‘More Than Ever, Boys Need a Uniquely Masculine Program Where Their Assertive, Audacious, and Adventurous Nature is Celebrated, Not Sequestered’

January 3, 2022

In a society where the lines between masculine and feminine are constantly blurred, boys are being lost in the shuffle. Traditional needs of boys include physical challenge, competition, risk-taking, action and adventure. Yet these needs cause them to be considered unruly, difficult, and perhaps toxic.

Trail Life USA (TrailLifeUSA.com), the largest Christ-centered, boy-focused scout-type organization in the country, is familiar with this struggle for boys and can provide a solution. By speaking to the heart of boys across America, Trail Life is implementing their “Proven Process” to best relate to young men and allow them to embrace what it means to be a boy.

Mark Hancock, Trail Life CEO, commented, “Boys are getting a tough break. Everywhere a boy goes, he’s expected to comply to unrealistic social norms, and the message is communicated that he needs to ‘sit still, be quiet, and behave like the girls.’ But, properly channeled and intentionally challenged—the exuberance, drive, and daring of healthy boys is exactly what our society needs.”

In a system that fails to acknowledge that boys are not just like the girls, boys are increasingly diagnosed with disorders and left to wonder if they are defective and the results are tragic. Men account for 4 out of 5 suicides in America and twice the drug-related deaths as compared to women. The most rapidly growing suicide rate demographic is boys from the ages of 10 to 14.

The “Trail Life USA Proven Process” addresses four significant problems that are plaguing boys as they seek to navigate the perilous journey to manhood: they are unguided, ungrounded, unappreciated, and too often, uninspired. Boys are often lacking positive male role models, and therefore wonder what it means to be a man.

The “Proven Process” addresses four key problems for boys in the current society, then highlights the result of these issues and provides the solution. The first issue is that boys are unguided due to a shortage of good male role models, leading boys to wonder what it really means to be a man. The second issue is that boys are ungrounded, with generational values and norms eroding. For boys, this takes away their sense of a moral compass or a firm foundation. The third issue addressed is that boys are unappreciated in a culture that promotes femininity and denounces masculinity, making boys question where they belong. The final issue is that boys are uninspired due to the lack of risk and competition removed from their environment, leading boys to not want to even try to succeed.

Hancock states, “The need for boy-specific activities and mentoring that provides challenge and reward has never been greater! If we fail this generation, it won’t be because we over-challenged them. It will be because we under-challenged them.

“More than ever, boys need a uniquely masculine program where their assertive, audacious, and adventurous nature is celebrated, not sequestered.”

Trail Life offers boy-focused, adventure-driven solutions that encourage boys to embrace what makes them unique and build strong relationships with other boys, mentors and most importantly, Christ.

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, Twitter, YouTube, or Vimeo.    ###