On April 26-28, Trail Life USA, the largest U.S. Christ-centered scouting organization, held its nationwide campout. Projections were over 100,000 young men, parents, invited friends, and volunteers gathered to learn more about the outdoors and how to become better children of God and their fathers.
Since the early 1900s, the only wilderness training among young men was the Boy Scouts of America (now known as Scouts BSA). With the advent of public scandal within the organization, Christian parents searched for an alternative.
During the dark cloud of COVID-19, a silver lining appeared. While fear dissipated, young men wanted to be outside together.
In light of the Nationwide Campout, Beliefnet spoke to Mark Hancock, chief executive officer of Trail Life USA, about the organization’s creation, growth, and future.
Crisis and Campouts Leading to Christ
Hancock believes Trail Life USA scouting isn’t about complex adventure and badge paths but simple experiences with God’s creation. That reality led to the birth of the organization.
“As Trail Life, we realized the safest place for kids to be was outside. We did several “backyard campout” events that year. The first just involved our Trailmen. Then we realized kids across the country needed this,” he said.
Founded in 2013 by former Scouts BSA leaders and Eagle Scouts, the organization’s highest honor, Trail Life USA, is unlike the Boy Scouts because it operates directly as a local church ministry.
Amid abuse claims during and shortly after COVID-19, the Boy Scouts of America found themselves in legal crosshairs from a class-action lawsuit involving 144 former scouts, resulting in a $2.46 billion settlement. The scouts’ claim represented over 80,000 men who claimed chronic abuse.
From the fallout, young men searched for a different outlet or ministries representing a “Christian worldview.” The intrinsic connection between TLUSA and the local church got the attention of thousands and maintains its purpose of growing the local church.
To date, the organization has appealed to 60,000 people across 1,100 troops with a presence in all 50 states.
Recreating Godly Relationships and Outdoor Reality
This year’s National Campout for Trail Life USA is no different than the previous four, but stands as a symbol for getting back to the basics of ministry, outreach and exploration.
Hancock cites Romans 1:20 when discussing the inspiration among Trail Life USA leaders.
But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. So nobody has a good excuse.
He stresses the awareness of TLUSA is capitalizing on “consistent enthusiasm” among young men and their fathers to get outside and go “beyond the backyard.” Local church leaders are encouraged to extend the atmosphere of this annual event and visit community, state and national parks with their troops.
“While it is not always overt, our leaders can’t help but speak about the hope they have found in Christ as they hike, camp, fish, and enjoy creation,” he said. “It has been exciting to see church come to understand that Trail Life is not just a ministry meeting in the basement of the church. We are a ministry of the church that exists to engage men, build boys, strengthen families, and grow the church.”
A 2019 study in Scientific Reports explicitly states that spending at least 120 minutes weekly in nature is good for health and well-being. Many doctors nationwide stress the physical benefits of being outside. A few reasons include:
- Improve cardiovascular health
- Enhance better mood
- Reduce cholesterol, blood glucose and hypertension
From personal leisure to structured camping, spending time outside with friends and family and in the presence of the Lord can be a memorable and fulfilling experience. Hancock shares that it begins with disconnecting from the Internet and plugging into God.
“People connect in the outdoors, removed from virtual reality,” he said. “The experience of adults is never obsolete; boys find mentors, fathers and sons connect, important relationships are fostered, and boys find opportunities to achieve significant accomplishments.”
Visit TrailLifeUSA.com for more information about joining, volunteering, or connecting a Trail Life USA troop to your church.
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