Dawn came quietly to the Boundary Waters. Fog hovered low over the lake as Trailmen eased out of their tents and toward the shoreline. Tin mugs steamed in the cool air. Headlamps flicked on as damp maps were unfolded and routes were traced with cold fingers. Boots were wet. The gear was heavy. The…
Masculinity. We can barely utter the word without adding qualifiers like: toxic, orhealthy, orbiblical, ortraditional. Alone, it is treated as a pathology: dangerous, outdated, or oppressive — something to be managed rather than modeled.
Not long ago, it seemed like parents could send their kids off to school or a local program with a reasonable expectation that the values being reinforced—things like hard work, teamwork, respect, and responsibility—aligned with what was being taught at home. Whatever happened to those open,…
Church leaders across the country are discovering that one of the most effective ways to strengthen families, disciple boys and men, and grow their church is a thriving Trail Life ministry. Around campfires, on open trails, and at weekly Troop meetings, pastors are finding a natural environment for…
The same wiring that makes teenage boys expensive to insure is the very wiring that propels exploration, invention, and bravery. Insurance companies know the statistics. Teenage boys take more risks. They drive faster. They climb higher. They test limits. And yes, sometimes they make costly…
It’s National Sons Day. Just a square on the calendar. But if you’ve ever stood beside a crackling fire with your boy on the other side of the flames — his face half lit, half shadow — you know there’s something deeper burning there.
Altadena, California — January 2025 The house was filled with noise. Phones screamed with emergency alerts. Wind battered the walls. Somewhere beyond the windows, flames were racing downhill toward Altadena. Inside, the Maljanian family moved in every direction at once.
