CAMPING TRADITION BOOSTS FAMILY TIES.

Byline: Holly Edwards Staff Writer

SAUGUS - Forsaking such Memorial Day traditions as ballgames and backyard cookouts, dozens of campers spent the holiday weekend roughing it beside an oak-lined stream in Bouquet Canyon.

Awaking at the crack of dawn to fish or sip coffee by the fire, these urban campers say they prefer to spend the extended weekend away from the noise and bustle of the city.

For more than 25 years, Pauline Cruz and three generations of her family have escaped their East Los Angeles homes to spend Memorial Day weekend at the Zuni Campground - a family tradition that keeps the memory of Cruz's late husband, Tino Sylva, alive.

``It's real meaningful for us to come here every year because I have a lot of memories of when my dad would bring us up here and teach us to camp and fish,'' said Cruz's daughter, Rosemary Bayless, 37, of El Monte, whose four children have been coming to the campground since birth.

``I hope I pass the tradition on to my children, and they pass it on to their children.''

On Sunday, Bayless' 6-year-old niece, Alexis, caught her first fish - a small trout the youngster named ``George'' and carried in a plastic bag.

``I can take him to show and tell,'' said Alexis, holding up the fish.

Alexis' mother, Lucy Sylva, said she enjoys the feeling of being cut off from civilization, through they are just miles from Santa Clarita.

``The cell phones don't work up here and we don't have our laptops or our TVs,'' Sylva said. ``It's so nice and so relaxing up here, we hate to go home.''

Al Cruz, 36, said his three children appreciate the luxuries of home after spending four days in the woods.

``The first day back they're always happy to have the hot water and lights,'' he said. ``But they have a lot of fun being dirty for awhile, and it keeps my dad's memory alive.''

Other campers said they didn't enjoy being removed from the comforts of home, but came to the campground to spend time with their children.

``I'm not really a camper type of person and I don't like to get dirty, but my son enjoys it,'' said Dave Beck, 51, of Newhall. ``I usually just drink coffee, have a few beers and help him untangle his fishing line.''

While Beck sipped coffee, his 11-year-old son, David, fished for trout in a nearby stream. Later on, David said he planned to search for crickets to feed his pet frogs and lizards to feed his pet glossy snakes, Mr. Pretzel and Steel.

Meanwhile, David's mother, Paula, said she enjoyed the peacefulness of the woods.

``I really enjoy going to sleep and listening to the crickets and the babbling stream,'' she said. ``It's a great way to get away from it all and spend some quality time with my son.''

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color in SAC edition only) Alexis Arreola, 6, carries the results of her first fishing success back to the Zuni Campground, where her family has been gathering since 1975.

(2 -- ran in SAC edition only) Paula Beck and her son David, 11, spend some quality time together away from urban distractions, fishing in the creek at Bouquet Canyon.

(3) Three generations of an East Los Angeles family gather for breakfast Sunday while camping in Bouquet Canyon.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News