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Bringing Trail Life to Your Community is Simple–Here’s How!
We encourage you to explore all the resources below and share with guys in your church.
4 Simple Steps To Bring Trail Life To Your Church.
Share with friends - Copy the link for this page, send it to a few buddies, and help them understand why you are excited about bringing Trail Life to your church.
Have coffee or a campfire - Gather interested men for a casual meeting to share the mission and vision of Trail Life, emphasizing the impact on boys and the community.
Engage in prayer and fellowship -Spend time praying together for guidance and unity in launching a Troop while fostering a strong bond among the group.
Talk to your pastor: Coordinate a meeting with their pastor to gain approval, support, and encouragement for starting the Troop.
Read impact stories and discover more about the Trail Life Mission.
Want to see how Trail Life is making a difference?
Click here to find:
• Inspiring stories of boys growing into godly men
• Personal testimonies from real Trail Life families
• Powerful milestones and program achievements
• Financial transparency and stewardship
• A vision for the future of Trail Life
Be a part of the Mission to shape the next generation of courageous leaders!
Houston, we have a problem!
65% of young men say that “no one really knows me well”
63% of dads feel they don’t get enough time with their kids.
39% of dads believe they are doing an excellent job raising their kids.
36% of parents believe churches are serving their sons well.
If you don’t change these statistics, who will?
Let Boys Be Boys
Local Troop Volunteers Help You Get Your Troop Off The Ground
New to outdoor skills like camping and hiking? No problem! We equip Churches and Troop leaders with step-by-step guides as well as online and in-person training to mentor boys to Godly manhood.
Volunteers in your area are eager to share their skills with you, teaching you and your Troop leaders how to maximize outdoor adventure as a safe, accessible, fun tool to grow young men to godly manhood!
Proven Process:
What makes our program so impactful?
FAQ
There are many differences between Scouting America and Trail Life. Here are the most notable distinctions that set Trail Life apart:
• Trail Life provides an unapologetically Christian stance, with the Bible as the foundation for truth and stated Christian Worldview Essentials that permeate the program.
• Youth membership is limited to only males.
• Trail Life provides trained, background-checked, and equipped Christian men who lead boys in a male-centric environment.
• Trail Life provides a Boy-Focused program and activities designed to let boys be boys, accentuating their strengths.
• Trail Life provides a robust awards program and challenging physical, mental, and spiritual objectives that let boys experience victory.
• The Charter Organization that has a Trail Life Troop owns and operates that Troop as its own ministry.
Read More: https://blog.traillifeusa.com/trail-life-responds-to-bsa-name-change
Our Vision is to be the premier character development organization for young men which produces Godly husbands, fathers, and citizens.
Our Mission is to guide generations of courageous young men to honor God, lead with integrity, serve others, and experience outdoor adventure.
Typical Troop meetings are designed to be active, fun, and most often outdoors.
They will generally follow a similar flow:
An opening ceremony
Troop-wide announcements and devotion
Patrol-specific breakout activities*Troop-wide game or activity
Biblical connections and a closing ceremony
*Older Trailmen will often teach the younger Trailmen a Badge or skill at meetings and outdoor activities.
The Trail Life youth membership fee is $42.98 per year.
This fee is paid directly to Trail Life upon joining and annually thereafter.
Additional charges could include uniform costs, handbook costs, and/or Troop activity fees.
Troops are encouraged to fundraise to minimize any additional costs to families. Adult members pay an annual membership fee of $46.55.
The higher amount covers the costs of periodic criminal background checks, supplemental evaluation processes, and youth protection training for adult members.
NOTE - Membership and Troop fees are non-refundable, and all fees must be paid via credit or debit card.
Parents are encouraged to take an active role in their son’s program, whether by attending meetings, completing in-home activities, teaching a specific skill at an outing, or just providing encouragement. We encourage parents to become Registered Adults so they can provide additional support for their son(s) and Troop when needed.
NOTE: Foxes (5-6 year olds) are required to have at least one parent in attendance at all meetings and outings.
Not at this time, as it does not satisfy the patrol method that is part of our character and leadership development philosophy.
A Charter Organization is a Christian non-profit organization that has started a Trail Life Troop. These organizations (typically churches) must align with Trail Life's Statements of Faith and Values.
Each Charter Organization owns and operates its Trail Life Troop as a ministry of that local organization or church.
Have your senior pastor complete the following:
1. Fill out the ministry alignment form.
2. Sign the Charter Organization Ministry Agreement
3. Pay One-Time Fee & Launch Your Troop
We usually recommend getting 2-3 men together and then approaching your pastor. Here are ideas of how to get the conversation started.
1- Share intro video or links -Provide a visual and inspiring overview of Trail Life's purpose and benefits to spark enthusiasm and discussion.
2- Have coffee or a campfire - Gather interested men for a casual meeting to share the mission and vision of Trail Life, emphasizing the impact on boys and the community.
3- Engage in prayer and fellowship -Spend time praying together for guidance and unity in launching a Troop while fostering a strong bond among the group.
4- Talk to your pastor: Coordinate a meeting with their pastor to gain approval, support, and encouragement for starting the Troop.
Most other Christian youth organizations are limited to either a specific denomination/faith tradition or a general region of the country.
Trail Life is interdenominational, with Charter Organizations representing Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox faith traditions across all 50 states.
Typically, Troops meet once a week for about eight to nine months of the year.
However, each Troop sets their own meeting schedule based on what works best for their Charter Organization. Click the Find A Troop button to connect with your local Troops to find out their particular meeting schedules.
Youth membership is open to all boys at least 5 years old and less than 18 years of age.
Trailmen are expected to advance through the program with other Trailmen their age.
Youth members are added to an existing Trail Life Troop. Contact your local Troop for instructions.
You can find the closest Troop to you by going to traillifeusa.com and clicking on "Find a Troop". You can use the "Connect with Troop" link to submit your contact information.
Absolutely.
Whether dad is permanently or temporarily out of the picture, your son is welcome at any Trail Life Troop. There he will find many Godly men to help him along his journey to manhood.
We recommend our sister program, the American Heritage Girls. You can find more about AHG at www.ahgonline.org.
Flexible Involvement: Participate in a way that fits your schedule, whether as a leader or supporting parent.
Strengthen Father-Son Bonds: Have a standing appointment with your son to create lasting memories and build deeper relationship through shared adventures and activities.
Be a Positive Role Model: Impact boy’s lives by exemplifying strong Christian values and leadership.
Develop Leadership Skills: Gain tools and resources to lead and mentor your son and young men effectively.
Outdoor Adventures: Explore the great outdoors with hiking, camping, and more — and who knows, you might even get to shoot something along the way.
Join a Brotherhood: Surround yourself with like-minded men who share your values and beliefs.
Pass on a Legacy: Instill a love for God, country, and the outdoors, leaving a lasting impact on your family and community.
Yes! Here are some resources to help you learn more and share the vision with your buddies.
Stories From Men in the Field
Here are videos from dads sharing the impact Trail Life has had. Visit our YouTube page for more content like this.
Troop Leaders Sharing Their Stories
Pastor Discusses His Troop's Impact
Empowering Boys
Check out these free eBooks that address the needs boys face today and strategies to empower them.
Let Boys be Boys
Raising Godly Boys
Recruiting Troop Members
Explore our resource page filled with recruiting materials.
Join the Adventure Resources
Samples From Our Handbooks
Woodlands Trail
Navigators & Adventurers
Parent & Leader Guide