Boy Scouts of America, Troop 407

Cub Scouts of America, Pack 433

Troop 407 begins the 2020 year with 24 scouts. Our troop places an emphasis on letting the scouts develop leadership skills. Our troop conducts youth leader training sessions one Saturday, twice a year, as well as sending several scouts to a week-long youth leadership training session each summer.

During the 2019 year our scouts enjoyed a wide variety of monthly activities, here’s the list:

• In February we hiked and explored Quarry Park in Saratoga.
• In March we spent a day providing a program to introduce Webelos scouts from Pack 433 to our troop.
• In April our troop competed against other scouts in the area at the Polaris District Camp-o-Ree.
• In May the scouts lashed a signal tower using poles and ropes for the Scout-o-Rama at San Jose History Park and took a backpacking trip along the Sacramento History Trail.
• In June we spent a day working with scouts on first class advancement activities.
• In July we attended summer camp at Wente Scout Reservation near Willits.
• In August the scouts spent a weekend camping at Boulder Creek Scout Reservation planning our troop's activities for the coming year.
• In September our troop backpacked at Henry Coe State Park.
• In October the scouts traveled to Fort Ross and helped pick apples for the annual Harvest Festival.
• In November our troop took a biking outing at Coyote Hills Regional Park.
• In December the troop went skiing and snowboarding at Dodge Ridge Ski Resort.

For the 2020 year, we already have a set of planned outings, too:

• In January our troop spent the day at Creekside Park to meet with Webelos Scouts eligible to join our troop after this school year.
• In February we will go to Fremont Peak for an astronomy outing.
• In April our troop will compete at the District Camp-o-Ree at Chesebrough Scout Reservation in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
• In May our troop will participate in the council's Scout-o-Rama and then travel to the Mojave Desert and Edwards Air Force Base over the Memorial Day weekend.
• In June our troop's scouts will go backpacking at Burney Falls State Park.
• In July the scouts will spend Fourth of July weekend at Mount Diablo, looking down at the fireworks around the Bay. Later in the month, our troop will travel by train to Summer Camp at Camp Makualla in Oregon.
• In August we will spend a weekend at Chesebrough Scout Reservation planning our troop's calendar for the coming year.

Each month the scouts clean out trash from the playground and church grounds. The troop participates in Scouting-4-Food collections and other worthwhile community activities, too. For example, among our year-end activities are caroling at The Villas at Saratoga Assisted Living Facility.

The troop's on-going fund-raiser is collecting and recycling aluminum, glass, and beverage containers.
We are very appreciative of the continued support of the West Valley Presbyterian Church Session and Congregation towards the scouting program.

Troop 407 meets most Monday nights starting at 7:15 PM in McHattie Hall. We serve young men who are 11-17 years old and we’re delighted to have youth from the community or church congregation join our troop.

With a strong and supportive leadership team, participation by Scout parents, and the support of West Valley Presbyterian Church, Troop 407 looks forward to more years of great Scouting experiences.

Pack 443 begins the 2020 year with six boys ranging from second to fourth grade; five are new to the pack this year. While the number is less than in previous years, parents have stepped up to complete training in their positions as Den Leaders, Cub masters, and Assistant Cub masters, and the Cubs are benefiting from it.

Our 2019 schedule included the following activities:

• Stomp bottle-rocket launches during our recruitment night events
• In October participating in the council's shooting sports program (BB guns and archery) at Camp Chesebrough.
• In November the pack participated in the annual Scouting-4-Food drive, collecting food for the Second Harvest Food Bank.
• In December the pack joined Troop 407 for Christmas Caroling at The Villas at Saratoga Assisted Living Facility and a “Peace Light” ceremony / worship service at the Sacred Heart Parish in Saratoga. Cub families also attended a Basketball Game at Santa Clara University, with Cubs being invited to shoot a free-throw after the game.

For 2020, we’re looking at the following:

• In January our Cubs received Pinewood Derby car kits. After spending several weeks designing and painting their cars, they enjoyed racing them in McHattie Hall. The top three cars, and best two designs, competed in the Polaris District competition on February 8th.
• In February the cubs will be entertained by a balloon artist at our annual Blue & Gold banquet.
• In March our Webelos Scouts are planning and leading a hike for other Cub Scouts.
• May is packed with fun events! Cub families will be spending a night in the Marin Headlands and touring the Nike missile base historic site and lighthouse on May 2-3. The Cubs will participate in the Scout-o-Rama at San Jose History Park, too. On May 16th, they will visit Lockheed-Martin for their annual model rocket launching day, and help clean up Creekside Park in the afternoon. At the end of the month, the cubs will be given kits with an assortment of items and challenged to utilize their creativity to build something from them. We look forward to seeing the results at our June Pack Meeting / end of school year event!
  

Pack 443 meets at WVPC in Rooms 11 & 12 the second Monday night of each month. Boys from the community and congregation are welcome to join the pack.