Boy Scout
Troop 476 has been in existence since 1957. It has a strong emphasis on
instilling self-sufficiency, leadership skills, and moral values into young
boys. The troop is a team that partners with parents to help their sons develop
into men of character -- active parent participation is key to the success of
the troop operation and each parent is expected to have a role in the support
of the troop.
The troop has monthly camping
activities all year round. There are beginner campouts and backpacking trips
designed to teach basic Boy Scout skills to the newer, younger boys. For the
older boys, there are 50-mile backpack treks in the Sierras, and canoe,
whitewater raft, and bike trips. Week-long highlight trips include summer camp
at Hi Sierra (near Sonora), an additional summer camp at Emerald Bay on
Catalina Island or at other out-of-council locations, Philmont Scout Ranch in
New Mexico (most recently in 2008), and the Northern Tier High Adventure Canoe
Base in Ely, Minnesota (in 2003, 2006, and 2012).
The foundation of the troop's
outdoor program was developed by early Scoutmasters, notably Dick Trevisan, and
refined by subsequent Scoutmasters and other troop leaders. Dick's love of the
outdoors and his ten-year tenure combined to formulate an exciting year-round
camping program with themes appealing to both the novice and older boys. The
hallmark of the troop's outdoor program is preparing Scouts to lead high
adventure treks (backpacking, canoeing, climbing, rafting…) by teaching them the
full range of skills needed and by giving them steadily increasing leadership
experience. The troop uses the 'trek' concept to teach life, leadership and
social interaction skills. Scouts choose the troop's calendar, and each trek is
a project, with a Scout trek leader being the project manager. Scouts either
enjoy the fruits of being prepared or they suffer the consequences of being
unprepared, in an unthreatening and protected environment. As the boys progress
through the program, they take on more and more demanding treks, culminating in
high adventure trips, which require a very significant amount of skills,
planning and preparation.
Troop 476 has been served by
the following Scoutmasters:
Norman LaPlant (1957-1958)
William Duncan (1958-1966)
Roland Fitzgerald (1966-1970)
Jack Bumgardner (1970-1972)
Joseph Puzar (1972-1973)
Richard Trevisan (1973-1983)
Terry Maguire (1983-1991)
Stephen Hill (1991-1993)
Bob Ulicki (1993-1996)
Charlie Schramm (1996-2000)
Brian Latona (2000-2003)
Calvin Gabriel (2003-2006)
David Low (2006-2009)
Mark Enright (2009-present)
Troop meetings are held weekly on Thursday nights at 7:30 PM in the Multipurpose Room of St. Joseph of Cupertino School. St. Josephs is located at 10110 N. De Anza Blvd. in Cupertino near the corner of Stevens Creek and N. De Anza Blvd. A meeting of all adults, called the Committee Meeting, is held monthly in the AV Room. The Committee Meeting is usually held the third Monday of each month at 7:30 PM in the St. Joseph AV Room.
Please check our calendar
for exceptions to the above schedule.