Trail Life USA Blog

Stephen Ashton May 28, 2026

The Lie That Kills...And the God That Delights

Every man I know eventually asks the same question. Usually late at night or early in the morning. When the house is quiet and the noise has finally settled. Do I have what it takes?The question lies there, burning under the surface of a man’s life.

Mark Hancock May 21, 2026

In The News, Parenting, Trail Life USA, Leadership, Masculinity, Raising Godly Boys, Rescue Boys

The Myth of Neutrality: Character Formation Requires a Foundation

Not long ago, it seemed like parents could send their kids off to school or a local program with a reasonable expectation that the values being reinforced—things like hard work, teamwork, respect, and responsibility—aligned with what was being taught at home. Whatever happened to those open,…

Matt Gidney May 18, 2026

Mentoring, Trail Life USA, Leadership, Troop Adventures, Masculinity, Troop, Raising Godly Boys

Sons of Liberty, Sons of Legacy: Christopher — Service

Some men walk well-worn paths. Others have to blaze the trail themselves. When Christopher first walked into his Trail Life Troop in upstate New York, there was no blueprint waiting for him. The Troop was new—still small, uncertain, and figuring things out. There were no older boys to follow, no…

Staff May 14, 2026

In The News, Mentoring, Parenting, Trail Life USA, Leadership, Masculinity, Raising Godly Boys, Rescue Boys

Pastors Across the Nation Highlight Trail Life as a Ministry Platform for Raising Godly Men

Church leaders across the country are discovering that one of the most effective ways to strengthen families, disciple boys and men, and grow their church is a thriving Trail Life ministry. Around campfires, on open trails, and at weekly Troop meetings, pastors are finding a natural environment for…

Matt Gidney May 11, 2026

Trail Life USA, Leadership, Masculinity, History, Raising Godly Boys

Sons of Liberty, Sons of Legacy: Nathanael Greene—Service

“We fight get beat and fight again.” - Nathanael Greene, in a letter to George Washington, on May 1, 1781

Matt Gidney Apr 16, 2026

Mentoring, Parenting, Trail Life USA, Leadership, Masculinity, Troop, Raising Godly Boys, Rescue Boys

Two Lives, One Trail: How a Boy Found a Mentor, and a Man Found a Calling

In a world where more boys have smartphones than dads, it’s easy to underestimate the power of presence. Embodied, steady, presence.

Matt Gidney Apr 13, 2026

Mentoring, Trail Life USA, Leadership, Troop Adventures, Masculinity, Troop, Homeschool, Raising Godly Boys

Sons of Liberty, Sons of Legacy: Ricky Hartian — Dependability

At 15 years old, most boys today are hardly expected to get themselves up for school on time. But that’s not because boys are incapable of taking responsibility and being dependable. It’s because we don’t expect them to. We hesitate to trust them with real responsibility.

Matt Gidney Apr 06, 2026

Trail Life USA, Leadership, Masculinity, History, Raising Godly Boys

Sons of Liberty, Sons of Legacy: Paul Revere —Dependability

"Listen, my children, and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere…" — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow The Measure of a Man History remembers the ride. It remembers the pounding hooves, the lanterns in the Old North Church, and the midnight warning that stirred sleeping towns into action.…

Mark Hancock Mar 30, 2026

In The News, Parenting, Trail Life USA, Leadership, Masculinity, Raising Godly Boys, Rescue Boys

Raising Boys Who Try Again

The same wiring that makes teenage boys expensive to insure is the very wiring that propels exploration, invention, and bravery. Insurance companies know the statistics. Teenage boys take more risks. They drive faster. They climb higher. They test limits. And yes, sometimes they make costly…