ABOUT US SLIDE SHOW:
WHY TROOP 1344
Our growth-focused, boy-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 the Boy Scouts of America. Annually, the troop earns the Boy Scouts of America's "Journey To Excellence" Gold Level award, the highest recognition for Boy 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 (Rotation Options: Philmont, Northern Tier, Sea Base, 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)
• 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
- Who We Are: [ link ]
- Demographics and Statistics (2024-2025): [ link ]
- Annual Goals and Objectives (2024-2025): [ link ]
- Scoutmaster Goals for Scouting 2024-2025 Season: [ link ]
- Troop Roster Slides: [ link ]
- About Us Photos (2024): [ link ]
- Troop Handbook: [ handbook link ] [ slides link ]
- Public Website: [ link ]
- Facebook Page: [ link ]
- Visit Us Flyer (2024-2025): [ link ]