Trail Life CEO Mark Hancock stated, “Challenges like these are so important! A boy’s longings for risk, competition, independence, and responsibility are necessary God-given desires that, when provided adequately, enable him to develop into a mature man of character. Boys thrive when provided with proper challenge, adventure, accomplishment, accolade, and advancement. Intentionally increasing responsibility and independence as sons mature is essential. If challenge and encouragement are not sufficient and developmentally appropriate, instead of becoming confident, resilient leaders of character, boys fall into one of the twin pitfalls of adolescence: anger or apathy.”
The Troop leaders and volunteers built a sense of independence and accomplishment by creating a safe environment that allowed boys to make mistakes, learn from failure, and experience the challenge of navigating the course themselves with minimal adult assistance. Rather than completing a challenge for a boy, Trail Life leaders and mentors come alongside boys and guide them, allowing them to achieve the goals themselves.
After the Texas “Night Ops Challenge,” many of the Troops are already asking to do it again, one boy exclaimed, “This adventure is the best thing I have ever done in Trail Life!”
Through tried-and-true methodology, Trail Life offers boy-focused, adventure-driven solutions delivered in the context of a Christian worldview that encourage boys to embrace what makes them unique and build strong relationships with other boys, mentors, and most importantly, Christ.
Read the article originally reported by K-Love, here.
