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 Dec 12, 2025

Trail Life USA, Let Boys be Boys, Troop Adventures, Masculinity, Raising Godly Boys

From Sea Level to the Summit: How 18 Trailmen Discovered Faith and Brotherhood in Yosemite

The van wound through the tunnel, headlights bouncing off granite walls before bursting into the open air — and suddenly, there it was. Yosemite Valley stretched before them in all its glory: the sheer face of El Capitan to the left, the distant crown of Half Dome rising on the horizon.

Matt Gidney Dec 08, 2025

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

The Father’s Fingerprints: How God is Working Through Trail Life at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills

A Father’s Search When Ken became a father in 2011, he wanted to make sure he spent quality time with his son. Like many dads, he thought of the Boy Scouts. But as the organization shifted away from its foundations, he began looking for something different—something Christ-centered, something that…

Matt Gidney Dec 04, 2025

Parenting, Trail Life USA, Let Boys be Boys, Masculinity, Raising Godly Boys

“Dad, I Want to Be a Christian”: How Trail Life Shaped a Boy’s Confession and a Father’s Calling

A Backseat Confession The car was quiet on the long drive home from a Trail Life meeting when Jason’s 12 year old son suddenly spoke from the back seat: “Dad, I want to be a Christian.”

Matt Gidney Sep 24, 2025

Trail Life USA, Let Boys be Boys, Troop Adventures, Masculinity, Raising Godly Boys

Five Peaks in Five Days: Troop TX-0022 Conquers the Wheeler Peak Wilderness

Wheeler Peak Wilderness, Taos, NM – July 2025 On July 17, 2025, Trailmen of Troop TX-0022 stood on top of Wheeler Peak, New Mexico’s highest summit at 13,160 feet. But their story began long before the final summit. It began with a bold idea: a backpacking trip to conquer five rugged peaks above…

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