March 3, 2026
Trail Life USA is helping dads build their sons into tomorrow’s husbands, fathers and leaders
Trail Life USA CEO Mark Hancock: ‘A boy needs a man to welcome him into the company of men’
GREENVILLE, S.C. — March 4 is National Sons Day, a moment to recognize the boys who will become tomorrow’s husbands, fathers and leaders.
Key to a young man’s development are seasoned men, engaged fathers and mentors who encourage and model authentic manhood. The stakes couldn’t be higher: Fathers who are present and involved play a vital role in building stronger families and thriving communities.
Critically, says Mark Hancock, CEO of Trail Life USA (TrailLifeUSA.com), boys need someone to help them answer definitive questions.
Hancock shared, “On the trail from boyhood to manhood, a son doesn’t simply grow taller. His boots get bigger. His voice deepens. His shoulders broaden. But beneath all of that, there’s a quieter question rumbling in his chest: ‘Do I measure up?’ ‘Do you see me?’ ‘Am I becoming the kind of man you hoped I would be?’
“And for too many boys, the answer is loud and clear. And we are seeing the consequences when that question goes unanswered: a growing number of extended adolescents — young men who age but struggle to feel like they have truly become a man.”
Hancock says this struggle also traces back to a culture that is increasingly blurring the distinctions between boys and girls.
Hancock observed, “Too often — at school, in church, even at home, his strengths are treated as liabilities. The message he absorbs is: Sit down. Be quiet. Be Still. Behave like your sister. And if a boy feels unseen, he will find a way to be noticed. But slowly, subtly, he begins to wonder if something is wrong with him.
“Too many boys are developing the quiet feeling that perhaps they are defective — that masculinity is something to sterilize instead of shape, to suppress instead of shepherd, to redeem instead of reward.
Our sons are not problems to manage. They are men in the making.”
As the largest Christ-centered, boy-focused scout-type organization in the country, Trail Life offers an invaluable opportunity for dads to become active participants in their sons’ journeys, walking side by side, facing challenges and growing together.
“Fathers and mentors hold a unique influence in a boy’s life,” acknowledged Hancock. “In Matthew 3, Jesus walks down into the Jordan River. And before He preaches a sermon, before He performs a miracle, before He faces temptation, a voice thunders from heaven: ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’ Our sons need that same anchor. They need to know they are unconditionally beloved.
“A boy needs a man to welcome him into the company of men. It could be a coach, a youth pastor, a Trail Life leader, or an uncle. But he needs a godly man willing to look a boy in the eye and say, ‘I see you. I believe in you.’ That moment can redirect a life.
“Let him know he is your beloved son. Because boys do not drift into manhood by accident. They step into it — often when a steady voice calls them forward through the smoke and sparks and says, ‘Step up, son. I see you.’”
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 continue to grow as Trail Life USA expands nationwide. Find a Troop today or start one in your community 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 Hamilton Strategies, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096 ext. 105, or Jeff Tolson, ext. 108.
