Striving to make the community a better place and themselves better citizens, a group of Cub Scouts, their leaders and parents will gather litter in one Salt Lake neighborhood today.
A part of the Millcreek District project will include making a "mountain of trash" in the parking lot of an LDS Church building at 2520 S. Douglas.There, the group will participate in activities designed to help them become more aware of their responsibilities as citizens. Salt Lake County Commissioner Brent Overson will speak at a short program at about 10 a.m.
Overson says Cub Scouting teaches skills young people need to make positive contributions to the community.
Carol Lord, Millcreek District commissioner over Cub Scouting and organizer of the event, said Scouting leaders believe it's important for young people to "get involved in things that help them realize that they can make a difference."
Such activities are especially important, she said, at a time "when so many kids are joining gangs and getting into trouble in other ways. Troublemakers are always the ones who get the publicity. It is easy for the good kids to develop an attitude of being helpless and hopeless. We are here to counter that . . . ," Lord said.
Millcreek District will hold a Cub Scout Spirit Day in the fall. The event will give boys an opportunity to present their talents and to gain experience in art, literature, public speaking and music, said district activities chairman Reinhard Haidenthaller.