Our Scouts learn something new and have some fun every Tuesday night...

Troop 1916's weekly meetings are held every Tuesday night--except for the last Tuesday of the month--in Fellowship Hall at The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, which is the Troop's official sponsor. The agenda is set and carried out by the Troop's Scout leadership. The meetings begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. and conclude at 8:30 p.m.

All Scouts are expected to wear their Class B uniforms (green T-shirt and green shorts or pants). The Troop's weekly meetings offer the Scouts the opportunity to discuss and prepare for upcoming events, resolve issues of importance for the Troop and individual Scouts, hear presentations, and have a little fun before it's over.

In case of inclement weather, the Troop generally follows the schedule issued by the Fairfax County School System's announcements about school closures. We will send and emails to the entire Troop and post a message on our website if a troop meeting has been canceled. If you do not receive a message that a meeting has been canceled, please assume that it will take place as scheduled. 

The last Tuesday of each month is reserved for the Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) meeting. If a Scout or parent has any questions for the Council's consideration, please have your son contact his Patrol Leader.

Scouts Plan the Troop's Outings and Events

Troop meetings are where the Patrol Leaders talk with the other Scouts about how to prepare for upcoming events and seek their ideas for future outings.

The Key Job of "Grubmaster"

A key role in every Troop’s outing is the “Grubmaster,” the Scouts who volunteer to serve as chefs for the weekend and take charge of preparing some splendid cuisine for their fellow patrol members, the Adult Scout Leaders, and parents who have come along for the weekend event (plus they will fulfill certain requirements necessary for advancement in scoutings ranks). 

Below, a few Scouts from Troop 1916 review their patrol's menu with great care and thought, given that the standards for meals are generally quite high (but always a little forgiving with plenty of compliments for a job well-done). And Grubmasters can count on the Adult Leaders for help and advice at any time.

Our Grubmasters always put on an excellent set of meals for their fellow Troop members, all of whom appreciate the hard work that goes into cooking three square meals a day in some challenging circumstances. 

Boards of Review and Advancing in Scouting's Ranks

Another important part of our Troop meetings are the BSA's official Boards of Review, which are conferences between individual Scouts who are seeking to advance to their next rank and small groups of parents who are members of the Troop Committee. The Boards are usually held on the third Tuesday of each month, but they can also be conducted at a campout or Summer Camp if enough Committee members are available to attend.

A Board of Review meeting typically follows a conference between the Scoutmaster and the individual Scout about his contributions to the troop and what he accomplished to earn a rank advancement. After that conference, the Board will spend some time with the Scout to discuss his progress, to hear the Scout's general feelings about the Troop, its programs and outings, his future goals, and how he thinks the Troop can improve.

Requests for a Board of Review are directed to the Troop Advancement Chair.

This checks and balance system allows the Scouts to discuss issues with people whom they trust in a confidential forum, as well as to ensure that the boys are truly deserving of advancement in scouting's ranks.

Let's Have a Little Fun...

After the important work is done at a Troop Meeting, the Scouts spend a few minutes and have some fun in The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer's gymnasium. Games that require considerable skill, strategy, and ingenuity, such as "Capture the Flag," are played with great vigor among our Troop's four patrols. It's a great way to encourage competition and burn off some energy!