Boy Scouts pitch in to clean up Sunset Park

By Ashley Livingston

Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008 | midnight

Armed with large, yellow trash bags, dressed in troop shirts or uniforms, hats and work gloves, Boy Scouts from Las Vegas and Henderson converged at the desert areas of Sunset Park Saturday morning to collect trash and keep an eye out for wildlife as part of the semi-annual Conservation Good Turn project.

Gary Lewis, activities and marketing director for the Las Vegas Area Council of Boy Scouts of America, told the scouts and the pack leaders to watch for lizards, quail and coyotes while collecting garbage.

“And if you see a snake, you’re not good at identifying them at this point, so stop and walk away,” he said.

Nine-year-old scout Matthew Williams waited to hear what area of the desert each troop would be responsible for.

“I hope I see desert scorpions, maybe a couple lizards and a few snakes,” he said. “I like all the reptile-looking things and the bugs.”

As the scouts set out, parent Edwin Garrido kept a close eye on his two sons and nephew. “When you guys pick something up, look beside it,” he told them. “The snakes and the lizards look just like the ground.”

Trash bags were quickly filled with wrappers, cans, Styrofoam and even some barbed wire.

Garrido’s son, 7-year-old scout Marcfred Garrido, said he thought the project was important because, “Without a clean environment, it wouldn’t be so cool. It would just be all dirty.”

Lewis said the local Boy Scouts will participate in another Conservation Good Turn project this spring.

The projects aim to teach scouts the importance of protecting the environment and about native species and animals.

In the past, the scouts have worked with the Southern Nevada Water Authority to help revegetate the Las Vegas Wash and also with officials at Lee Canyon to help prevent fires and improve eroding roads.

Ashley Livingston can be reached at 990-8925 or [email protected].