BRIEFING SLIDES + PHOTOS:
- Visit Us Flyer (2024-2025): [ link ]
- ABOUT US || Slideshow Overview (2024-2025): [ link ]
- ABOUT US || Photos Collage (2024-2025): [ link ]
- Photo Albums (every activity 2021 - 2025): [ link ]
TROOP HANDBOOK:
PUBLIC CALENDAR: [ link ]
WHO WE ARE
We are a medium size troop in Burke, VA focusing on personal growth, leadership development, citizenship training, community service, and character building for our Scouts.
We have a strong group of Scouts supported by an energetic and engaged team of adult leaders and parents, many of whom are active or former military and Federal service. Our troop regularly earns the highest recognition for Scout troop quality. We regularly train and recognize Scout and adult leaders with unit / District / Council training and awards.
Troop 1344 was chartered in the Burke Lake District (formerly named Patriot District) of the National Capital Area Council on Veterans Day, November 11, 2005, and is sponsored by the American Legion Post 176 in Springfield, Virginia.
We meet Monday nights 7 PM at Cherry Run Elementary School (occasionally at Burke United Methodist Church).
HOW WE OPERATE
Our growth-focused, youth-led approach, guided by Eagle Scout and Order of the Arrow adult leaders, provides empowering experiences to succeed or learn from failing that are unavailable to most adolescents. With ages ranging 11-17, our Scouts progress by collaborating, teaching, and learning together.
Every year this enabling philosophy results in most Scouts who try and persevere earning the Eagle Scout rank, with several joining the Order of the Arrow, the honor society of Scouting America. Annually, the troop earns Scouting America's "Journey To Excellence" Gold Level award, the highest recognition for Scout troop quality.
Our Scouts and adult leaders have regularly earned recognition by Burke Lake District (formerly named Patriot District) annual awards:
• Yearly Adult Spirit Awards
• 2022 Committee Chair of the Year || Assistant Scoutmaster of the Year || Senior Patrol Leader of the Year || Den Chief of the Year
• 2021 Scoutmaster of the Year || Assistant Scoutmaster of the Year || Senior Patrol Leader of the Year || Den Chief of the Year
• 2020 Assistant Scoutmaster of the Year
In addition to our weekly troop meetings, we take full advantage of the outdoors with monthly fun campouts, adventures, and popular activities. Yearly our troop attends summer camp and sets out on High Adventure expeditions (National Options Rotating Annually: Philmont, Northern Tier, Sea Base || Local Option: Lenhok’sin).
The troop regularly trains our Scout youth leaders and adult leaders with leader training courses conducted by our Scout troop, District, and Council:
• ILST. Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (troop training of youth junior and senior leaders)
• NYLT. National Youth Leadership Training (Council training of youth mid-level and senior leaders)
• NAYLE. National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (National training of youth senior leaders at Philmont and Summit High Adventure bases)
• IOLS. Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (District training of adult Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters)
• SST / SMPST. Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster Specific Training (District training of adult Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters)
PHILOSOPHY
Troop 1344 is guided by the Scout Oath and the Scout Law, and we are driven by our pursuit to ensure every single Scout is – “Prepared. For Life.” Our approach ensures that our Scouts gain confidence, experience personal growth, earn responsibility, value teamwork, and develop leadership skills as they learn valuable life lessons.
VALUES. We foster citizenship, leadership, teamwork, personal fitness, and spirituality through weekly group activities and monthly outdoor adventures that lets these young men grow and support each other in a safe, fun environment. Outdoor conservation, environmental awareness, and community service help guide our approach.
ACTIVITIES. We maintain a schedule of activities that center around weekly meetings and monthly outdoor campouts that rotate between popular & fun, Scouting fundamentals, community service, and High Adventure activity objectives selected by the Scouts. This includes hiking, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, white water rafting, horseback riding, winter cabin overnighting, summer camps, summer High Adventure expeditions, and travel to visit unique and interesting venues (national monuments, military bases and units, historic landmarks, etc., --- e.g. Gettysburg battlefield; DC region U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy bases and active duty aircraft / ships / submarines; motor yacht travel and holiday parades; WW II battleship overnights).
Example Activity Plans
- Naval Aviation Adventure Camping (U.S. Navy Base Visit) [ link ]
- River Boating Camping: [ link ]
- Battleship New Jersey Overnight and Philadelphia Historic Tour [ link ]
- Horseback Riding Camping: [ link ]
- Gettysburg History and Camping: [ link ]
- Whitewater Rafting Camping: [ link ]
- Shotgun Shooting Orientation / New Scout Camping: [ link ]
- Hiking Camping: [ link ]
- Backpacking Hiking Camping (Old Rag) [ link ]
ADVANCEMENT. We view advancement as a journey for the Scouts where advancement is a method, not an end, guided by 1) rank advancement, 2) merit badge achievement, and 3) positions of responsibility service. Advancement is not a competition. Instead, it is a joint effort involving leaders, family, and other Scouts to help Scout advance at each individual’s own pace. Our activities, personal achievement opportunities, and positions of responsibility are designed to provide the Scouts a series of surmountable obstacles and steps to overcome and conquer, led by Scouts (with adult mentorship). Scouts learn by doing and earn achievements that recognize accomplishments. This method helps grow self-confidence, self-reliance, and a spirit of helping others.
EAGLE SCOUT. As Scouts develop and mature, we empower and encourage our young men to pursue the path towards the Eagle Scout rank, the highest achievement attainable in Scouting. We believe that this process is potentially life altering. Our great Troop has a proven program that will get every Scout, who wants it and puts in the work, across the Eagle Scout finish line. This approach delivers with at least 10% of our troop each year earning the Eagle Scout rank.
ACTIVE OUTDOOR PROGRAM. In the outdoors, Scouts acquire skills that make them more self-reliant as they share responsibilities and learn to work together. The outdoor experience is important because it creates challenges and adversity in a controlled environment where Scouts can overcome and bond as a team, enabling personal growth. This approach guides our selection of monthly campouts, yearly summer camps, and yearly High Adventures. High adventure is the advanced level of traditional Scout summer camp that are one-of-a-kind experiences that focus on adventure.
MORE DETAILS
- Demographics and Statistics (2024-2025): [ link ]
- Annual Plan + Goals (2024-2025): [ link ]
- Scoutmaster Goals for Scouting 2024-2025 Season: [ link ]
- Calendar (full-year + publicly viewable) [ link ]
- Troop Roster Slides: [ link ]
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- Public Website: [ link ]
- Facebook Page: [ link ]