another exciting and successful popcorn season together!

Welcome to the Team!

Please join us in welcoming Joy Torrero as our new Director of Community Growth for Greater LA Scouting's Field Operations team!

Joy joins us on Tuesday, July 21, bringing more than 17 years of dedicated Scouting experience and a passion for expanding opportunities for young people through strong partnerships with schools, families, volunteers, and community organizations.

She began her Scouting journey as an Outreach Program Specialist, combining her background in Child Development, with an emphasis on children with special needs, with a commitment to providing inclusive, character-building programs for every youth.

Throughout her career, Joy has been dedicated to creating sustainable programs through volunteer development, strategic planning, and meaningful community relationships. Her leadership will help strengthen Scouting's impact across diverse communities while ensuring more young people have the opportunity to develop character, leadership, citizenship, and a lifelong spirit of service.

A San Fernando Valley native, Joy enjoys hiking, traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.

Please join us in giving Joy a warm Greater LA Scouting welcome as she begins this exciting new chapter!

Meet Our New El Camino Real District Chair

Please join us in welcoming Martin Cardenas as the new District Chair for the El Camino Real District!

Martin brings an incredible 27 years of Scouting experience, serving youth and volunteers in a variety of leadership roles across multiple councils. From Den Leader and Cubmaster to serving as Scoutmaster of Troop 777 for more than 22 years, Martin has dedicated his time to building strong programs and developing tomorrow's leaders.

Throughout his Scouting journey, Martin has helped restart a Cub Scout pack, launched a girls troop, served in numerous district leadership positions, and proudly guided 83 Scouts to the rank of Eagle Scout, with his troop anticipating its first female Eagle Scout this year. His commitment to Scouting has earned him many distinguished recognitions, including the Silver Beaver Award, District Award of Merit, Scouter's Key, James E. West Fellowship, and numerous other leadership honors.

Beyond Scouting, Martin serves as the Public Relations Chair and webmaster for the Catholic Committee on Scouting for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and is a Product Marketing Engineer with General Micro Systems. A lifelong leader, mentor, and champion for youth, he is passionate about helping every Scout succeed.

Please join us in congratulating and welcoming Martin Cardenas as he begins this new leadership role with the El Camino Real District. We look forward to the experience, dedication, and enthusiasm he will bring to our Scouting community!

Breaking Barriers, Building Leaders: Korean-Language IOLS a Great Success!

Greater LA Scouting is committed to making quality leader training accessible to everyone—and on July 11–12, that commitment was on full display as we hosted a successful Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) course entirely in Korean at the Cushman Watt Scout Center.

IOLS is the required hands-on outdoor skills course for Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters, equipping leaders with the confidence and practical experience to teach the outdoor skills that are the foundation of the Scouts BSA program. Participants practiced everything from camping, cooking, hiking, and fire building to knots, first aid, map and compass, and more.

By offering this course in Korean, leaders were able to learn, ask questions, and build their outdoor leadership skills in their native language—creating an even more engaging and supportive training experience.

This successful course is another step in Greater LA Scouting's commitment to expanding multilingual training opportunities and ensuring every volunteer has the tools they need to deliver an exceptional Scouting program.

Interested in future multilingual training opportunities? Contact Trevor Ullom at the Greater LA Scouting office to learn more. Together, we're building stronger leaders and stronger Scouting for every community we serve.

Take Your Leadership to the NEXT Level!

Wood Badge is Scouting America's premier leadership training for adult volunteers, designed to help you become a more confident, effective, and inspiring leader—both in Scouting and beyond.

Through hands-on activities, teamwork, and real-world leadership lessons, you'll build skills in communication, team development, servant leadership, project planning, and goal setting while connecting with fellow Scouting leaders from across Greater LA Scouting.

Whether you serve in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouts, or Exploring, Wood Badge will equip you with the tools to strengthen your unit, create unforgettable experiences for youth, and make a lasting impact in your community.

2026 Course Dates:

Session 1: September 18–20 at Hubert Eaton Scout Reservation
Session 2: October 3–4 at Trask Scout Reservation

Invest in yourself. Inspire the next generation. Lead with confidence.

Ahoy, Bears, Webelos & Arrow of Light Scouts!

There's still time to register for Camp Cherry Valley Cub Resident Camp: Treasure Island Adventure! Space is still available, so don't miss this unforgettable 4-day Scouting adventure filled with outdoor fun, friendship, and excitement.

Session 1: August 2–5, 2026

Session 2: August 6–9, 2026

Cub Scout: $430 | Adult: $365

Every Cub Scout must attend with a registered adult. Open to Bears, Webelos, and Arrow of Light Scouts (rank effective September 1, 2026). Siblings are not permitted.

Roll Into Adventure at Community Wheels Fest

Grab your bike, invite a friend, and get ready for an action-packed day of adventure at Community Wheels Fest!

Join us on Saturday, September 26, from 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. at Firestone Scout Reservation for a fun-filled cycling event where Cub Scouts are encouraged to bring a buddy—and the best part is your buddy does NOT have to be a current Cub Scout!

Scouts will rotate through exciting, hands-on activity stations inspired by real-world community vehicles while building confidence on their bikes and learning valuable skills in safety, teamwork, and community awareness. Along the way, Cub Scouts will complete most of the Cycling Adventure requirements for their rank!

Adventure Stations Include:

🚒 Fire Rescue
🚓 Police Patrol
🚧 Construction Zone
📦 Delivery Dash
🚑 Ambulance Relay

What to Bring:

🚲 Your bike
⛑️ Helmet and safety gear
💧 Water bottle
🥪 Bring your own lunch and snacks to enjoy a picnic at camp!

Whether you're a seasoned rider or just getting started, Community Wheels Fest is the perfect opportunity to ride, learn, make new friends, and discover all the fun Cub Scouting has to offer. We can't wait to see you on the trail!

Jungle Expedition II

Secrets of Lost Camp Pepperdine

Adventure is calling! Join us October 9–11, 2026, for The Jungle Expedition 2: Secrets of Lost Camp Pepperdine, an action-packed weekend where Scouts will solve a legendary mystery while putting their Scout skills to the test.

Journey into Jangi Hollow, tackle exciting challenges, solve clues, and work as a patrol to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of Lost Camp Pepperdine. Along the way, Scouts can earn a variety of merit badges, including Archery, Climbing, First Aid, Environmental Science, Nature, Rifle Shooting, Shotgun Shooting, Weather, Welding, and more!

Adult leaders can also participate in Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) training during the weekend.

October 9–11, 2026

Youth: $130 (meals & lodging included)
Adults: $65 (meals & lodging included)

The mystery is waiting...will your patrol solve it?

Donate Now

Fuel the Adventure: Support Scouting in 2026 🚀

Your support today helps shape tomorrow’s leaders. As we launch our 2026 fundraising campaign, we invite you to make a lasting impact on youth in our community.

Every gift fuels life-changing Scouting programs—building character, leadership, and confidence through outdoor adventure, hands-on learning, mentorship, and service. Your generosity ensures these opportunities remain accessible, safe, and impactful for every Scout.

Join us in starting 2026 with purpose. Together, we can empower youth, strengthen families, and continue building the leaders of tomorrow.