About Troop 52
Over a century of Scouting in the heart of Oakville, Connecticut.
A Century of Scouting
Troop 52 has served Oakville-Watertown area youth for more than a century. Since 1911, Scouts have developed leadership skills, learned outdoor techniques, provided service to the community, and created lifelong friendships.
Mission Statement
"Our mission is to help young people grow into responsible leaders through outdoor adventure, service, teamwork, and the values expressed in the Scout Oath and Scout Law."
What Makes Troop 52 Unique
Youth-Led Leadership
Scouts run the troop under adult guidance, building real decision-making experience.
Active Outdoor Program
Monthly outings, summer camp, and high-adventure trips keep Scouts in the field.
Community Service Focus
Regular service projects strengthen our bond with Oakville and neighboring towns.
Strong Eagle Tradition
Troop 52 has produced Eagle Scouts across generations of Oakville families.
Family Support
A welcoming community of families who volunteer, cheer, and support every Scout.
Current Leadership
Meet the dedicated adults who guide Troop 52 today.
Adult Leader Training
The safety and well-being of every Scout is our highest priority. Scouting America requires all registered adult leaders to complete a core set of training before working with youth — and Troop 52 holds every leader to that standard.
Safety is paramount. No adult may serve in a leadership role with Troop 52 until all Scouting America mandatory training requirements are completed and current. Background checks are required for every registered adult volunteer.
Required for every registered adult before joining and renewed every two years. SYT teaches leaders how to recognize, prevent, and respond to child abuse — and establishes the two-deep leadership and no one-on-one contact policies that keep Scouts safe at all times.
An online orientation that introduces new leaders to the mission, values, structure, and safe practices of Scouting America. Completed before a leader's first outing with the troop.
Each leadership role — Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, Committee Chair, Committee Member — has dedicated coursework covering responsibilities, program planning, and Scout-facing skills. Completion earns the Trained strip worn on the uniform.
Leaders who supervise outdoor activities complete this course covering lightning, flash flooding, extreme heat and cold, and proper emergency response — essential for a troop that camps year-round.
Required for any adult supervising swimming or boating activities. These courses establish buddy systems, lookout protocols, and the qualified supervision standards that Scouting America mandates at every aquatic event.
A hands-on, overnight weekend course for Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters. Covers camping, cooking, navigation, knots, lashing, fire safety, and Leave No Trace — the same outdoor skills leaders teach Scouts in the field.
An advanced, multi-day leadership development course — the premier adult training in Scouting. Wood Badge graduates develop team-building, vision, and servant-leadership skills that directly strengthen the troop program. Several of our leaders are Wood Badge–trained.
While not mandated for every role, Scouting America strongly encourages at least one currently certified First Aid / CPR provider to be present at every troop activity. Many of our leaders maintain active American Red Cross or American Heart Association certification.
Questions about leader qualifications? Contact us — we're happy to share details about the training our leadership team has completed.
Historical Scoutmasters
Troop 52 has been shaped by dedicated Scoutmasters spanning more than a century of service.
| Years | Scoutmaster |
|---|---|
| 1911–1917 | Rev. Leonard |
| 1917–1919 | George Wildman |
| 1919–1923 | Robert Purvis |
| 1923–1924 | Harry Steiskel |
| 1925–1926 | Hugh Brown |
| 1926–1930 | Raymond Brittingham |
| 1930–1932 | Raymond Booth |
| 1932–1955 | Walter Thorne |
| 1955–1976 | Joseph LeClair Jr. |
| 1976–1978 | Stephen Ramponi |
| 1978–2018 | Joseph LeClair III |
| 2018–2021 | Allan W. Dodge |
| 2021–present | Nikolai Oun |
