Get outside
Camp, hike, cook, find your way, and get comfortable away from the pavement.
Guilford, Connecticut
Troop 444
Explore, Learn, and Grow
Troop 444 is the Scouting America troop (formerly Boy Scouts) for boys and girls ages 10 to 17 in Guilford, Connecticut. It is a place to learn by doing, take on real responsibility, and come home with stories worth telling.
Real adventure. Real growth.
Troop 444 gives young people room to try things, lead, make mistakes, solve problems, and find out what they can handle. Every campout, skill session, and service project adds up.
No previous outdoor or scouting experience is needed.
Build useful skills
Practice first aid, planning, communication, teamwork, and practical problem-solving.
Lead with confidence
Take charge of a patrol, a meal, a route, or a plan, and see it through.
Our sister troop
Troop 475.
Troop 444’s boys work closely with the girls and parents of our sister Troop 475, the only troop for girls in the region. Both troops open and close weekly meetings together, and share some of our activities and outings.
Visit Troop 475 ↗Troop tradition
Home of the
Wood Ducks.
Our mission
Scout-led. Outdoor-focused.
Troop 444 offers a wide range of activities that build personal growth, practical skills, and leadership. Our program is planned around Scouts' busy schedules so everyone can take part in most of our meetings and special events.
Coming up
What is coming up.
◎
The troop calendar is being migrated
Meeting dates, locations, and event details will be posted here once the troop confirms them.
Skills in action
Skills that hold up when plans change.
From reading a map to running a first-aid drill, advancement is about what a Scout can actually do, not a checklist.
Explore skills and advancement →Join Troop 444
Come see how it works.
The troop meets Thursday evenings at 7:00pm (bi-weekly in summer) on the Guilford Green at 122 Broad Street (First Congregational Church). No prior experience needed.
Common questions
Is this only for a certain age?
Troop 444 welcomes boys and girls aged 10 to 17. Ten-year-olds must have completed fifth grade or earned the Cub Scout Arrow of Light Award.
Can a parent or guardian come?
Yes. Families are encouraged to attend a first meeting.
Adventures
The best stories happen outside.
Camping, hiking, service, skills sessions, and a bit of healthy challenge are the heart of troop life.
Outdoor confidence
Find your way when the trail is not obvious.
Picking routes, watching the weather, deciding as a group, and running a campsite turn a trip into something the whole patrol did together.
East River Canoe Trip, 2026Give back to Guilford.
Local service puts skills to use and connects Scouts to their town, including through Eagle Scout projects completed by Troop 444 Scouts.
Train for something big.
Sea Base in 2027 is one example. Every Scout has a part to play in getting the crew there.
Trip photos
See the adventures in action.
Calendar
What is on the calendar.
Confirmed meetings, events, and troop activities will be kept up to date here by the troop.
Troop meeting
→Next regular troop meeting
The troop gathers Thursday evenings at 7:00pm (bi-weekly in summer) on the Guilford Green at 122 Broad Street (First Congregational Church). Meetings are opportunities for Scouts to learn new skills, work on merit badges, enjoy games, and prepare for upcoming outings.
Activity
→Upcoming troop activity
Event details will appear here once the troop calendar has been moved over and checked.
Skills and advancement
Skills for life.
Rank advancement is a practical path through outdoor skills, service, teamwork, and leadership.
Why it matters
Useful skills, real progress, and more confidence for the next challenge.
Advancement is not just about checking off requirements. It is about getting comfortable making plans, helping others, and handling it when conditions change.
Throughout our meetings, activities and trips, scouts have the opportunity to learn real-life skills through the completion of merit badges like First Aid, Camping, Cooking, Communication and many more.
Outdoor skills
Navigation, campcraft, cooking, weather awareness, packing, and responsible stewardship.
Help when it counts
First aid, emergency readiness, clear communication, and calm decision-making.
Lead a team
Planning, delegation, listening, reflection, and taking responsibility for a shared outcome.
Serve close to home
Projects that make a practical contribution to the Guilford community.
Our troop
Long history.
One strong troop.
Serving Guilford since 1923.
We are a scout troop with a long and proud history. Prior to January 2025, we operated as two Guilford Boy Scout troops: BSA Troop 474 and BSA Troop 471.
History
A legacy carried forward.
Welcome to Scouting America Troop 444, proudly serving the youth of Guilford, Connecticut, and other CT areas. Formed through the 2025 merger of the Boy Scouts of America Troops 471 and 474, Troop 444 continues a legacy of fostering leadership, community service, and outdoor adventure.
BSA Troop 471 has a 100-year legacy, where scouts led their own paths to Be Prepared For Life. Originally chartered as Troop 1 during the 1920s, the troop became BSA Troop 471 after changes in council numbering convention.
Troop 444 is chartered by the First Congregational Church of Guilford. BSA Troop 474 was first chartered in November 1953 as Troop 4, the fourth troop established in Guilford. When our council changed the troop numbering convention, we became BSA Troop 474.
The Boy Scouts of America became Scouting America in 2025. For more than 100 years, scout troops have made significant service contributions to improve the quality of life for Guilford residents. There are dozens of Eagle Scout projects throughout the community, and hundreds of former scouts now hold leadership positions within government, military, and business environments.
“Every generation of Scouts adds to the story.”
Alumni and legacy stories
Stories from past Scouts and leaders.
The troop's history, milestones, traditions, and notable achievements will be moved here as written for the leaders to check, then tidied up without changing the meaning.
- Alumni and legacy stories To migrate
Our mission
Discovery is at the heart of scouting.
Whether it is a campout, hiking adventure, cycling trip, or community service project, we believe our program strengthens character through action and prepares youth for a lifetime of leadership.
Scouting together
A troop experience for the whole family.
We design our program so that anyone, including brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers, can have fun and make an impact.
Visit us during our annual Strawberry Social, held on the Guilford Green every June, and say hello to our scout leaders and youth.
Attend a meeting ↗For youth
Join Troop 444.
No previous outdoor or scouting experience is needed.
Who can join? Boys ages 10–17. Ten-year-olds must have completed fifth grade or earned the Cub Scout Arrow of Light Award.
- Come to a Thursday meeting.Meet the troop, see how things work, and ask questions.
- Register online.Start a youth application through Scouting America.
- Finish the troop details.Troop 444 will confirm dues, health forms, and trip information.
For adults
Help Scouts lead.
For those interested in participating as adult leaders, please tell the Scoutmaster or Committee Chair how you would like to be involved. They will help you choose the right role.
- Submit an adult application.Complete the application and background-check authorization, then send it to [email protected].
- Complete Safeguarding Youth Training.In my.scouting, sign in or create an account, open the Catalog, and search for “Safeguarding Youth.”
- Finish the training for your role.Direct-contact leaders must complete the required Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster training.
Support Scouts on Trips
Minimum training for Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters.
To lead Scouts on trips, be registered, background-checked, and current in Safeguarding Youth Training. Complete position-specific training, Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS), and Hazardous Weather Training.
Every activity needs at least two registered adults age 21+. Activities involving female youth also require a registered female adult leader age 21+.
Read the Guide to Safe Scouting ↗Official resources
Position-specific training and IOLSTraining for Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters↗Hazardous Weather TrainingRequired for direct-contact leaders to be trained↗
Confirm current registration steps, local training dates, and trip plans with Troop 444 before you begin.
For families
Start by coming to a meeting or activity.
What happens at a first visit?
You will be welcomed, meet troop leaders and scouts, and get a feel for how the group works. Parents and guardians are welcome to attend.
Do we need experience?
No previous outdoor or scouting experience is needed. Curiosity and a willingness to participate are a great start.
What should we bring?
The troop will confirm any meeting-specific needs before your visit. Start with comfortable clothes and your questions.
How do we get the details?
Send a note through the contact page or email [email protected], and a troop leader will get back to you with the next meeting details.
Trips
Troop 444 has a blast.
A growing record of Troop 444's camps, hikes, service, skills, and time together. Activities include not just overnights, but single-day activities like historic ship visits and merit badge onsites. The activities are identified and chosen by the scouts themselves.
Troop memories
Every trip has a story.
2026
Clamming Trip
2026
East River Canoe Trip
2026
Ice Fishing at Sequassen
2026
Mount Monadnock
2026
Semiquincentennial Camporee
2026
Sequassen Summer Camp
2026
Strawberry Social
2026
West Point
2026
Yawgoog Summer Camp
2025
Nickerson State Park
2025
Service Project
2025
West Point
2025
Webelos Only Training Weekend Activities (W.O.T.W.A.)
2025
Yawgoog Summer Camp
2024
Deer Lake Hike and Camp
2024
Nickerson State Park
2024
Webelos Only Training Weekend Activities (W.O.T.W.A.)
Adult leaders
The adults behind the troop.
Troop 444's adult volunteers keep the program safe, challenging, and welcoming while the Scouts take the lead.
Leadership team
Experienced adults.
Scout-led adventure.
Our leaders bring years of Scouting experience, practical know-how, and a commitment to helping young people build character, skills, and confidence.
For general troop questions, email Scoutmaster Robert J. Slubowski at [email protected].
Scoutmaster
Robert J. Slubowski
Wood Badge graduate, USMA graduate, hockey coach, and fluent Spanish speaker.
Email the Scoutmaster →
Committee Chair
Al Kovalik
Chartered Organization Representative
Damian Gunningsmith
Assistant Scoutmaster
Eric Haskell
Navy veteran and Wood Badge graduate.
Assistant Scoutmaster
Robert Dietz Jr.
Thirty-five years as a registered Scout leader and Wood Badge trained.
- Au.D., CCC-A, MBA
- FAA-licensed pilot
Treasurer
Tim Omlor
Eagle Scout, USNA graduate, nuclear-trained engineer, and avid sailor.
- MS in Mechanical Engineering
Advancement Coordinator
Cheryl Monaco
Leadership and contact
Questions are welcome.
Get in touch
Interested in a meeting?
Start with a visit. The troop will share the next confirmed date, location, and what to expect.
Attend a meeting ↗Prefer email? Write to [email protected].