OREM — The UVSC Campus became Boy Scout central Saturday.

About 75,000 Scouts representing 147 units from Utah and Wasatch Counties, their leaders and parents descended on the McKay Events Center for Scout-O-Rama, the organization's premier annual event.

"The purpose is to show scouting to the community," said Larry Bethers, a staff advisor with the Utah National Parks Council, "We're trying to show people we're still a viable program for youths."

With 57,000 members in the council, which stretches from Point of the Mountain to Page, Ariz., there's no doubt scouting is going strong in Utah.

At Scout-O-Rama, youth had the chance to display skills they've learned, like Native American dancing, knot tying and first aid. They also tried tossing tomahawks, scale climbing walls and racing through obstacle courses. Some put their homemade roadsters to the test in one of scouting's most well known activities, the Pinewood Derby.

Most Scouts felt the same as Steven Wheelock, 15, from unit 75 in Spanish Fork, who couldn't decide what he like best.

"It's all fun," he said.

Steven's brother Chris, 12, got a nasty looking wound made up on his cheek — a reward for successfully building a first aid kit.

Enoch Hunsaker, 11, from unit 52 in Provo, was tireless in his effort to climb to the top of a wobbly rope ladder.

"I've done it 10 times today," he said. After falling off on the last rung, Enoch sprung to his feet and ran to get back in line to try again.

"I think it's wonderful," said Lewis Wright, a Scoutmaster from American Fork. "There's a lot of activities that spark interest in some young men. I look forward to bringing my scouts.

Even Garfield the cat showed up in full uniform, sporting his lasagna eating merit badge.

Scouting works to instill some serious lessons, but like many successful programs, they do it through fun, said Bethers. "It's a game with a purpose."