Youth Camps Southern California

Deep in the Sequoia National Forest stood a collection of unlikely campers. The boys, most no older than 14, wore basketball sneakers, baggy shorts, faded T-shirts and unmistakable chips on their slender shoulders. There was 12-year-old Joshua of Oxnard, who smiles politely at adults but had his first fistfight only a few hours after arriving at camp. His brother Jack, 14, was willing to give the forest thing a try.

Deep in the Sequoia National Forest stood a collection of unlikely campers. The boys, most no older than 14, wore basketball sneakers, baggy shorts, faded T-shirts and unmistakable chips on their slender shoulders. There was 12-year-old Joshua of Oxnard, who smiles politely at adults but had his first fistfight only a few hours after arriving at camp. His brother Jack, 14, was willing to give the forest thing a try.

A Valencia-based nonprofit group that runs a camp for impoverished boys was recognized Wednesday as the 722nd "point of light" by President Bush. The Daily Point of Light Program was started by the President shortly after he took office in 1988 to promote volunteerism and encourage privately financed community service efforts. R. M.

To find the poor and needy, the underprivileged children, whose bodies are undernourished, whose thoughts are clouded by fear, whose hearts are heavy from lack of love and understanding . . . to find and rebuild them into healthier and happier generations of Americans." --Robert M. Pyles, Founder, R.M.

To find the poor and needy, the underprivileged children, whose bodies are undernourished, whose thoughts are clouded by fear, whose hearts are heavy from lack of love and understanding . . . to find and rebuild them into healthier and happier generations of Americans." --Robert M. Pyles, Founder, R.M.

A Valencia-based nonprofit group that runs a camp for impoverished boys was recognized Wednesday as the 722nd "point of light" by President Bush. The Daily Point of Light Program was started by the President shortly after he took office in 1988 to promote volunteerism and encourage privately financed community service efforts. R. M.