Advancement

Advancement Overview

If you have questions about your son’s advancement please speak with our troops advancement chair - Ryan Rumley : tlusa.tx0127@gmail.com

The Trail Life connect website, where you registered your son, is a key tool in keeping track of their journey towards their advancement. From the website you can click on your profile and select your son’s profile, then select the advancement tab. In this tab you can see which badges are showing they have earned, if the badge has been awarded, as well as their current progress towards any badge/branch they may be working on. If you find there to be any discrepancies please get with our Advancement Chair and they can work with you to get it corrected.

Attendance to troop events is very important for your son’s Advancement. The Woodlands generally completes a step towards a branch at each meeting, and Trail LIfe only allows for one step to be made up doing Family Activities. Nav/Ads are required to maintain a level of attendance for each rank and will also miss information towards earning whichever badge we are focusing on that evening.

Woodlands Trail

Ages 5-10

The program begins in the lush forests on the Woodlands Trail. Broken into three groups boys age 5-10 acquire knowledge about outdoor skills, citizenship, character, friendship, and faith through enjoyable activities, awards, and skill instruction. Boys earn pins to add to their group patch as they participate in the program.

Learn more about earning initial joining award for woodlands trail here.

Fox: Ages 5-6

Hawk: Ages 7-8

Mountain Lion: Ages 9-10

Navigators

Ages 11-13

As boys progress along the trail, they transition from the lush green forest floor to the challenges of the grey rocky crags as Navigators (ages 11-13). Under the guidance of godly male role models, they explore values and beliefs, demonstrating responsibility in outdoor adventures, as well as in their home and school life. Advancement is marked by earning Ranks and Trail Badges.

Adventurers

Ages 14-17

As Adventurers (ages 14-17), young men mature in wisdom and faith by tackling more difficult challenges and assuming leadership roles. Christian men provide guidance as they plan and lead outdoor events, undertake large projects, and mentor younger Trailmen. This comprehensive journey prepares them for the responsibilities of adulthood, instilling a deep understanding that true freedom is a result of surrender, which Christ modeled with the ultimate sacrifice.

The Freedom Award

The Freedom Award is the highest award in Trail Life USA. It is an achievement accomplished by the few who reach the apex of the Trail Life Program. Earning the award requires a demonstrated mastery of a significant skill set including 15 required and 10 elective Trail Badges, performing 20 hours of servant service each year, and the distinction of having proven himself as a leader among his peers. He must also complete four "Freedom Experiences" in 3 separate chosen fields; complete a Faith Building Activity; budget, plan, and lead a volunteer team to complete a Servant Leadership Project; and complete an advancement conference and formal Freedom Board of Review.

On the Trail to Freedom, one of the most meaningful ways Trailmen come to understand their gifting is through serving. Service in the church and the community is a significant part of the Trail Life program. Outdoor adventure provides fertile ground for relationships to be fostered. As relationships grow, young men begin to learn skills and serve alongside their adult mentors. As Trailmen serve, they begin to find purpose and fulfillment. As Trailmen understand they were created by God for his glory, to be his hands and feet to others, they find fulfillment in service and begin to understand their gifting. As they use their gifts, they hone in on career and ministry paths that will set the tone for the rest of their life.

Worthy Life

The Worthy Life Award is an integral part of the overall Trail Life discipleship process in the Woodlands Trail, Navigators, and Adventurers programs. For a Trailman to earn the Timberline Award or the Freedom Award, he must complete the requirements for the Worthy Life Award. At each level, this distinction requires that a boy complete activities in four categories:

Devotional - Engaging with spiritual truth in a regular transformative manner.
Discipleship - Living your faith through service and learning about how others have done so.
Discipline - Practicing intentional activities that result in spiritual growth like regular prayer, fasting, journaling, memorizing Scripture, attending church services, giving, and serving.
Demonstration - Evaluating and sharing Worthy Life experiences with parents, Troop, and/or church.

At the Woodlands Trail level, Worthy Life involves intentional mentoring, hands-on activities, and practical applications that involve parents and Troop mentors to help a boy gain knowledge of fundamental truths.

For older boys in the Navigators and the Adventurers programs, focus moves from creating foundational knowledge to helping internalize his faith, integrate it as his worldview, live with integrity, share with intentionality, and use his spiritual gifts to impact others through service.

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