December 8, 2025
Boys giving back: Trail Life USA partners with Operation Christmas Child to help children in need
Trail Life CEO Mark Hancock: ‘By teaching boys to serve others, they are becoming men of a Christ-like character’
GREENVILLE, S.C. — The holiday season creates a special atmosphere that inspires reflection and gratitude, the natural result of which is generosity.
As the largest Christ-centered, boy-focused scout-type organization in the country, Trail Life USA (TrailLifeUSA.com) is committed to building boys into men by challenging them to grow in character, develop practical leadership skills and serve their community. The holiday season provides the perfect moment for young Trailmen to activate these values and put feet to their faith.
Which, according to Trail Life CEO Mark Hancock, is what Trail Life is all about.
“Boys were designed by their Creator to be doers,” shared Hancock. “Trail Life surrounds boys with brotherhood, purpose and the opportunity to make an eternal impact.”
This year, Trail Life once again partnered with Operation Christmas Child from Samaritan’s Purse to share holiday hope with children in need. Each holiday season, the program encourages individuals, families and organizations to fill shoeboxes with useful items — such as toys, clothing and hygiene products — and then ships those boxes around the world to young people who lack basic necessities. Since its inception in 1993, the campaign has collected and sent more than 168 million shoeboxes to children in over 100 countries.
During the initiative’s National Collection Week, Nov. 17–24, Trail Life Troops across the U.S. helped pack over 11,000 shoeboxes in their communities.
Hancock shared, “The partnership with Samaritan’s Purse is just a natural match for Trail Life. ‘Operation Christmas Child’ is a Christ-centered campaign that wants to see the Gospel spread around the world, and our Troops really get the sense that they are not just putting stuff in a box, but that they are delivering a much bigger gift.”
Ultimately, Hancock says, these collective efforts reflect gratitude for the greatest gift of all: Jesus, the model for every man’s role as both servant and leader.
Hancock noted, “In taking on the form of a boy who ‘grew in favor with God’ and became a man, Jesus became the template for biblical manhood. Christ’s example of servant leadership is the perfect model of biblical masculinity for our Troops, and we challenge our boys to use it as a guide for their own lives. By teaching boys to serve others, they are becoming men of a Christ-like character.”
Hancock concluded, “From our Troops to our staff, we are a part of the same team, impacting the worldwide church one child at a time.”
Trail Life will soon share its compelling message and mission on a national stage as they join with Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest 2025 to highlight Trail Life’s commitment to Christ-centered, boy-focused outdoor adventure programming, empowering the church to grow boys to become men of character and conviction. The event is scheduled for Dec. 18-21 in Phoenix, Arizona.
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, Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096 ext. 105, Dawn Foglein, ext. 100, or Jeff Tolson, ext. 108.
