BSA Troop 444 has been building young leaders in the North Dallas/Richardson/Plano area since 1960. Our girls troop was added in February 2019. We are chartered through Circle Ten Council, but hosted by Arapaho United Methodist Church, which has been home to 444 since its inception over six decades ago.
Here are some basics about how our troops operate. We'd love to welcome you and answer your questions, so please contact us to arrange a visit!
LEADERSHIP
Ryan English, Scoutmaster - Troop 444B
Daniela Gatlin, Scoutmaster - Troop 444G
Alan Melson, Committee Chair
Steve Sweeney, Charter Organization Representative
David Dao, Treasurer
MEETINGS
- Weekly troop meetings each Monday (Boys and Girls Troops meet separately) at Arapaho UMC, 1400 W. Arapaho Road
- Trail to First Class (TFC): 7-7:30pm
- Full troop meeting: 7:30-8:30pm
- Monthly “Class B” and Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) meetings, also typically the Monday after a campout. This is a great opportunity for scouts to arrange to meet with adults for scoutmaster conferences, merit badge or rank advancement sign offs, and boards of review.
- Monthly Parent Committee meetings - All parents are encouraged to come, learn, and give input to the plans for troop activities! You do not have to have a leadership position to attend.
- Summer PLC planning meetings
OUTDOOR PROGRAMS
- Monthly camping trips during the school year
- Long-term Camps:Summer Camp, typically in June, is a week-long trip and is a great opportunity for rank advancement and merit badge progress.
- Winter Camp, typically the week after Christmas, is also a great opportunity for rank advancement and merit badge progress. Usually under $100.
- High Adventure treks in summer or during school breaks; these are often to official BSA High Adventure Bases and may have minimum age requirements
COURT OF HONOR
This scout-led ceremony is used to award rank advancements and merit badges. Even if your scout hasn’t earned new awards since the last Court of Honor, they should attend, and can participate in flag ceremony or speaking roles. (Also, seeing their peers move ahead can give them a little helpful competition to keep up!)
There are three Courts of Honor each year, held on Monday nights in place of the regular troop meeting; setup typically begins around 7pm and ceremony starts at 7:30, often with reception following.
HIGH ADVENTURE
Troops 444B and 444G have a very active High Adventure program, with multiple opportunities to participate every year. We traditionally visit Philmont (the closest nationals BSA base to Richardson) every other year, and rotate through other high adventure camps in alternating years. Here are some recent High Adventure trips:
- Philmont Scout Ranch (New Mexico): 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 (two crews), 2023 (two crews)
- Sea Base (Florida/Bahamas): 2012, 2017, 2018, 2022
- Northern Tier Canoe Base (Canada): 2014, 2018
- Summit Bechtel Reserve (West Virginia): 2019
EXTRAS
In addition to the BSA High Adventure programs, the troop also organizes other exciting trips:
- USS Lexington: 2024
- Rocky Mountain High Adventure Base: 2022
- Devil's Den State Park, Arkansas: 2016, 2021, 2024
- Big Bend National Park: 2016, 2019
- Grand Canyon Six-Day Trek: 2012, 2017
- Olympic National Park Trek: 2015, 2024
- Guadalupe Peak and Carlsbad Caverns: 2015
- Snowshoeing/Ice Climbing, Colorado: 2014
- Mount Rainier Expedition: 2013
- Rocky Mountain National Park Trek: 2012