Stratford Los Gatos
Stratford School is an independent private school founded on the belief that education is a significant influence in the life of a child. Its mission is to create a school community that inspires children to realize their full potential, while providing a safe and nurturing school environment. To support our mission, we bring together principals, teachers, and parents who are passionate about education. Together, we provide the best possible learning environment for our students.
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slgpack371.com
History of Stratford Los Gato Pack 371
Pack 371 was founded at Stratford School Los Gatos in the fall of 2004. Melanie Hanssen, mother of Thomas, founded the Pack because there was no Cub Scout program at the elementary school at that time and she had previously started her daughter’s Girl Scout troop at Stratford Los Gatos. With the support of Ms. Sherry Adams (co-founder of Stratfrod Schools), who herself was a den leader at one time; the school sponsored the first pack. The Boy Scouts of America Santa Clara County Council (SCCCBSA) was a great help getting the pack going by providing assistance with recruiting and also a mentor to attend the first few meetings.
Thomas, by the way, completed the remainder of the Cub Scout program with Pack 371 during the 2007-08 school year and was the first member of Pack 371 to join Boy Scouts. He is currently a First Class Boy Scout with Troop 501 in Los Gatos and was recently selected to attend the Boy Scout National Jamboree in Virginia in the summer of 2010.During the first year (2004-2005), Pack 371 had 10 members to start --7 Wolves and 3 Webelos I. There were just two adult leaders during the first year, so the entire pack met together every other Friday afternoon after school and held separate activities during part of the meeting for each den. There were not enough resources or parent volunteers to do a Pinewood Derby or Blue and Gold dinner, but the group had a number of wonderful field trips including such activities as hiking in Sanborn Park, visiting the Saratoga Fire Station, attending a San Jose State Basketball game and even exploring tide pools at the Marine Science Institute in Half Moon Bay which we did as a joint activity with the Girl Scouts. During the summer of the first year, the entire pack, along with a parent for each child, went to family camp at Cheseborough (SCCCBSA owned camping facility) and everyone earned their belt loops in BB Gun Shooting and Archery and had a great time while doing it. Some of the dads even got to try their hands at setting up their tents for the first time.
During the second year, the pack made tremendous progress. Tim Miller, Bryan Mekechuk, and Jon Linthacum joined the pack with their sons as Tiger Cubs and also each of them volunteered to take on a significant leadership role with the pack. With their help and some additional recruiting, the pack was able to start a Tiger Den and a Wolf Den in addition to the Bear Den which had continued from the first year and the pack held its first Pinewood Derby and Blue and Gold Dinner along with other events.