Local News

Trail Life group holding open house on Saturday

The youth of today need a purpose-shaping journey now more than ever. In particular, boys deserve a distinctly masculine space where their bold, driven, and adventurous spirit is honored rather than restrained.

Trail Life USA (TLUSA or commonly Trail Life) builds a masculine path under a faith-based program where the sense of adventure and courage are recognized and ignited as God-given gifts meant to change the world as young men become strengthened and united for His purpose.

The scout like program provides youth mentorship and character development to boys in the United States since its founding in 2013, and as of early 2024, Trail Life has grown to over 70,000 trailmen members across all 50 states.

Trail Life USA comes alongside churches and families across the nation as the leading Christ‑centered character‑development journey for young men -- raising up generations of devoted husbands, fathers and honorable citizens. Through this movement, fathers and sons are reconnecting, relationships are being restored, communities are being strengthened, and enduring legacies are being built as a rising generation of faith‑driven leaders steps forward.

Through adventure-filled events, character and leadership skills are built based on the needs that Trail Life points out for boys as they grow. This includes boys’ need for male role models and mentors, their need for the truth, and their need to feel appreciated and to embrace their strengths. This is all inspired and accomplished through real-life challenges.

Mark Hancock, CEO, Trail Life USA said, "Since we partner with so many churches, we want to provide the best counsel around protecting children, protecting leaders, and securing religious freedoms."

Locally, men responded to the need for a strong like-minded and faith based group centered on male mentorship. When speaking with Tyson Martin, the troop ministry liaison, Martin said,

"I prefer to focus on who we are, not who we are not. We are Christ-centered, Boy-focused, adventure and discipleship. We believe fathers have an important role in the lives of their children, specifically in the Godly formation of his son(s) from child to man. This group is a place that supports our individual efforts to be great dads raising up Godly men. We aren’t perfect, but through God’s grace we will discipline our sins the best we can."

The local Troop 777 out of Russell began to form nearly two years ago. After a core group of male leaders came together to plan and build a troop, four leaders with their sons began to meet last year at Praise Fellowship Church. Michael Koers took on the role as Troop Leader with the group consisting of just under a dozen to start, but has quickly grown to 58 members, of which 31 are registered male youth. The boys are grouped in two year increments, where 5- and 6-year-olds start out as foxes and progress toward hawks, mountain lions, navigators and adventurers at the highest youth age group.

An open house to learn more will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at Praise Fellowship Church. In addition to an informational session, the family friendly event has the goal of giving fathers and their sons an idea of what a year with Trail Life might look like. The youth will show their skills by setting and running stations for hands-on activities such as building stretchers and tents in the woods, fire starting and more.

The first meeting for the new year will begin on Sept. 14 starting at 5:30 p.m., with Monday meetings each week. The Trail Life program runs along the school year time frame with a few events throughout the summer.

"You don’t have to give up your fall sports or your spring sports in order to join or be part of it," Koers shared. He continued, by stating that many of the boys found that joining Trail Life has been far more rewarding and enjoyable than they expected, and many boys join in addition to other extracurricular activities while others have chosen to only do this instead.

The first year was quite successful with their first opening camping trip to Chapman Dam. The group also participated in things like seeing how a commercial butcher shop is run, working on motors, learning first aid and more. A fire pit was built by the group and is located on top of the hill in the backyard of Praise Fellowship for Trail Life as well as the congregation to utilize. Activities also occur onsite as well, such as sledding, medieval war and castle building in the HUB. The history and heritage of the area is often shared during camping trips. Last year the North Warren Fire department was a visit the boys particularly enjoyed, getting to operate the firehose. A favorite memory for most was a firewood fundraiser they participated in by cutting, bundling and packaging the wood to sell, raising funds needed for oversight costs. Members join for around $40 per child paid directly to headquarters.

Trail Life is a robust program managed with integrity on all ends, from leadership to volunteers and an impressive online database that tracks achievements, awards, clearances and registrations. The curriculum guide provides the framework for ideas which also allow for flexibility based on group interest and regional resources available. Trail Life aims to have groups formed within 30 miles of each other and the online system shares calendars for area events so they can connect. Nearby groups are currently running in Corry, Titusville and Smethport.

Koers and Martin shared that they experienced great involvement with local dads in the group this first year and emphasized the importance of connection for all involved. In recognition of needs for the area, they said, "If a Christian man is feeling called to mentor a youth, we would love to have them. There’s a registration process, and they’ll go through background checks, and that’s part of the integrity of Trail Life, but there are boys that are in need of adult Christian men as mentors."

Excited for the upcoming year, Koers added, "We had a great year. A lot more is possible now as we've become comfortable in the calling, figuring out what worked well and what didn't."

Koers pointed out that getting all the fathers together to lead meetings on different topics has been beneficial to everyone, saying how each person has skill sets in different areas, providing opportunities to share with the entire group. This falls under Trail Life's mission from Proverbs 27:17, 'Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.'

Martin said that growing up, in his neighborhood, there was another man, now a member, who he knew by face and name. "But it wasn't until I had a son and he had a son and we ended up in the same group that I am sitting around a campfire with him, talking about life. That wouldn't have happened if I wasn’t for Trail Life and bringing our boys together."

Sharing stories and lessons alongside reading scripture, Koers added, "It's been amazing to see just what you do when you get dads and the boys all in one room under a shared purpose, what can happen."

For more information, visit traillifeusa.com