13 Jun, 2020 Trail Life USA: Where to Turn When Scouts Have Lost Their Way

by Dr. Kathryn Knight

Trail Life USA offers boys a way to learn to be strong men. Someday they will be husbands and fathers. Boy Scouts (now operating under their new name, Scouts BSA) used to offer excellent opportunities for boys to learn outdoor, leadership, and manly skills. Now they are bankrupt, accused of sexual misconduct, and do not honor God with their programs. The causes of their demise include allowing homosexual members and leaders and promoting other ungodly ideas in programs.

The boys of today will be the men of tomorrow and they need to channel their “inner warrior” strength and learn to be godly men, ready to protect and serve their families, God, and country. With Boy Scouts heading off on an ungodly trail, where can Christian parents find a club that supports their family’s desire to raise strong young men?

Trail Life USA: Positive Organization

The answer is a Christian alternative to Boy Scouts, a club that will instill leadership qualities in your sons. One that honors God and teaches boys to be men. As the Boy Scouts began to embrace more anti-Christian ideals, a group of Eagle Scouts, Scoutmasters and parents knew they could no longer participate, so they founded Trail Life USA in 2013. Since then, the organization has grown to over 30,000 members across the USA. Trail Life USA troops are active in most states and local troops can be found on their website.

Unlike the secular Boy Scouts, Trail Life Troops are sponsored by a Bible-believing church and adhere to biblical standards. According to their website,

“Trail Life USA is a Church-Based, Christ-Centered, Boy-Focused mentoring and discipleship journey that speaks to the heart of a boy. Established on timeless values derived from the Bible and set in the context of outdoor adventure, boys from Kindergarten through 12th grade are engaged in a Troop setting by male mentors where they are challenged to grow in character, understand their purpose, serve their community, and develop practical leadership skills to carry out the mission for which they were created.”

This dynamic outdoor adventure program lets boys see how men respond to situations they may face as adults. They learn to lead, help others, and serve in many capacities.

Service Amidst Quarantine

The boys of Trail Life are under quarantine like the rest of us, but during the Covid-19 pandemic, the program has remained active and continues to serve American families. One quarantine initiative was announced this spring. Called the Backyard Campout, it encouraged homebound families across America to camp out in their own backyards to bring awareness to the Trail Life USA program and to have fun enjoying God’s creation as a family. The Trail Life website offers backyard camping tips, recipes and activities meant to help families have an exciting night out despite the travel restrictions of quarantine. A second campout was announced in May, and families who registered were able to enjoy free streaming access to the new Pilgrim’s Progress movie thanks to Trail Life USA.

Soon, your family and other families across the world will be heading back to many of our pre-pandemic activities. Will Trail Life USA be part of your plan to raise strong, godly men? Take the time you have away from activities during the quarantine to assess all the programs in which you and your family – especially your sons – participate. Pray about where God wants your family to be once the quarantine is lifted. Use this time to reset your schedule to include a program that will help your sons mature into godly leaders of tomorrow.

Dr. Kathryn Knight is a 20+ year homeschool veteran who has graduated three of her five children.

Kathryn loves to find creative ways to make learning hands-on so brain synapses connect and her kids enjoy school and remember what they’ve learned.