The clouds rolled in, the weather was chilly and the finicky fish of Lake Coeur d'Alene weren't biting on Saturday.

But no matter - these were Trailblazers, Cub Scouts exploring Camp Easton for the very first time, and they were entirely undaunted.

"The rain was a little damper this morning, but it's been fun," said Matt McKoon, an assistant leader of Post Falls Troop 13.

He stood on a dock at Camp Easton, watching young fishermen toss their lines into the lake. He had just taught Tristan Wright, a 7-year-old Cub Scout from Spokane, how to cast his bait. Tristan was happily reeling in a nightcrawler, hoping for a nibble.

"Had a lot of smiling kids (today)," McCoon said.

Camp Easton, one of 19 Boy Scouts of America camps in the Northwest, is on Highway 97 between Coeur d'Alene and Harrison. Encompassing 393 wooded acres, the camp boasts half a mile of shoreline, beautiful scenery and just about every activity a scout could hope for.

On Saturday, the camp hosted 360 Cub Scouts for Trailblazer Activity Day, a fun-filled event that brought in youngsters from Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Sandpoint, Spokane and Spokane Valley. Add up the chaperones, scout leaders and staffers, and there were 800 people enjoying the Camp Easton atmosphere.

"Spirits are high, and we've had a fantastic staff," said event chairman Dick Swartz. "The feature of today's event is to get the new Cub Scouts exposed to the scouting experience. This is the outing in scouting."

The boys, most of whom were between 7 and 10 years old, tried out BB guns, archery and slingshots. Some took a fly-casting lesson, while others panned for gold, tested their scouting skills or went bouldering. Officials from Idaho Fish and Game told the scouts about local wildlife, and a couple of wild-eyed mountain men showed off their muzzleloading rifles, pistols and accoutrements.

Down by the water, scouts clambered into long "war canoes" and went for a voyage on the lake.

"Camp Easton is one of the premiere water camps in the Pacific Northwest," Swartz said. "This is the biggest-person event that Camp Easton has. And we're the biggest one this year of all the Trailblazers."

Maintaining the shoreline, the docks and the watercraft is expensive. The camp needs additional funding, otherwise that famous Camp Easton experience could be at risk.

"We need to put more money into our boats and their maintenance," said Andrea Watson, the BSA Inland Northwest Council program director.

Several outboard motors were stolen last summer, she said. The aquatics office - a beached houseboat affectionately known as the "Titanic" - needs renovation. And one of the docks, damaged in a fierce windstorm, is without a floating log - a $10,000 repair job, Watson noted.

But the Boy Scouts have a plan: A Twilight Eagle Cruise & Dinner Auction is scheduled for Nov. 20 on Lake Coeur d'Alene. The cost is $45 per person, and the public is invited. Dinner will be served as participants watch bald eagles soar through the air.

Proceeds will go toward Camp Easton, particularly the waterfront projects and the BSA scholarship program.

"We see a lot more need for scholarships than we did in years past," said Mark Whitt, scoutmaster of Coeur d'Alene Troop 201.

The summer of 2010 was Camp Easton's 90th season. From mid-June until mid-August, the camp serves close to 1,400 scouts, about 200 per week, and it's already booked solid for next year.

Easton is a popular place for good reason, Watson said. The waterfront is the heart of Camp Easton, especially in the summertime - scouts can water ski, canoe, kayak, go sailing or fish for trout. There's also a water trampoline, Watson said, and a giant floating structure called the "Summit."

"Every water activity in the Boy Scouts you can do here, except for one (board sailing)," she added.

Space is limited on the eagle cruise, which will depart from The Coeur d'Alene Resort at 3 p.m. on Nov. 20. Auction items are still needed. For more information, call the Boy Scouts of America, Inland Northwest Council at (800) 945-4390.