RED-AND-WHITE CANOES slice through shimmering waters of Camp Emerald Bay on Catalina Island, as troops of Boy Scouts take the oars. Sea lions bark greetings from nearby rocks while seagulls glide on thermals.

Each week throughout the summer, 300 to 500 Boy Scouts, ages 10 to 17, will discover the ocean-going pleasures of this camp, one of six managed by the Western Los Angeles County Council of the Boy Scouts, headquartered in Van Nuys. Alongside this pristine bay, Scouts learn everything from the art of a fishing lure to the art of leadership. They hike, swim, and scuba dive; gain skills in archery, wood carving, leather craft and more; plus an island perspective on geology and oceanography. Experienced campers sign on for the Rugged "E" adventure program, which includes kayaking, cliff jumping, rock climbing, and mountain biking. At night, Scouts, troop leaders and a sampling of fathers share cookouts under the stars.

A $150,000 grant from Weingart Foundation has funded improvements to the infrastructure of the 77-year-old camp. They include new restroom and shower facilities, along with expansion of leech fields to complete a water system critical to running the camp year-round. The funding is representative of a number of grants by the Foundation to improve the utility, health, and safety of camps throughout the Southland. Individual troops can apply for "camper-ships," which are designed to make the camp accessible to "every Scout and young person year-round who wants to come," says Hugh Travis, executive director of the Western Los Angeles County Council. As a result, more than 35 percent of summer campers at Emerald Bay are from inner-city, high-risk families. The numbers are even higher during the year, when children and teens from various organizations flock here on weekends.

Older Scouts have the opportunity to work as counselors-in-training, then counselors and program aides, giving younger ones positive role models and a sense of their own possibilities.

Roy Vanderwater, 14, a camper and counselor-in-training, has already gained self-confidence. He's teaching fishing in just his second summer. "At home, I'd probably be watching television. Here, I'm water skiing and snorkeling." One day, he hiked along a high trail. When he turned to look down a craggy cliff, the Pacific Ocean stretched out before him - perfect as a postcard.