CAMP TESTS BOYS' SKILL; SCOUTS GATHER AT CONEJO RANCH.

Byline: David Greenberg Daily News Staff Writer

While 750 Boy Scouts and 400 Cub Scouts from throughout the Conejo Valley gathered at Empty Kettle Ranch for the 29th annual Camporee, Don Harold recalled how the skills he learned as a teen prepared him for a war.

When Harold, 72, of Thousand Oaks joined the North Hollywood branch of the Scouts in 1940, gas was in short supply, so members of his Troop 6 rode their bikes to a local park to learn skills such as how to take orders, pack clothes and equipment, and march in unison.

``We were taught to be real tough in all weather conditions,'' he said. ``You depended on yourself for all necessities.''

Harold served brief stints in the Navy in the mid-1940s and then again in the 1950s, but he has been supervising Scouts for decades.

``Today, children need adult supervision,'' he said. ``Sometimes their parents don't take care of those things. You devote yourself to help the younger generations.''

The Scouts on Saturday didn't have to worry about preparing for war. They mainly had fun.

Troops competed in a wide variety of activities, including flag raising, fire starting, map reading, first aid, ``chariot racing'' on makeshift sleds, and the most popular event, the tomahawk throw.

``You get to throw something sharp,'' said 12-year-old Thousand Oaks resident Mike Milano, a Troop 761 member. ``No other place would they let you do that. First aid you can do in public, but you can't throw a tomahawk in public.''

One of the more challenging events was the emergency preparedness exercise, where the Scouts had to transport each other on stretchers and climb over rope suspension bridges.

For 14-year-old Thousand Oaks resident Matt Keipper of Troop 761, being a Boy Scout keeps him in touch with the outdoors. ``In California, there's a lot of different things to do,'' he said. ``You can go rock climbing or river rafting. It's a fun experience.''

The Scouts pitched their tents in the rolling hills of Moorpark on Friday night. They are scheduled to conclude activities this morning.

``It teaches the boys leadership and independence,'' said Joe ``Gung-Ho Joe'' Tischler, an assistant Scout master with Troop 718 of Thousand Oaks.

``It teaches them how to live properly and get along with each other,'' he said.

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) Phil Bourassa of Troop 754 gets pulled on a stretcher by fellow troop members during a survival test Saturday.

(2--Color) Bundled with gear, a family heads toward their tent during the 29th annual Camporee, which is bringing together 1,150 Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts from throughout the Conejo Valley this weekend. The event is being held at the Empty Kettle Ranch.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News