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

Let Boys be Boys

Legal Fight Over ‘Scouts’ Sparks Surge in Boys-Only Outdoor Adventure

As a legal fight between America’s two long-time scouting organizations ensues, Trail Life USA is experiencing historic growth. “In the eight days following the announcement of the lawsuit we saw a 79 percent increase in inquiries into starting a troop and a 35 percent increase in traffic to our website, as compared ...
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Stephen Ashton

Service

Trail Life Parent Experiences the Impact of a Shoebox Firsthand!

Phil and Cheryl Smith have been involved with Trail Life USA since the Nashville Convention in 2014. Soon after the convention, Phil began talking with his church about starting a Trail Life ministry. The Troop was started with just a few boys who signed at a table in the church atrium. Since then the Troop has grown ...
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Stephen Ashton

Service

TLUSA Encourages Troops to Partner with Samaritan’s Purse

Hurricane Florence made landfall delivering 90 mph winds and heavy rains. This massive storm caused severe flooding in North and South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, and Georgia. Many Trail Life Troops on the east coast have been affected. Please keep residents of the East Coast in your prayers.
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Stephen Ashton

In The News

Adventures in Odyssey Club and Trail Life USA Team Up

Focus on the Family’s Adventures in Odyssey Club is highlighting Trail Life USA as a featured charity in the ministry’s popular membership program for children this month.
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Stephen Ashton

Growing Sons Who Walk Worthy

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of ...
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Stephen Ashton

Mentoring Service Leadership

Diakonos: The Legacy of Trail Life USA’s Oldest Freedom Rangeman

In a busy adolescent world of video games, social media, sports, and cell phones, Trail Life USA's oldest Freedom Rangeman has found a meaningful way to connect and contribute to the lives of his son-in-law, his grandsons, and the men and boys of his community through his local Trail Life Troop. The outdoors provide a ...
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Stephen Ashton

Service Leadership

Introducing Wilson Grab – Trail Life USA’s Oldest Freedom Rangeman

Wilson Grab grew up in a different time. A time before television and the internet, before cell phones and social media. A time before major organized youth sports leagues. Life moved at a slower pace. A father was the main role model for his son, and boys respected their elders and looked to them for guidance and ...
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Stephen Ashton

In The News

Trail Life USA Earns ECFA Accreditation

Trail Life USA is pleased to join respected organizations like Family Talk, Samaritan’s Purse, American Heritage Girls, and Family Life in attaining accreditation with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
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Stephen Ashton

Mentoring Parenting

Mentoring Sons to be Men of Honor

Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor. -Prov 15:33
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