Troop 1853 meets from 7:30pm to 9:00pm every Tuesday at the Community Covenant Church on Sydenstricker Road in Springfield, Virginia. Meetings are planned and run by the Scouts in accord with themes selected by their Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) every June.

As a unit, the Troop camps one weekend each month. The camping locations and the focus of activities during the outing are determined by the PLC. In addition to these campouts, First Class scouts over the age of 13 often plan physically challenging venture trips. Patrol leaders and Troop officers also gather twice a year for a weekend of camping and Junior Leader Training. Finally, in the summer the Troop spends a week at summer camp and sends a venture crew of senior scouts on a high adventure trip.

The Troop has seven vibrant patrols including the Pirates, a patrol made up entirely of older scouts who have served in specified leadership positions.. Each patrol buys its own food, cooks together, camps together, and shares responsibility for running a portion of the Troop meetings. Patrols generally have their own meetings outside of the Troop meetings and may plan their own day trips.

Community Covenant Church is located at 7018 Sydenstricker Road, between Old Keene Mill Road and the Fairfax County Parkway and across the street from Hunt Valley Elementary School.