What is Trail Life?
Trail Life is a nationwide Christ-centered character, leadership, and outdoor adventure scouting ministry for boys.
Founded in 2013, Trail Life has over 60,000 members in over 1200 troops in all 50 states, meaning we have a common national curriculum and leader training program to ensure that we deliver that curriculum to your son in the most fun and effective way.
Every troop is a ministry of a church or Christian school. AL-254 is a ministry of Briarwood Presbyterian Church within their Quest Recreation Outreach Ministry.
Trail Life’s Vision
Our vision is to be the premier national character development organization for young men which produces Godly and responsible husbands, fathers, and citizens.
Trail Life’s Mission
Our Mission is to guide generations of courageous young men to honor God, lead with integrity, serve others, and experience outdoor adventure.
Trail Life’s Motto
“Walk Worthy”. This comes from Colossians 1:10 “… that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…”
What Are The Age Ranges?
Trail Life has three main programs for boys: Woodlands Trail, Navigators, and Adventurers. Members of any age are known as “Trailmen”.
Woodlands
Ages 5-10*
Boys on the Woodlands Trail gain knowledge about outdoor skills, citizenship, character, friendship, and faith through fun activities, awards, and skill instruction.
Navigators
Ages 11-13*
As Navigators, boys gain understanding of their values and beliefs under the guidance of godly male role models through being responsible in outdoor adventures and in their home and school life. They explore areas of interest and earn Trail Badges for advancement.
Adventurers
Ages 14-17*
As Adventurers, young men mature in wisdom and faith through more difficult challenges and leadership activities, with Christian men walking alongside. They plan and lead outdoor events and large projects while exercising leadership positions in the Troop, even mentoring the younger Trailmen.
The Woodlands Trail is organized in three patrols:
Foxes
Ages 5-6*
Hawks
Ages 7-8*
Mountain Lions
Ages 9-10*
What Do You Do?
Our troop meets three times per month from August through May and once a month in June and July. We have at least one adventure every month. For Woodlands Trailmen, that includes three or four campouts and eight or nine one-day experiences. For Navigators and Adventurers, that includes between seven and ten campouts - one of which is a week-long summer adventure - and between two and five one-day activities.
View our Calendar for more info about specific outings.
How Much Does it Cost?
Trail Life is a great value and a very affordable program. For boys ages 5-10 (Woodlands), we estimate this year's cost will be approximately $300. That includes his dues, awards, two uniform shirts, and one adventure every month, including at least three overnight events.
We strongly encourage dads to take an active role in the program. We estimate that an involved dad would spend $230 to join Trail Life, purchase a uniform polo shirt, and attend activities and campouts with his son.
Navigators (11-13 years old) and Adventurers (14-17) have an elevated experience in Trail Life. We anticipate a Navigator or Adventurer would spend $1,100 on Trail Life this year, which would include his dues, awards, three uniform shirts, a handbook, six weekend campouts, one week-long summer adventure, and other single-day experiences.
An actively involved Navigator/Adventurer Dad might spend $450 to join his son this year.
A planned Spring Fundraiser could reduce those costs significantly, and we offer financial assistance on a case-by-case basis.
How does that compare to other activities?
Trail Life is about $300 for a 5-10-year-old boy and includes three campouts for a total of five camping nights.
Similar programs that don't include a faith element typically cost $250-350 per year for boys ages 5-10.
A local week-long summer camp is $940 for six nights.
A local one-day baseball camp is $159 for position players.
Are There Awards?
Trail Life activities and program advancement take place within seven particular categories. In the Woodlands Trail program, these categories are called Branches. In the Navigators and Adventurers programs, they are referred to as Frontiers. These categories include Heritage, Life Skills, Science and Technology, Hobbies, Values, Sports and Fitness, and Outdoor Skills.
Woodlands Trail
The Woodlands Trail program is a participation-based program split into three 2-year patrols (Fox, Hawk, and Mountain Lion) where Trailmen earn patches and pins as they participate in a defined number of activities for each Branch. Each patrol begins with a joining patch, the Branch Patch. Throughout their first year in each patrol, Trailman will earn Branch Pins to affix to their Branch Patch. Once a Trailman has earned all 7 Branch Pins, he will have earned the Forest Award patch and will begin earning Sylvan Star pins to affix to his Forest Award Patch.
The activities are repeated at least three times throughout the six years of the Woodlands Trail, giving each Trailman the opportunity to experience each activity at a different level as they grow. Mountain Lion Trailmen are eligible to earn the Woodlands Trail capstone award, the Timberline Award, as they finish out their Woodlands Trail program and prepare to move to the Navigators program.
Navigators and Adventurers
The Navigator and Adventurer programs are achievement-based. Trailmen advance by earning ranks that span both program levels. Ranks are earned by completing Trail Badges that demonstrate their knowledge and experience with certain skills and topics, participating in various Troop and patrol activities, volunteering in their community, and holding various leadership roles within their patrol or Troop.
The Ranks are Recruit Trailman, Able Trailman, Ready Trailman, Journey, Ascent, and Horizon. Navigator Trailman can only progress through the first three ranks. The last three ranks of Journey, Ascent, and Horizon are reserved only for Adventurers to earn.
Each program level has its own capstone Award that Trailman can earn. Navigators have the opportunity to earn the Ridgeline Award, and Adventurers have the opportunity to earn the Freedom Award. Each capstone Award has its own set of additional requirements beyond the Rank requirements.
Worthy Life Award
The Worthy Life Award is Trail Life’s faith-building award. A Trailman can complete the Worthy Life Award up to five separate times: once as a Fox Trailman, once as a Hawk Trailman, once as a Mountain Lion Trailman, once as a Navigator, and once as an Adventurer.
What is the Required Uniform?
There are three levels of Trail Life uniforms: The Activity Uniform, Travel Uniform, and Troop Uniform. Click on each shirt for more info.
There is no standard Trail Life hat, but if you wear a hat with your uniform, it must have a Trail Life logo. There are several options in the Trail Life Store. Here are a few:
What is the Expected Level of Parent Involvement?
Trail Life encourages - and our troop expects - parents to take an active role in their son’s program by attending meetings, completing in-home activities, and providing encouragement. You may be asked to do more in the Troop at some point, even taking on a leadership role. Your presence, assistance, and words of encouragement will benefit your son and also other Trailmen who may or may not have a parent present. For families where fathers or other male role models are not present, male Troop leaders, following all Child Safety and Youth Protection protocols, can serve as program role models and mentors for Trailmen as they grow into young men.
Foxes (youngest members of the Woodlands Trail Unit) are required to have at least one parent in attendance at all meetings and outings.
How Does Trail Life Handle Child Safety?
The safety of the young Trailmen in our care is of utmost importance. To help protect boys, Trail Life has put into place extensive policies and guidelines that our members must follow. The most prominent of these policies is that every registered adult in Trail Life must successfully complete a Child Safety and Youth Protection training and Criminal Background Check. Additionally, each Troop’s Troop Ministry Liaison must personally approve every Registered Adult who joins the Troop. Registered Adults are required to wear a Member ID.
Trail Life has also developed the 1-2-3 Youth Protection Essentials that are easy to learn, teach, and practice by all Trailmen, both youth and adult.
How Do We Join?
First, send us a message. We'd love to chat and answer questions before you come to a meeting, where you can see what we do, meet the leaders, and let your son meet our Trailmen. Talk about it with your son, then come to another meeting. Let us know that you're ready to join, and we'll send you an invitation.