July 14, 2025
Made to move: Trail Life CEO shares how boys are designed to thrive through outdoor adventure
Mark Hancock: ‘Boys were built to move. It’s not a problem to solve — it’s a design to understand’
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Today’s young people are growing up in a world that seeks to erase fundamental distinctions between men and women.
And while most Christians readily disagree with this view, too often moms and dads are lulled into a one-size-fits-all approach to parenting.
If one needs an Exhibit A, says Trail Life (TrailLifeUSA.com) CEO Mark Hancock, look no further than the kitchen.
Hancock remarked, “You’re at the dinner table, and everything’s peaceful — until the silverware starts rattling. One boy’s knee is bouncing. Another is spinning his fork. And before you know it, someone says it: ‘Why can’t you just calm down?’ ‘Why can’t you sit still like your sister?’
“Here’s the thing: Your son is not like his sister. God made him different. Unfortunately, we’ve spent decades trying to teach boys in a way that works better for their sisters, and the consequences are far-reaching.”
This scenario also regularly plays out in the classroom.
“Modern education favors stillness, compliance and quiet focus — things girls tend to develop earlier than boys. Boys, on the other hand, are often still working out how to focus, regulate emotion and control that raw energy. And yet today, boys hear the same message over and over: Sit still. Be quiet. Try harder. Be more like your sister.
“While our society has made great strides in empowering girls, we’ve inadvertently told boys that their instincts, their nature and their strengths are flaws. We’ve created a system that rewards stillness and punishes motion, and then we wonder why boys seem to be falling behind.”
Trail Life offers a bracing response to a culture seeking to erase distinctions between boys and girls. As the largest Christ-centered, boy-focused scout-type organization in the country, Trail Life celebrates what makes boys unique and provides them with a safe space to explore the concept of masculinity while building relationships with mentors and peers, learning leadership skills and exploring the great outdoors. Simply put, Trail Life lets boys be boys, without apology.
Hancock shared, “After walking with over 100,000 men and boys through Trail Life USA over the last decade, I can tell you: Boys were built to move; their bodies, their brains and their energy are designed to understand.
“God wired boys to lead. That desire to be seen, to be part of the action, to do something that matters is the beginning of a mission.
“At Trail Life, we’ve seen firsthand what happens when boys are given room to move, learn and grow at their own pace when men come alongside them to shape them into the godly men they’re meant to be.
“Boys do not believe there is a tree that should not be climbed. And maybe they’re right; that courage, that curiosity and physicality are a calling to God’s path for them.
“Let’s start gazing with awe at what God might be building in them. Let’s see that wild, wonderful spark for what it really is — a glimpse of the man he’s meant to become.”
Trail Life USA has received praise from some of today’s top Christian voices, including Focus on the Family, Franklin Graham, James Dobson, Mike Huckabee, Alex and Stephen Kendrick, Family Life, Promise Keepers, the American Family Association, and many others.
Trail Life USA is the premier national character development organization for young men, producing godly and responsible husbands, fathers, and citizens. Trail Life’s mission is to guide generations of courageous young men to honor God, lead with integrity, serve others, and experience outdoor adventure. Troops exist in all 50 states and are growing as Trail Life USA expands around the country. Find a Troop today, or Start a Troop in your community. Find out more at TrailLifeUSA.com.
Trail Life USA’s K-12 program centers on outdoor experiences that build a young man’s skills. A robust awards program motivates young men to grow on a personal level to become role models and leaders among their peers. Living the Trail Life USA is a journey established on timeless values derived from the Bible.
Discover more about Trail Life USA at TrailLifeUSA.com, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, or Vimeo.
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To interview Mark Hancock from Trail Life USA, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Jeff Tolson, 610.584.1096, ext. 108.
