December 16, 2025
Trail Life USA set to appear on national stage at Turning Point USA’s upcoming AmericaFest 2025
Trail Life CEO Mark Hancock: ‘A generation is watching. Who will lead the way?’
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Trail Life USA (TrailLifeUSA.com) is set to take the stage at Turning Point USA’s annual AmericaFest 2025. The conference will be held December 18–21 at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Trail Life CEO Mark Hancock said, “Trail Life USA is honored to be part of Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest, because across our nation, God is at work — and men are awakening to faith.” This year’s event promises to be a powerful celebration of faith and freedom; an ideal platform for sharing Trail Life’s singular vision: to be the premier national character development organization for young men, which produces godly and responsible husbands, fathers and citizens.
As the largest Christ-centered, boy-focused scout-type organization in the country, Trail Life is rapidly garnering attention across the nation. Trail Life’s recent “Join the Trail” campaign saw record-breaking growth, drawing in over 5,000 new members and propelling the organization past 65,000 participants. This extraordinary trajectory is a testament to Trail Life’s belief that manhood is distinctive and divinely instilled by our Creator.
Indeed, says Hancock, science testifies that masculinity is no mere construct; it is hardwired into the very DNA of every man.
Hancock remarked, “After years of being told that gender is fluid, that chromosomes are incidental and that masculinity is toxic or obsolete, America is rediscovering a truth our culture worked hard to bury: the Y chromosome matters! It’s part of God’s design. And that means there’s a ‘why’ behind that Y.”
“Trail Life USA stands at the intersection of masculinity and faith. The crisis began the moment the Y was dismissed. Influential voices turned identity into a DIY project, erased the Y chromosome as a marker of manhood, blurred essential boundaries and loosened every anchor that once helped boys grow. Time-tested anchors of family, faith, community, mentors and clear expectations were discarded.
“In the name of compassion, boys were told that male and female were interchangeable, that fathers were optional and that masculinity was either threatening or foolish. We’re now living with the consequences: boys are faltering, and a generation is stalling on the road to manhood.
“Young men today are slower to finish school, launch careers, get married or start families than any generation in modern history. Millions of boys grow up without fathers. A confused culture produces confused boys. Confused boys become wounded boys. And wounded boys — and wounded men — act out.
“Now young men are searching for meaning in the only place capable of giving it: the Church and the truths of Scripture. There, they discover that the Y doesn’t just mark their biology — it points them to their purpose. The Y is the key to unlocking their Why.
“Across the country, boys are waiting — quietly, anxiously — for men to step in with the clarity the culture refuses to give. This is the work we’re doing at Trail Life USA. Not politics. Not theatrics. Intentional formation.
“To do that, boys need milestones on the journey to manhood. Boys need formation. Boys need men. They need fathers and mentors who teach them how to carry weight, how to honor women, how to master impulses, how to take responsibility, how to use strength for the good of others — strength that serves, not dominates.”
Ultimately, Hancock says, we need today’s men to build the next generation of men.
“God made boys masculine on purpose,” Hancock said. “That means your Y matters. So, embrace your Y and live your Why. Because the boY matters, and boys are looking for men to follow. A generation is watching. Who will lead the way?”
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.
