History

Troop 33 began as a ministry of Los Altos United Methodist Church in November 1951, shortly after the church itself was founded. The charter was granted in December 1951 by the Stanford Area Council, which merged into the Pacific Skyline Council in 1994. The church's first pastor, Charles Cox, believed in Scouting, and the Troop grew up alongside the congregation.

The founding

The founding Scoutmaster, R.W. Dulleck, was a carpenter. He and the Scouts of Troop 33 worked with the congregation to build the first three buildings of the church, including the social hall that was the Troop's home for decades. The church also sponsored two Cub Scout packs, an Air Scout squadron and an Explorer post. Only the Troop and one pack remain, both still wear the number 33, and both are now chartered by the American Legion.

Lean years and a new start

The Troop grew quickly during the baby boom of the 1950s and 1960s. As the boom ended and the turbulent sixties arrived, Scouting struggled nationally and locally. Troop 33 shrank to four Scouts and was at risk of losing its charter. In 1974 Dave Earle, a district volunteer, stepped in as Scoutmaster. With that small group and a handful of new recruits, the Troop was re-chartered and revived.

The Scouts made the Troop's first custom neckerchief with a new Troop 33 logo. The Troop stayed small, rarely more than 20 Scouts, until Troop 35 merged into it in 1977 and made a unit of 30 to 40. For the Troop's 33rd anniversary, Scoutmaster King Lear led a bike tour of England, and the Troop adopted a bright yellow neckerchief to mark it. That color became the Troop's signature and stayed until the 2000s.

An outdoor Troop

An active outdoor program has been the hallmark of Troop 33 ever since. The monthly program keeps Scouts outdoors all year, and summer is where they put their skills to work. From the earliest years the Troop has sent Scouts to Camp Oljato on Huntington Lake in the High Sierra, and by its tenth year Scouts were serving on the camp staff. See summer camp and high adventure.

The Troop has always treated advancement as the way to keep Scouts interested. The First-Year Program gives new Scouts a firm base for everything after. Since 1951 the Troop has served over a thousand Scouts, and over 350 have earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Meet them in the Eagles' Nest.

Today

The Troop welcomed girls in 2019, the first year Scouting America allowed it. In 2022 Los Altos American Legion Post 558 took over the Troop's charter. The Troop still meets at the church where it began.

See also the Hall of Fame, which lists the Troop's Scoutmasters and award recipients.