Stephen Ashton

Stephen Ashton
Stephen Ashton is the National Director of Marketing for Trail Life USA and serves as an adjunct professor at Clarks Summit University and Anchor Christian University. Prior to his work at Trail Life, he spent 15 years working with at-risk youth in residential therapeutic wilderness programs and served as the Vice-President of the Wilderness Road Therapeutic Camping Association. An author and a speaker, he has written for journals and published a book chronicling the foundations of therapeutic camping. He frequently speaks on the topics of fatherhood, biblical masculinity, outdoor education, and wilderness therapy. Stephen lives in South Carolina with his wife and 4 sons.
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Recent Posts

Stephen Ashton

Service

Honoring Veterans – A 4th of July Story

This Independence Day, Trailmen and families from Troop IL-0412 woke early to gather at a local cemetery. Today’s event had received special attention and boys and families arrived at 9 AM to begin this Independence Day with a special commemoration and blessing.
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Stephen Ashton

In The News Let Boys be Boys

Trail Life USA CEO on Eric Metaxas Show

Eric Metaxas and Trail Life CEO, Mark Hancock, discuss culture, boyhood, masculinity, leadership, and the rapid growth of Trail Life USA on the Eric Metaxas Radio Show. Watch the podcast below or read the abridged transcript that follows.
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Stephen Ashton

Mentoring Let Boys be Boys

Family Talk: Boys in the Crossfire

In this edition of Family Talk, Dr. Tim Clinton talks with Trail Life CEO, Mark Hancock about the important role of Trail Life USA is playing to equip churches who engage men in using outdoor adventure as a tool to raise up young men who have a healthy understanding of biblical manhood and who are prepared to be ...
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Stephen Ashton

Mentoring Masculinity History

Theodore Roosevelt: A Letter to Boys on Manhood

No one can be a good American unless he is a good citizen, and every boy ought to train himself so that as a man he will be able to do his full duty to the community …[to] act in a way that will give them a country to be proud of.
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Stephen Ashton

In The News Let Boys be Boys

Podcast: Making Room for Boys, with Mark Hancock and Trail Life USA

It isn’t politically correct to say so, but reality is what it is: Boys and girls are different. Physiologically, psychologically, and emotionally. They learn differently and have different motivations. And these days, in a world that is increasingly designed for girls, boys are suffering—in education, socially, and ...
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Stephen Ashton

The Proclamation of the Pine

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.
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Stephen Ashton

In The News

Trail Life USA Shown as Boy Scouts Alternative on Mike Huckabee Show

Trail Life USA Board Chairman, John Stemberger, was recently featured on the Mike Huckabee Show to discuss the changes in Scouts BSA that have led to the founding and accelerated growth of Trail Life USA — a church-based, Christ-centered, boy-focused, outdoor adventure program dedicated to growing character and ...
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Stephen Ashton

In The News

Trail Life USA: A Faith-Based Alternative to Boy Scouts

Andre Davis from Good News Florida writes : “For over a century the Boy Scouts of America has been the leading wilderness training program for young men across America and the World. Since its creation in 1910 over 110 million Americans have participated in the program and 2.7 million are participating currently. ...
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Stephen Ashton

Trail Life USA Announces Operation Christmas Child Vision Trip Winner

Thank you to Troops across the country who partnered with Operation Christmas Child to spread good news of great joy that will change the lives of thousands of children around the world. This year 123 Troops signed up OCC Coordinators to lead shoebox efforts and reported packing more than 8,700 boxes!
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