Mission Philosophy

Our Boy Scout Troop 1344 from Burke, Virginia, was chartered in the Patriot District of the National Capital Area Council on Veteran s Day, November 11, 2005, and is sponsored by the American Legion Post 176 in Springfield, Virginia.

We normally meet Monday nights 7 PM at Cherry Run Elementary School. We also conduct our planning meetings via video teleconference.

VALUES. We foster citizenship, leadership, personal fitness, and spirituality in an outdoor leadership laboratory that lets these young men grow and support each other in a safe, fun environment. Outdoor conservation and environmental awareness are critical. Community service is one of the most important values. In our program, we focus on enabling and empowering scout led decisions in a decision-rich, safe environment – both during our weekly meetings and in particular during our monthly camping activities.

ACTIVITIES. We maintain an active schedule of activities that center around weekly meetings and monthly camping activities that rotate from popular, fun, Scouting fundamentals, and High Adventure activity objectives selected by the Scouts. This includes hiking, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, white water rafting, horseback riding, winter cabin overnighting, summer camp, High Adventure expeditions, and travel to visit interesting venues (military bases and units, Civil War battlefields, historic battleship overnights, etc.).

ADVANCEMENT. We view advancement as a journey for the Scouts where advancement is a method, not an end. Our activities are designed to provide the Scouts a series of surmountable obstacles and steps to overcome, 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. 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.

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 10% Eagle Scouts advancement every year (3 Scouts a year, expecting 5 in 2023), backed up by five Eagle Scout adults coaching and supporting our Scouts seeking the Eagle Scout rank.

HIGH ADVENTURE. High adventure is the next level of traditional Scout summer camp that are one-of-a-kind experiences that make memories which stick with you for life. It ramps up the basic Scouting program to focus on adventure. The different types of high adventure expeditions vary from days of trekking, backpacking, or canoeing in the wilderness. Scouts have fun, tackle challenges, and learn new skills. We envision a 3-year expedition cycle of experiences very year:

• 2021 Philmont Scout Ranch || Cimarron, New Mexico
• 2022 Sea Base || Florida Keys, Florida
• 2023 Lenhok’sin , Goshen Scout Reservation || Goshen, Virginia
  ——- START NEW CYCLE ——-
• 2024 Philmont Scout Ranch || Cimarron, New Mexico
• 2025 Summit Bechtel Reserve || Glen Jean, West Virginia

See our public website for more details: