Trail Life USA Blog

Matt Gidney

Matt Gidney taught English at Covenant College and the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. He currently serves as the communications and compliance coordinator for Trail Life USA. He lives in Travelers Rest, South Carolina with his wife and 3 children.

Matt Gidney Jul 16, 2025

Parenting, Trail Life USA, Let Boys be Boys, Leadership, Troop Adventures

Blisters, Grit, and Grace: How One Trailman with Autism Became a Leader Worth Following

When 16-year-old Noah laced up his boots to summit Guadalupe Peak—the highest point in Texas—he was ready for the challenge. But by the time he descended, his feet were raw with blisters and his spirit was wavering.

Matt Gidney Jul 02, 2025

Trail Life USA, Service, Leadership, Masculinity, Troop

A Rose for Texas, a Flag for a Hero: Trailmen Honor a Marine’s Legacy

“They gave us a beautiful gift. They gave us hope.” - Kitty Gandee

Matt Gidney Jun 26, 2025

Trail Life USA, Service, Troop

Standing Tall in the Storm: How a Few Soaked Trailmen Led with Honor

It started with thunder. Ear-splitting, chest-rattling thunder. Black clouds rolled in and rain poured down as lightning lit up the Texas sky. And in the middle of it all, a small group of boys in uniform, rehearsing their Color Guard ceremony with a mixture of nerves, pride, and fierce…

Matt Gidney May 28, 2025

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

Davy Crockett: A Trailman’s Kind of Hero

There’s something about the frontier spirit that stirs a man’s soul. The call of the wild, the test of character, the proving ground of adventure—this is where boys become men. And few names loom larger on the American frontier than Davy Crockett.

Matt Gidney May 26, 2025

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

Raising the Next Great Generation: Why Remembering the Past Is the First Step Toward Building Strong Men

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.” —Laurence Binyon

Matt Gidney May 12, 2025

Trail Life USA, Leadership, Masculinity, Troop

Don't Invite Me to Church: The Power of Presence

"Don’t Invite Me to Church" Brandon didn’t mince words. He was here for Trail Life—for his son, for the boys—but church? No thanks. He’d seen too much. Pastor Darrell Cooper didn’t flinch. He didn’t argue. He didn’t push. He just smiled and said, “Okay.”

Matt Gidney May 05, 2025

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

God Sent Men: A Story of Single Motherhood, Mentorship, and the Power of a Troop Family

“When my husband left our family, my prayer for my sons was simple: ‘God, please send godly men into their lives.’”

Matt Gidney Apr 14, 2025

Trail Life USA, Let Boys be Boys, Leadership, Troop Adventures

Adventure in the Everglades

As the last light faded over Fisheating Creek, the Everglades came alive. Palmettos glowed gold in the twilight. Cypress trees cast long shadows in the tannin-stained water. Crickets chirped. Tree frogs sang. And the boys—well, the boys were stirring chili.

Matt Gidney Mar 17, 2025

Trail Life USA, Troop Adventures, History

Two Nights Aboard the USS Yorktown: Hands-On History and Lessons in Duty

Imagine being 12 years old, bunking with your dad and best friends aboard a real aircraft carrier, drifting off to sleep after a full day of hands-on exploration. The creak of the ship, the distant hum of the harbor, the lingering excitement of standing where real sailors once stood—it’s the kind…