Trail Life USA, the premier national character development organization with a Christian worldview for young men, is proud to announce a stunning milestone. Trail Life recently welcomed its 50,000th member — an incredible feat, especially considering that the organization began just ten years ago. Through tried-and-true methodology, Trail Life offers boy-focused, adventure-driven solutions delivered in the context of a Christian worldview that encourage boys to embrace what makes them unique and build strong relationships with other boys, mentors, and most importantly, Christ.
As other organizations now include boys and girls to cater to the rising pressure from modern society, Trail Life stands firm in the truth — boys and girls are different, and these differences should be celebrated.
“The Trail Life mission is to guide generations of courageous young men to honor God, lead with integrity, serve others, and experience outdoor adventure,” said Trail Life CEO Mark Hancock. “We have seen that a ‘one size’ fits all approach fails the boy and fails the world that needs him to become a man. The next generation needs men — men of character who can lead with courage, and who dare to stand when truth is under attack.
“Trail Life’s explosive growth is a clear sign that families are desperate for a God-focused, scout-type organization that is tailored to their boys.”
Trail Life’s unique program is spreading rapidly across the nation. Trail Life recently celebrated its 1,000th Troop, with thousands of families being positively impacted by the Trail Life message. The reason parents and their boys are drawn to Trail Life’s unique, Christ-centered programming is clear. In the face of a culture that constantly demeans traditional masculinity and seeks to treat boys and girls in the same manner, boys are in desperate need of a band of brothers that celebrate what it means to be a boy.
“Until the industrial revolution took fathers from the home, boys learned on the farm and in apprenticeships alongside men,” said Hancock. “Now boys are straight-jacketed into a one-size fits all classroom with few masculine educational examples to model. Boys are falling behind in an environment where they are expected to come inside, sit down, be still, do as they are told, and behave like the girls. Is it any surprise that two out of three students with learning disabilities are boys, boys are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls and girls now lead boys in every academic category?
“What can boys and men do to recapture this sense of adventure and purpose and witness biblical masculinity in action? I believe this is found in Christ-centered, boy-focused, male-centric activity in outdoor adventure organizations like Trail Life USA. As boys and men hike, camp, canoe, solve problems, and develop skills, mentors are found, fathers and sons connect, purpose is discovered, and boys encounter the unchanging biblical foundations upon which leadership and character are built.”
Trail Life USA is the premier national character development organization for young men, producing godly and responsible husbands, fathers, and citizens. Trail Life’s mission is to guide generations of courageous young men to honor God, lead with integrity, serve others, and experience outdoor adventure. Troops exist in all 50 states and are growing as Trail Life USA expands around the country. Find a Troop today, or Start a Troop in your community.
Trail Life USA’s K-12 program centers on outdoor experiences that build a young man’s skills. A robust awards program motivates young men to grow on a personal level to become role models and leaders among their peers. Living the Trail Life USA is a journey established on timeless values derived from the Bible.