Who Can Join Troop 449?

Troop 449 welcomes youth ages 11–17 who enjoy adventure and the outdoors, and it invites both boys and girls to join. The troop is based between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, North Carolina, and operates as separate boys and girls troops under the Boy Scouts of America's Eno River District of the Occoneechee Council. If you or your child falls in that age range and is interested, the next step is simply to attend a meeting or contact the appropriate Scoutmaster.

Age and Eligibility

The troop's own welcome message sets one clear eligibility marker: youth between the ages of 11 and 17. That is the group the troop describes as its intended members — young people who "love adventure and the outdoors."

The page does not list any other requirements, fees, or registration steps. So the practical answer to "who can join" is: youth in that age band, with an interest in outdoor adventure. Anything beyond that — paperwork, dues, Scout registration — would need to be confirmed directly with the troop.

Boys and Girls Are Both Invited

Troop 449 explicitly states that it invites both boys and girls to join. This is organized as two separate troops:

So a family interested in joining should reach out to the Scoutmaster for the relevant troop. The page does not describe any difference in activities or schedule between the two troops — both appear to share the same meeting time and location.

What Membership Looks Like

Knowing what the weekly and monthly commitment involves helps a family decide whether the troop fits. According to the troop:

• Weekly meetings: Tuesdays, 7:30pm–8:45pm, at New Hope Presbyterian Church, between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, NC.
• Monthly weekend trips: camping, backpacking, skiing, canoeing, and more.
• Annual summer camp: one week at Scouting summer camp each year.

For a youth who enjoys the outdoors, this is a fairly active schedule — roughly one meeting a week plus a weekend trip most months. Families should weigh the Tuesday evening time slot and the monthly trip cadence against school and other commitments.

How to Express Interest

The troop offers two direct paths, and both are low-commitment:

1. Attend the next meeting. The troop's own invitation is to "come to our next meeting" for more information. A visit lets a prospective Scout and their family see a typical Tuesday session before deciding.
2. Contact a Scoutmaster. Reach out to Tom Fischer for the boys troop or Katie Kross for the girls troop.

The page does not publish email addresses, a contact form, or a registration link, so the specific contact details would need to be obtained through the troop directly — for example, by attending a meeting at New Hope Presbyterian Church on a Tuesday evening.

Common Questions

My child is 10 — can they join? The troop's stated age range starts at 11, so a 10-year-old falls outside it as described. The page does not discuss any exception or waiting-list process.

Is there a cost? The page does not mention dues, fees, or payment methods. Treat cost as unknown until you ask the troop.

Do boys and girls meet together? They are described as separate troops with separate Scoutmasters, though the page does not say whether the Tuesday meeting is shared or split. Attending a meeting or asking a Scoutmaster would clarify this.

Where exactly is the meeting? New Hope Presbyterian Church, situated between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, North Carolina. The page gives the church name and general area but not a street address.

The simplest way to resolve any of these is the same: show up on a Tuesday evening or contact the Scoutmaster for the relevant troop.