Trail Life Overview

Trail Life USA’s Six Essential Concepts of a Christian Worldview

1. TRUTH:

   • There are absolute and unchanging truths about God and life.

   • Morality and moral law are absolute and unchanging because they proceed from and reflect God’s unchanging nature and character.

   • A Trailman should show respect, understanding, and charity to others different from him, while maintaining firm Christian convictions.

2. CREATION:

   • The eternal God created the universe for His purposes and according to His plan which is evident by the design, order and complexity found in all of creation.

   • All of God’s creation is good. The entrance of sin into the world has affected every part of creation such that it is now fallen and imperfect.

   • Because man is sinful and imperfect, he is in need of salvation through Jesus Christ alone.

3. HUMAN DIGNITY:

   • Out of all of God’s creation, human beings are uniquely made in His image and likeness, and therefore all human life, from conception through natural death has unquestionable value, worth, and dignity.

   • Because each human person is sacred and has intrinsic value, worth, and dignity, they should receive proper respect and protection regardless of age, disability, economic status, ethnicity, location, race, sex or sinful tendencies.

4. FAMILY:

   • By His design, God created men and women different from each other and uniquely for His purposes.

   • God’s design for marriage and family is that one man and one woman be united in marriage, and from that union, the blessing of new life comes forth.

   • Natural marriage which unites one man and one woman before God is an earthly reflection of God’s Triune nature. Marriage also depicts the loving relationship between Christ and His church.

5. STEWARDSHIP:

   • God has given all human beings dominion over His earth and commanded us to use its natural resources.

   • Therefore, each human being must be a good steward of the resources God provides and responsibly cultivate and conserve them for His glory.

6. PROVIDENCE:

   • God is sovereign over all history.

   • God actively intervenes in peoples’ lives for His purposes. He mysteriously uses all things, good and bad, for His glory.

   • God is good and can be trusted in all things.

We believe there is One Triune God – God the Father; Jesus Christ, His one and only Son; and the Holy Spirit – Creator of the universe and eternally existent. We believe the Holy Scriptures (Old and New Testaments) to be the inspired and authoritative Word of God. We believe each person is created in His image for the purpose of communing with and worshiping God. We believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit, Who enables us to live godly lives. We believe each of us is called to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We believe God calls us to lives of purity, service, stewardship and integrity.

Christ-Centered

Trail Life USA (TLUSA) is a Christian outdoor adventure program that emphasizes and teaches biblical moral values. The program is unapologetically Christian, but is intended to be presented without feeling overly “churchy” or “religious,” focusing on outdoor adventure, character, and leadership development. The essentials of a Christian worldview are present throughout the entire program.

Church-Owned & Operated

We believe there is One Triune God – God the Father; Jesus Christ, His one and only Son; and the Holy Spirit – Creator of the universe and eternally existent. We believe the Holy Scriptures (Old and New Testaments) to be the inspired and authoritative Word of God. We believe each person is created in His image for the purpose of communing with and worshiping God. We believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit, Who enables us to live godly lives. We believe each of us is called to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We believe God calls us to lives of purity, service, stewardship and integrity.

Outdoor-Focused

We believe there is something special about being outdoors. Camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities help build deep relationships and allow boys to develop character, practice leadership, and experience adventure. The outdoor focus helps a boy appreciate the wonder, majesty, and grandness of God as reflected in His creation.

Safety

Trail Life USA is committed to the health, welfare, and safety of our youth, volunteers, and staff. We aim to provide challenging, adventurous, and fun activities in a manner that no injuries occur beyond those that are readily treatable by simple first aid.

Membership in Trail Life USA has youth, young adult, and adult classifications. Each classification requires that the qualifications relevant to the particular classification and prescribed in these Standards are met. 

• Youth membership is open to all boys at least 5 years old and less than 18 years of age.

• Young adult membership is open to men and women who are at least 18 years old yet have not reached their 21st birthday.

• Adult membership is open to men and women 21 years of age or older.

We welcome youth members who aspire to live in accordance with the values expressed in the program’s Oath and Motto and whose parents or guardians seek a faith-based outdoor adventure program that places an emphasis on character development, leadership, and moral purity. The program is undergirded by biblical values and unapologetically reflects a Christian worldview. Our goal is to enable families to place their boys in a program that endeavors to instruct and instill moral integrity and consistency in its members. All members must honor their God-given identity revealed in their biological sex by presenting as and living consistent with that sex. We affirm that sexual immorality—any sexual activity outside the context of the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman—is sinful before God and therefore inconsistent with the values and principles of the program. All members, therefore, should refrain from engaging in or promoting sexual immorality or any other behavior that would become a distraction to the mission of the program. Young adult and adult members must subscribe to and abide by the Trail Life USA Statement of Christian Faith and Values as well as the Oath and Motto.