"Night Ops" Challenge Helps Boys Build Confidence, Independence, Responsibility, and Godly Character

A year ago no one would have believed today we would be sitting in a boat our Troop built from a fir tree and a broken golf cart. But that was before the boys began dreaming last spring…

One of Five Finalists, Cash Daniels Seeks to "Protect God's Creation"

Rocky Mount-based Trail Life Troop NC-0834 was backpacking in the Uwharrie Mountains when suddenly and unexpectedly their skills were put to the test. The adventure began as a typical backpacking trip. The Troop split into two different hiking groups, the older group, the Adventurers did the longer 12 mile loop while ...

Our hike on the Benton MacKaye Trail was only a one-nighter but we packed a lot in. We had nine Trailmen and seven dads throw on packs and head out on a 9.6 mile loop hike utilizing the Appalachian Trail and the Benton MacKaye Trail. On day one, we hiked about 4 miles on the AT crossing several creeks and log bridges ...

At Trail Life, Outdoor Experiences Cultivate Leadership Skills, Character Building, and Stronger Relationships

The boys came prepared in teams of four for a highlight challenge of the Daniel Boone Base Camp Event. Each year Trailmen compete to build a fire tall enough to burn a marker string, boil water, and steep coffee for their Troopmaster to drink.  This year, however the planning team added  a twist.  The fire had to be ...

"Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." - Romans 5:3-4 The weather on the mountain was brutal. The windchill was at four degrees below zero. Forty mile per hour winds hurled snow and ice pellets straight down the mountain. Whiteout conditions had set in.  One climber after ...

As a young man in high school and college, I stopped going hunting with my dad because I was just too busy, I got married and had kids. Classic adult excuses, but I just didn’t think about hunting until one fall day in 2011. Visiting with my Dad one day, out of the blue he asked if I was interested in going elk ...