As a legal fight between America’s two long-time scouting organizations ensues, Trail Life USA is experiencing historic growth. “In the eight days following the announcement of the lawsuit we saw a 79 percent increase in inquiries into starting a troop and a 35 percent increase in traffic to our website, as compared to the eight days before the announcement,” explained Trail …

Phil and Cheryl Smith have been involved with Trail Life USA since the Nashville Convention in 2014. Soon after the convention, Phil began talking with his church about starting a Trail Life ministry. The Troop was started with just a few boys who signed at a table in the church atrium.  Since then the Troop has grown to 50 boys and …

Hurricane Florence made landfall delivering 90 mph winds and heavy rains.  This massive storm caused severe flooding in  North and South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, and Georgia. Many Trail Life Troops on the east coast have been affected. Please keep residents of the East Coast in your prayers. The Samaritan’s Purse North American Ministries team has been preparing—packing up equipment and …

Focus on the Family’s Adventures in Odyssey Club is highlighting Trail Life USA as a featured charity in the ministry’s popular membership program for children this month. Adventures in Odyssey Club members receive access to unlimited episode streaming of Adventures in Odyssey audio dramas dating back more than 30 years. These audio dramas help children grow in their faith and …

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;” …

In a busy adolescent world of video games, social media, sports, and cell phones, Trail Life USA’s oldest Freedom Rangeman has found a meaningful way to connect and contribute to the lives of his son-in-law, his grandsons, and the men and boys of his community through his local Trail Life Troop. The outdoors provide a timeless environment where older men are naturally …

Wilson Grab grew up in a different time.  A time before television and the internet, before cell phones and social media. A time before major organized youth sports leagues. Life moved at a slower pace. A father was the main role model for his son, and boys respected their elders and looked to them for guidance and direction. Each night …

Trail Life USA is pleased to join respected organizations like Family Talk, Samaritan’s Purse, American Heritage Girls, and Family Life in attaining accreditation with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). Founded in 1979, the ECFA accredits its members and holds them to high standards of accountability with respect to governance, financial management, and stewardship/fundraising practices. Members of ECFA accredited organizations …

Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor. -Prov 15:33 The Trail Life USA oath begins with the words, “On my Honor.” Mentoring sons to be men of honor is complicated by a culture where the concept of honor has been seemingly forgotten. Instead, daily we are bombarded with stories of celebrities’ bad behavior. Worldly heroes are often …

It was Noah Starr’s last Sunday morning leading worship for his Troop.  Soon Troop OK-100 from Yukon, Oklahoma would break camp and Noah’s last trip before heading off to college would be complete. A wave of emotion washed over him as he reflected on his time with his Trail Life Troop, took in the faces of Trailmen worshiping together, and …

The canoe flip in part one brought an abrupt halt to the trip for the day. The entire Troop had stopped canoeing to care for the needs of cold wet Trailmen. The plan to canoe to Bullard Landing had been scuttled and Josh, as a new Troop member, felt guilty for ruining the Troop’s plans. That night after campsite had been set up, …

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” – Helen Keller It was a cold morning in late January as the Troop prepared for their adventure on the Ocumlgee River in central Georgia. Gavin had practiced canoeing on the lake and the Troop …

“The fruit of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.”  – Isaiah 32:17 One of the greatest challenges in training a boy’s character is teaching moral rightness. At the core of the word righteousness is the word right. How do boys learn right from wrong? It is taught most clearly in the physical …

A Christian should see great dignity and value in human life because we are made in the image and likeness of God himself. In God’s eyes, our value is not based on our gender, our skin color, our physical ability, our mental capacity, our successes, or our failures. “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he …

On Monday, May 22, 2017, Adam Kort reviewed the materials one last time before the meeting. He was taking the lead this year teaching the First Aid Trail Badge to the Navigators and Adventurers groups. He had prepared well and was confident in his abilities. However, he had no idea how important this refresher would be. A month later, on June 26 …

Throughout history, God has captured the attention of humanity in many ways: a worldwide flood, raining fire, sending plagues, confusing languages, burning bushes, angelic appearances, wrestling matches, parting seas, and crumbling walls to name a few. The most effective, however; seems less dramatic. Every December the whole world stops and celebrates the birth of an infant. Nothing God did in …

Q&A | Trail Life USA CEO Mark Hancock talks about the scouting alternative’s success so far When the Boy Scouts of America decided to accept gay scouts, many Christian families, some with rich histories in Scouting, became concerned. Those concerns turned to alarm as the Boy Scouts allowed gay adult leaders, and, most recently, transgender youth. Those families worked to form …

Character-Forming Outdoor Adventure Group Will Remain a Place Where Boys Can be Boys BELTON, S.C.—The leader of a national outdoor adventure program aiming to help develop men of character has reassured member-families and supporters that it will remain “a place where boys can be boys.” Trail Life USA CEO Mark Hancock made the pledge in the wake of the announcement …

Trail Life USA CEO Mark Hancock recently spent some time with Dr. James Dobson, talking about the importance of providing Christ-centered adventure, character, leadership, and specifically-male opportunities for boys. This subject is dear to both men. Listen in on the two-day FamilyTalk broadcast and hear why it’s so important to let boys be boys. Day One: “Tools of the Trail: Raising Adventurous …

Trail Life USA cited by national family values organization for creating different option to Boy Scouts   BELTON, S.C.—The CEO of a flourishing outdoor adventure program, Trail Life USA, has been spotlighted by a national organization for helping develop character in thousands of boys and young men. Mark Hancock is one of “40 Faithful” saluted by the American Family Association …