A History of Troop 236 – Danville, CA
Troop 236 began in April 1953 with just five Scouts under the leadership of Scoutmaster William Giddings as part of the youth program of Danville Community Presbyterian Church. Pastor H.W. Van Delinder represented the church on the troop committee, and L.M. Meigs was the Committee Chairman.
From the beginning, Community Presbyterian Church (CPC) ensured that facilities and capable leadership were provided, and this has been essential to the success of the troop for the past 50 years. By the mid 50’s the Troop had grown to 33 Scouts, including 3 Explorers, or senior Scouts. All were from Danville, and most were from CPC families. The Troop had developed a regular program of monthly outings to such locations as Bishop Ranch, Mt. Diablo, Redwood Canyon, and Angel Island. The Troop also enjoyed summer camp at the Mt. Diablo Council’s Camp Wolfeboro in the Sierra foothills.
Scoutmasters in the 1950’s succeeding William Giddings included H.W. Busch and Thomas Graham. From the beginning, advancement was considered a vital part of the program, and in 1961 the troop produced its first Eagle Scout, Robert Fisher. In 1962, seven Scouts achieved the Eagle award. This group included Lee Halverson Sr. who today serves as the Venture Crew’s Organization Representative. Scoutmasters in the 1960’s included Kenneth Stenquist, Vernon Lloyd, George Durrie, Tom Martin, Boudewyn Otten, and James Spencer.
The 70’s began with George Erhart as Scoutmaster, followed by Bob Witbeck, Roger Evans, and Tom Seabury. Some of these leaders continued to serve Scouting at the District and Council level, and Erhart, Witbeck, Evans, and Assistant Scoutmaster Wayne Bruce received the District Award of Merit for service to youth in the Meridian District. Witbeck and Evans became Council officers and served on the staff of the Council’s Wood Badge leadership training course. Both were awarded the Silver Beaver by the Council and continue to serve Scouting. By 1965, Troop 236’s membership had grown to over 50 Scouts, including many from Alamo as well as Danville. By 1970, a waiting list had developed, and this led to the formation of Troop 836 in 1971. Along with Sea Scout Ship 236, which had been formed in 1962, there were three Scouting units chartered to Community Presbyterian Church throughout the 70’s.
The Troop had long been very successful in retaining its members, attracted by the Troop’s adventurous outdoor program. As a result, a number of older Scouts were formed into a senior group in 1971 to undertake high adventure activities on their own and to focus on their advancement to Eagle. This resulted in six Eagle awards in 1972 followed by 3 or 4 Eagles almost every year since then. The Troop has produced 230+ Eagle Scouts over its almost 70-year history. This is truly an impressive record of achievement. Moreover, each of these Eagle candidates has carried out a leadership service project in the community, resulting in many important contributions.
In 1972, fundamental changes were made in the National Scouting program, largely affecting advancement, the outdoor program, and troop organization. The “Leadership Corps” was introduced to provide troop leadership, and Troop 236’s already existing senior group readily adapted to this role.
During the 1950’s, an old railroad line shack located on the rear of the Church property was fixed up to provide a meeting place and storage space for the Boy Scout troop and the Sea Scout ship. Appropriately, it was called the “Scout Shack.” Needing more space in the mid 70’s, the Troop obtained a larger building, and it was moved to the property where it was used for about ten years until church building expansion required its removal.
Throughout the 70’s and 80’s the Troop provided two summer camp opportunities for Scouts – an organized Scout camp experience for advancement and traditional camp activities and a weeklong extended backpacking trip. For several years during the early 1970’s the Troop went to Camp McLaughlin in Oregon. For many years after that, Camp Oljato at Huntington Lake in the Sierra then became the favored destination. Several Troop alumni became staff members at that camp.
Summer backpacking trips included the Marble Mountains and Trinity Alps in Northern California and many Sierra destinations including Desolation Valley, Evolution Valley, Kennedy Meadows, King’s Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite. All of these provided outstanding experiences, and several were visited more than once. A highlight of these extended trips in the mountains always was the stop at McDonald’s for a hamburger after a week of trail food. In later years, a group of parents often met the descending backpackers with a repast of delicious food.
In 1973, Scouts were permitted to attend the National Scout Jamboree as part of their home troops instead of with the traditional council provisional troops. As a result, Troop 236 was represented at the National Jamboree at Farragut State Park in Idaho by a group of 11 Scouts under the leadership of Scoutmaster Bob Witbeck, Assistant Scoutmaster Roger Evans, and Senior Patrol Leader Larry Loper. The group enjoyed the many activities provided at the Jamboree and visited many attractions on the trips to and from Idaho.
Since then, Scouts from Troop 236 have regularly attended National Jamborees, which are held every four years, and some have ventured to International Jamborees held in various foreign countries.
Scouting celebrated the 1976 Bicentennial with many program activities, and Troop 236 was very much a part of this historical milestone. A highlight was participation by about 30 Scouts in Danville’s July 4th parade, dressed in “Minute Man” outfits and carrying the troop’s 18 Colonial flags which had been hand made by mothers (and some sisters) of Scouts.
How does one learn how Scouting works and how to be a leader in the troop? The district and council provide training courses for patrol leaders and the “Brownsea” course for junior leaders. For adults, basic training, outdoor training, and advanced leadership training courses are available. Troop 236 has always strongly encouraged participation in these courses for Scouts and adult Scouters, and this has been an important source of strength for the Troop’s program. Over the years, many Scouts and Scouters from the Troop have served on the staffs of these training courses. Matt Mundelius served twice as Senior Patrol Leader for the Brownsea course, and Bob Witbeck has been Course Director for the Wood Badge course.
As Troop 236 progressed through its fourth decade, the 1980’s, Scoutmasters included Ron Iverson, David Duncan, and Fred Mundelius. Membership during this period was steady at about 50 Scouts, but the Troop usually had a waiting list due to its outstanding reputation in the community.
The Troop always participated in Meridian District Scout-o-Ramas and Camporees, and received many awards for excellence. Obstacle courses featuring a “monkey bridge” were always a popular attraction at these events, and the troop sometimes used its supply of poles and ropes to build signal towers and other pioneering projects.
Monthly camping trips have long been a regular part of the Troop’s outdoor program. Every year during the 1970’s and 1980’s the program included a beach camp, a ski trip, and a canoe trip on the Russian River. Other popular destinations were Pinnacles, Angel Island, Moaning Caverns, Castle Rock, and the Black Diamond Mines. In the 80’s an annual family campout was introduced so that Scout families could share the fun and adventure of monthly outings. Another popular and valuable activity introduced in the 80’s was the annual planning outing during which the Troop leaders planned the forthcoming year’s program while they enjoyed a special outdoor experience.
During the 1980’s, the Troop continued its tradition of summer backpacking trips to various mountain destinations, but trips to more distant locations were also introduced. These included an extended canoeing expedition in the Boundary Waters area of Canada and northern Minnesota and trips to the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. Late in the 1980’s, after the Scout Shacks had been removed to make way for Community Presbyterian Church expansion, the Troop met in a room provided on the upper floor of the new CPC school facilities. Later, in the 1990’s, the church developed youth facilities located beneath the church sanctuary, and that is where the Troop meets today.
Funds for the Troop’s programs traditionally came from collection and sale of waste paper and from the annual sale of Christmas wreaths as well as individual dues. In the 90’s these sources were no longer available, so the Troop now relies entirely on dues and contributions.
The 1990’s saw a number of changes in the Troop 236 program. Some Troop and Scouting traditions such as “King Snow,” “Ali Babas,” and “Smoke Shifters” disappeared – and probably were not missed. The Troop continued to enjoy a good reputation among prospective Scouts, and membership grew to as many as 90 Scouts, although it later was scaled back to more modest levels. The “new Scout patrol” concept, which kept young Scouts together as a group, was introduced into the B.S.A. program. “Troop Guides” – experienced Scouts who could work with and guide the new Scouts – replaced the Leadership Corps.
Today, the Troop is over 50 strong. Yosemite, Mendocino kayaking, and the Troop’s annual snow camping continue to be popular weekend outings. The Troop sends a large group to Camp Wente near Willets for summer camp, and is re-introducing a second summer camp option at Cherry Valley on Catalina Island after a Covid driven hiatus. Older Scouts have attended high adventure programs at Philmont in New Mexico, Sea Base in Florida and Bowron Lakes in Canada. While Covid had an impact on the Troop’s ability to muster outings, activities and participation have all but returned to normal. In addition to our Troop outings, our Scouts are active participants in civic events including the July 4th parade, Scouting for Food programs, and the annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony. Countless service hours are earned for Eagle projects, reforestation work in the wake of California’s recent devastating fire seasons, and all manner of community service.
Boy Scouting began in America in 1910 and is now 110 years old. For more than half of that time Troop 236 has been a part of the Scouting movement, serving almost 1,000 youth members over the past 69 years. As the Troop has entered the 21st Century, it has kept pace with change while it continues to provide a program emphasizing character building, citizenship, personal fitness, and leadership development for youth. It is well equipped to continue to provide for future generations.