Thank you for your interest in joining our troop, should you not see your question listed or would like more information please let us know.
What Activities Can We Expect During the Program Year?
Each Troop creates an annual schedule that best fits the needs of their charter organization and Trailmen. Troops will schedule a program year that contains regular Troop meetings, “Hit the Trail” outings, campouts, Area-wide events, service projects, and a week-long Summer Adventure.
How long will the troop be holding meetings?
The troop will be meeting August through the school year till end of May. These Troop meetings are where Trailmen are introduced to, and practice, new skills and activities. Throughout the year, Trailmen will perfect these skills at their various campouts and outings. During the Summer months there may be opportunities to participate in outings based on leader availability.
How are the boys divided up?
- Fox Patrol – Ages 5-6 (K – 1st grade)
- Hawk Patrol – Ages 7-8 (2nd – 3rd grades)
- Mountain Lion Patrol – Ages 9 -10 (4th – 5th grades)
Woodlands-Ages 5-10 Boys on the Woodlands Trail gain knowledge about outdoor skills, citizenship, character, friendship, and faith through fun activities, awards, and skill instruction.
Navigators-Ages 11-13-As Navigators, boys gain understanding of their values and beliefs under the guidance of godly male role models through being responsible in outdoor adventures and in their home and school life. They explore areas of interest and earn Trail Badges for advancement.
Adventurers Ages 14-17-As Adventurers, young men mature in wisdom and faith through more difficult challenges and leadership activities, with Christian men walking alongside. They plan and lead outdoor events and large projects while exercising leadership positions in the Troop, even mentoring the younger Trailmen.
How Does Advancement and Awards Work In Trail Life USA?
Even though Trail Life is more about character building, the concept of award recognition is not lost.
Woodlands Trail: The Woodlands Trail program is a participation-based program split into three 2-year patrols (Fox, Hawk, and Mountain Lion) where Trailmen earn patches and pins as they participate in a defined number of activities for each Branch. Each patrol begins with a joining patch, the Branch Patch. Throughout their first year in each patrol, Trailman will earn Branch Pins to affix to their Branch Patch. Once a Trailman has earned all 7 Branch Pins, he will have earned the Forest Award patch and will begin earning Sylvan Star pins to affix to his Forest Award Patch. The activities are repeated at least three times throughout the six years of the Woodlands Trail, giving each Trailman the opportunity to experience each activity at a different level as they grow.
Mountain Lion Trailmen are eligible to earn the Woodlands Trail capstone award, the Timberline Award, as they finish out their Woodlands Trail program and prepare to move to the Navigators program.
Navigators and Adventurers: The Navigator and Adventurer programs are achievement-based. Trailmen advance by earning ranks that span both program levels. Ranks are earned by completing Trail Badges that demonstrate their knowledge and experience with certain skills and topics, participating in various Troop and patrol activities, volunteering in their community, and holding various leadership roles within their patrol or Troop.
The Ranks are Recruit Trailman, Able Trailman, Ready Trailman, Journey, Ascent, and Horizon. Navigator Trailman can only progress through the first three ranks. The last three ranks of Journey, Ascent, and Horizon are reserved only for Adventurers to earn. Each program level has its own capstone Award that Trailman can earn. Navigators have the opportunity to earn the Ridgeline Award, and Adventurers have the opportunity to earn the Freedom Award. Each capstone Award has its own set of additional requirements beyond the Rank requirements.
What Are The Membership Joining Fees Charged By Trail Life USA?
Trail Life USA charges an annual membership fee. This fee is paid directly to Trail Life USA by each individual youth and adult member when they submit their initial membership application to Trail Life USA, and annually thereafter on the anniversary of their membership. The Youth fee is $37.97 annually and the Adult fee is $43.19 annually. (varies slightly year-to-year). Annual membership fees provide for operations of the Home Office, Trail Life Connect, insurance, and background checks and youth protection training for adult members.
Are there any fees or dues charged By My Local Troop?
We do have yearly dues, when paying due your son will receive a Class B T shirt and book.
First boy-$15 month or $135 for the year
Second boy-$100 for the year
Three or more boys $50 for the year
These fees may cover activities, clothing, equipment, food and program supplies for campouts, awards, and other operational costs as decided by your local Troop.
With that being said we may hold various fundraisers throughout the year as they help Trailmen learn responsibility by participating in the planning of their program and then assisting in paying for it through fundraising.
Setting a goal and reaching it builds perseverance, teamwork, and a sense of accomplishment. Fundraising promotes your Troop and Charter Organization’s activities in the community. It teaches Trailmen communication and customer service skills as well as self-confidence. Check with your local Troop to learn about their fundraising plan.
What Is The Required Uniform?
Trail Life has several uniforms that serve different purposes. The Troop Uniform (Class A nickname) and the Trail Uniform T-shirt (Class B).
We are operating on a loosened uniform structure for the time being so the uniform will be the Class B t-shirt however as we progress in the year there will be events where the Class A Formal shirt will be required. The formal shirt must have the shoulder loops and troop number patch (the troop will provide) and other items such as pants, belts, and socks may be non-trail life items.
In addition to the clothing, all Registered Adults who have successfully passed the background check and the Child Safety and Youth Protection Training are required to wear an official Trail Life Lanyard and ID card as part of the uniform. This is to help better identify screened and trained Trail Life leaders.
As discussed with the payment of dues each trailmen will receive 1 (one) class B t-shirt, additional shirts and other uniform items can be purchased at https://shop.traillifeusa.com/
What Is The Expected Level Of Parent Involvement?
Trail Life encourages parents to take an active role in their son’s program, by attending meetings, completing in-home activities, and providing encouragement. You may be asked to do more in the Troop at some point, even taking on a leadership role. Your presence, assistance, and words of encouragement will benefit your son and also other Trailmen who may or may not have a parent present. For families where fathers or other male role models are not present, male Troop leaders, following all Child Safety and Youth Protection protocols, can serve as program role models and mentors for Trailmen as they grow into young men.
Foxes (youngest members of the Woodlands Trail Unit) are required to have at least one parent in attendance at all meetings and outings.
As the goal is for men and dads to be directly involved in leadership positions there are opportunities for moms to volunteer as well.
How Does Trail Life USA Handle Child Safety?
The safety of the young Trailmen in our care is of utmost importance. To help protect boys, Trail Life has put into place extensive policies and guidelines that our members must follow. The most prominent of these policies is that every registered adult in Trail Life must successfully complete a Child Safety and Youth Protection training and Criminal Background Check. Additionally, each Troop’s Troop Ministry Liaison must personally approve every Registered Adult who joins the Troop. Registered Adults are required to wear a Member ID.
Trail Life has also developed the 1-2-3 Youth Protection Essentials that are easy to learn, teach, and practice by all Trailmen, both youth and adult:
No 1-on-One: The “no one-on-one” rule is in place for youth protection so no boy is ever alone with an adult. This is for both the protection of the boy and the adult. This extends to electronic communications such as email, texting, and online communications, as well as transportation to and from Trail Life activities.
2-Deep Leadership: The “two-deep” rule is in place for safety so there is always a minimum of two Registered Adults in proximity to provide backup and oversight. Although parents’ participation is welcome, a parent who is not a Registered Adult member (thereby trained and screened) is not considered part of this two-deep leadership requirement.
Buddy System of 3: The “buddy system of three” is suggested to keep youth safe when out of sight of adult leadership. Buddies must be of the same program level. The buddy system also applies to tenting. Three or more boys of the same program level should share a tent, rather than only two (unless they are siblings, with parental knowledge).
Our troops primary focus will be on developing character, leadership, and faith through outdoor activities and mentorship to the trailmen as well as help teach them about accountability to God.