ScoutReach coming to L.A. County Parks

NEW Partnership between L.A. County Parks and Recreation and the Greater L.A. Area Council’s ScoutReach

LOS ANGELES, CA – On June 11, the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), in collaboration with the Greater Los Angeles Area Council’s ScoutReach (GLAAC), will hold a ribbon cutting and program launch event to celebrate the arrival of Scouting Programs within L.A. County’s unincorporated parks. The celebration will be hosted at Belvedere Park, located at 4914 E, Chavez Ave., Los Angeles, CA. The celebration begins at 11 am.

“This innovative partnership intentionally makes deeper investments in BIPOC youth by leveraging the resources of each organization to carry out a mission of diversity, equity and inclusion in communities hardest hit by COVID19, and who too are impacted by the financial stressors of today. Our park system is vast and features some of the most unique outdoor settings from trails, open space, campgrounds, nature centers and sanctuaries for youth explore and build their skills in outdoor leadership,” shared Norma E. García-González, Los Angeles County Director of Parks and Recreation.

This partnership between DPR and GLAAC serves as a means for both organizations to share and bolster their visions and values of equity, access and inclusion for diverse communities, starting with a no cost Scouting program at Belvedere Park in East L.A. and at Earvin Magic Johnson Park in South L.A. Eliminating financial barriers to participation will ensure entire families can access this positive youth development program that youth can continue through their academic journey. The Scouting experience will build community cohesion and connectivity by bringing youth, families and mentors together around a common purpose united around investing in positive youth development.

DPR’s Scouting Program launched in April to resounding success, with enrollment already at capacity at Belvedere Park and still growing at Earvin Magic Johnson Park. Scouting allows for youth to engage with a variety of both group activities that instill a sense of responsibility, teamwork and curiosity in youth. Both DPR and GLAAC firmly believe that these opportunities should be made readily accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic status. This program continues and acts upon that shared belief and marks the beginning of not only the partnership

between organizations but underscores an intentional focus of creating outdoor leadership opportunities for BIPOC youth to experience.

“We are thrilled to enter this unique partnership with L.A. County Parks and Recreation. We share a commitment to the community’s youth, ensuring that all kids have the opportunity to experience the benefits of outdoor adventures all the while developing life skills that will equip

them as they become contributing young adults,” shared Priscilla Hernandez, Vice President of Greater Los Angeles Boy Scouts of America, ScoutReach.

The event this Saturday will host key speakers critical to this program, demonstration of Scouting activities by our participants as well as a ribbon cutting to formally kick-off Scouting in LA County’s unincorporated Parks.