Who We Are
Scout-led.
Outdoor-focused.
Rooted in Spring Branch since 1952.
On November 10, 1952, the Spring Branch Presbyterian Church Session authorized the sponsorship of Troop 478 with 9 charter members and the construction of a Boy Scout Hut on the church site. Early in 1953 several volunteers began construction on the first Scout Hut at the back of the property with donated form lumber and plywood from Brown and Root. Troop 478 has called Spring Branch home ever since, continuously chartered to Spring Branch Presbyterian Church for over 70 years. We are part of the Mustang District within the Sam Houston Area Council of Scouting America.
Over seven decades, Troop 478 has grown through leadership transitions, program evolutions, and the merging of neighboring troops whose families chose to carry their Scouting legacy forward with us. The lineage runs deep. Troop 621 was founded in 1964 and merged into Troop 652 in late 1978. Troop 652 then merged into Troop 478 in mid-2019, bringing with it 55 years of combined Spring Branch Scouting history. More recently, in early 2026, Troop 631 -- founded in 1958 and a two-time Mustang District Chartered Partner of the Year -- joined our ranks, bringing four Scouts, five adult leaders, and nearly 70 years of Scouting tradition with them. We do not take that trust lightly. Their history is our history now.
Since 1955, more than 400 young men have earned the Eagle Scout rank through this combined lineage. Each one represents a boy who showed up, did the work, and left better than he arrived. That number is not a marketing stat. It is the cumulative result of seven decades of families and leaders who believed that progress matters more than perfection, that perseverance outlasts talent, and that shared responsibility builds something none of us could build alone.
That is who Troop 478 is. That is who we are still becoming.
How We Operate
Troop 478 is intentionally designed to give Scouts real responsibility. Youth plan the program, lead the meetings, and make decisions. Adults coach, ensure safety, and support Scouts as they grow into capable leaders.
If meetings or campouts feel a little messy at times, that usually means Scouts are learning to lead. That is exactly how it is supposed to work.
Our program is guided by four shared priorities:
Fail Forward
Mistakes are expected and treated as learning opportunities rather than setbacks.
Communicate
We value clear, respectful communication, especially when things are hard.
Lead by Example
Scouts and adults alike are expected to model the behavior we hope to see.
Build Continuity
Every success strengthens the troop for those who follow. We aim to leave the troop better than we found it.
Our program is grounded in Scouting's foundational outdoor skills and delivered with the tools and approaches that make sense for young people today.
The People Behind the Program
Scoutmaster
Bryan Stamm
Bryan serves as the primary adult mentor to Troop 478's youth leaders. His role is to coach and support Scouts as they plan and lead the program while ensuring every activity is safe and aligned with Scouting's values.
The Key Three:
Chartered Organization Representative
Garth Heitshusen
Garth serves as the liaison between Troop 478 and Spring Branch Presbyterian Church. He has been connected to this troop for decades and is the living institutional memory of everything Troop 478 has built.
Committee Chair
James Ward
James oversees troop administration, finances, and long-term sustainability. He works behind the scenes to ensure the Scout-led program has everything it needs to thrive.
Chaplain
Rick Higgs
Rick supports the spiritual dimension of Scouting, leads the troop's Duty to God program, and is a steady, grounding presence for Scouts and families alike.
Program & Activities
Assistant Scoutmasters
Keith Young
Adam Guice
Jony Hammond
Jordan Frisby
Wes Long
Brock Griffiths
Our Assistant Scoutmaster team works directly alongside Scouts and youth leaders at meetings, campouts, and activities by coaching, ensuring safety, and bringing expertise across a wide range of outdoor and leadership skills.
Life to Eagle Chair
Brad Walden
Brad supports Life-ranked Scouts on their path to Eagle Scout, guiding them through project planning, board of review preparation, and the final requirements of Scouting's highest rank.
Outdoor Activities Chair & Summer Camp Coordinator
Keith Young
Keith coordinates and manages logistics for the troop's outdoor program calendar and annual summer camp. From venue registrations and logistics to troop equipment, he ensures our PLC has what they need for to lead.
High Adventure Coordinator
Brock Griffiths
Brock manages the troop's high adventure program, coordinating the four-year rotation through Scouting America's national bases. He handles applications, preparation, and logistics for the trips that Scouts remember for the rest of their lives.
Flag Program Chair
Michelle Dupré
Michelle runs Troop 478's American flag subscription program which is our primary fundraiser. She coordinates door hanger distribution, customer management, and flag deployment logistics across the program year.
Treasurer
Matt Kiger
Matt manages troop finances and ensures transparent, responsible stewardship of troop funds. He handles reimbursements, dues, and financial reporting.
Administration & Support
TroopTrack Membership Chair
Edwin Grubbs
Edwin manages the troop's TroopTrack platform. This involves keeping membership records current, supporting families with account access, and ensuring the troop's digital infrastructure runs smoothly.
Unit Advancement Chair
Laura Carter
Laura oversees the troop's advancement program, ensuring Scout progress is accurately recorded, requirements are properly signed off, and every rank advancement is recognized appropriately.
Board of Review Coordinator
Allison Griffiths
Allison coordinates the Boards of Review that mark each Scout's rank advancement from scheduling, to organizing committee members, and ensuring the process runs smoothly and on time.
Unit Training & Safeguarding Youth Champion
Kristen Briggs
Kristen ensures all adult volunteers meet Scouting America's training requirements and that the troop's youth protection standards are current, consistent, and taken seriously at every level.
Interested in joining this team? There is always a place for you, no Scouting experience required.
Families Deserve to Know Exactly How We Operate.
The Troop 478 Parent Handbook covers everything from how meetings work to what we expect of Scouts and families in plain language without jargon.
