FAITHFUL OBSERVATIONS: Trail Life USA

For more than a hundred years, the Boy Scouts has been an integral part of our culture. Earning the Eagle designation was something that was listed on most men’s résumé if they achieved it. Presidents, governors, military officers and millions of boys have become better men because of their time in the Boy Scouts. As experience tells us, this did not happen coincidentally. Many of the men involved credit the experiences and training they received during their time in scouting to make them successful individuals.

It has been just over a year, however, that the Boy Scouts changed their name to just “Scouts” with the addition of girls to the program. The changes in removing the ban on homosexual leaders, which was lifted in 2013, and then accepting transgender scouts has resulted in a major shift of support. Boy Scout membership peaked at 4 million boys and now stands at 2.3 million boys, down from 2.6 million five years ago. These changes gave many current members and parents concern that the group had lost many of the moral codes that once made the original Boy Scouts so upstanding.

The changes have been discouraging to many of faith. If families were intact, dads were at home, and schools and colleges actually taught boys to be men, then maybe losing the Boy Scouts wouldn’t be a big deal. But the loss is being felt and there is a move by a group to fill the gap and be there to mentor and shape young men. This is why in 2013 a group of Boy Scout leaders left the organization to form a new outdoor adventure training program named Trail Life USA. It’s avowedly Christian, maintains that the only acceptable sexuality is between a married man and woman, offers freedom from corporate money and the influence it comes with, and believes in adventure.

Now, six years later, there are more than 25,000 members in more than 800 troops in all 50 states. Everyone seems to agree that introducing boys to wilderness and outdoor skills is certainly a worthwhile endeavor.

Today, only 6 percent of Americans 9 to 13 years old play outside on their own during a typical week, and kids spend half as much time outdoors as they did a generation ago. There are probably all kinds of reasons for this — TV, video games, internet and even the push to be involved in a certain sport or activity. The fact is that only 40 percent of children in the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene area live with their biological father. Boys need mentors and relationships with men to model their life after. Seen in the overall context having goals to see that kids who learn to build a fire, pitch a tent and hike are more likely to preserve wilderness, parks and love the area we live in are admirable.

Trail Life operates very similarly to the Boy Scouts, except it is operated directly as a ministry of the local chartering church. TLUSA states that “they were created as a Christ-centered alternative to the historical Boy Scouts of America, founded on biblical principles of male leadership and Christian family values. More than ever, boys need a uniquely masculine program where their assertive, audacious, and adventurous nature is celebrated, not sequestered.”

Right now there are three churches in the area with Trail Life Troops: Candlelight Fellowship in Coeur d’Alene, Athol Baptist Church in Athol and Timberview Church in Mead, Wash. I talked to Bob Grammer, the troopmaster at Candlelight who also serves as the Northwest Area New Troop Coordinator for more information about Trail Life from a local perspective.

Bob, how did this troop get started and how were you involved?

We had a Boy Scout troop and when that was disbanded because of their change of policies we started our Trail Life USA troop as a community outreach for Christian evangelism as well as a way of introducing and reinforcing Christian principles.

What have you observed about the effect of the Trail Life program since you began?

We have seen multiple positive results that have come from sponsoring a Trail Life troop. Boys are learning to love and respect the outdoors that God created and at the same time they are developing servant leadership skills, personal confidence and an attitude for service to their community. Parents are being encouraged to participate in the learning experiences with their sons. Adults are learning that their life experiences are beneficial to the next generation and leaving a legacy passed on is vital for our culture.

Why would you recommend this as a program for more churches to adopt?

Parents can feel safe that their sons are learning outdoor skills while growing in Christian life skills and understanding that teamwork and fellowship are part of maturing. All adult leaders are trained in child safety youth protection, background checked and are believers in the Triune God.

Bob, thank you. Do you have any final comments about the program?

We started this program from scratch over five years ago. It was difficult at first but we kept to the basic outline of the program and our own goals determined to adhere to strong Christian principles. With a lot of hard work by many, Trail Life USA is maturing into a wonderful program and is still improving. It is so gratifying to participate in this opportunity to build an unapologetically Christian youth outdoor adventure program that is not watered down by non-Christian influences and beliefs. It is truly Christ’s program, not ours.

As Northwest New Troop Coordinator, if people want more information, where do they go for that?

They can go to the website traillifeusa.com to learn more and to locate a Trail Life USA troop near them or if they want to start a new troop they can contact me by phone at 208-755-1919 or by email at bob.id0412@gmail.com. We will gladly help step you through the process of forming a new troop.