Awards
Trail Life activities and program advancement take place within seven particular categories. In the Woodlands Trail program, these categories are called Branches. In the Navigators and Adventurers programs, they are referred to as Frontiers. These categories include Heritage, Life Skills, Science and Technology, Hobbies, Values, Sports and Fitness, and Outdoor Skills.
Woodlands Trail: The Woodlands Trail program is a participation-based program split into three 2-year patrols (Fox, Hawk, and Mountain Lion) where Trailmen earn patches and pins as they participate in a defined number of activities for each Branch. Each patrol begins with a joining patch, the Branch Patch. Throughout their first year in each patrol, Trailman will earn Branch Pins to affix to their Branch Patch. Once a Trailman has earned all 7 Branch Pins, he will have earned the Forest Award patch and will begin earning Sylvan Star pins to affix to his Forest Award Patch. The activities are repeated at least three times throughout the six years of the Woodlands Trail, giving each Trailman the opportunity to experience each activity at a different level as they grow. Mountain Lion Trailmen are eligible to earn the Woodlands Trail capstone award, the Timberline Award, as they finish out their Woodlands Trail program and prepare to move to the Navigators program. The main focus for the woodlands is value personal growth more than recognitions.
Navigators and Adventurers: The Navigator and Adventurer programs are achievement-based. Trailmen advance by earning ranks that span both program levels. Ranks are earned by completing Trail Badges that demonstrate their knowledge and experience with certain skills and topics, participating in various Troop and patrol activities, volunteering in their community, and holding various leadership roles within their patrol or Troop. The Ranks are Recruit Trailman, Able Trailman, Ready Trailman, Journey, Ascent, and Horizon. Navigator Trailman can only progress through the first three ranks. The last three ranks of Journey, Ascent, and Horizon are reserved only for Adventurers to earn. Each program level has its own capstone award that Trailman can earn. Navigators have the opportunity to earn the Ridgeline Award, and Adventurers have the opportunity to earn the Freedom Award. Each capstone Award has its own set of additional requirements beyond the Rank requirements.
Worthy Life Award: The Worthy Life Award is Trail Life’s faith-building award. A Trailman can complete the Worthy Life Award up to five separate times: once as a Fox Trailman, once as a Hawk Trailman, once as a Mountain Lion Trailman, once as a Navigator, and once as an Adventurer. A meeting with the Chaplain and the Trailman is to be scheduled to have a final conference for the Trailman to explain what he has learned through the Worthy Life Award process.
Awards are purchased by the troop. By the month of December, achievements and completed family activities since the beginning of the year will be recorded. All achievements and completed family activities are to be recorded by May for the troop to order and receive awards in time for the Court of Honor in June. A specific date will be given for the last day to present family activities and hold conferences with leaders. If achievements are not reported by the date given at the end of the year, your son may receive an "IOU" award until our next order is placed.
Woodlands Trail: The Woodlands Trail program is a participation-based program split into three 2-year patrols (Fox, Hawk, and Mountain Lion) where Trailmen earn patches and pins as they participate in a defined number of activities for each Branch. Each patrol begins with a joining patch, the Branch Patch. Throughout their first year in each patrol, Trailman will earn Branch Pins to affix to their Branch Patch. Once a Trailman has earned all 7 Branch Pins, he will have earned the Forest Award patch and will begin earning Sylvan Star pins to affix to his Forest Award Patch. The activities are repeated at least three times throughout the six years of the Woodlands Trail, giving each Trailman the opportunity to experience each activity at a different level as they grow. Mountain Lion Trailmen are eligible to earn the Woodlands Trail capstone award, the Timberline Award, as they finish out their Woodlands Trail program and prepare to move to the Navigators program. The main focus for the woodlands is value personal growth more than recognitions.
Navigators and Adventurers: The Navigator and Adventurer programs are achievement-based. Trailmen advance by earning ranks that span both program levels. Ranks are earned by completing Trail Badges that demonstrate their knowledge and experience with certain skills and topics, participating in various Troop and patrol activities, volunteering in their community, and holding various leadership roles within their patrol or Troop. The Ranks are Recruit Trailman, Able Trailman, Ready Trailman, Journey, Ascent, and Horizon. Navigator Trailman can only progress through the first three ranks. The last three ranks of Journey, Ascent, and Horizon are reserved only for Adventurers to earn. Each program level has its own capstone award that Trailman can earn. Navigators have the opportunity to earn the Ridgeline Award, and Adventurers have the opportunity to earn the Freedom Award. Each capstone Award has its own set of additional requirements beyond the Rank requirements.
Worthy Life Award: The Worthy Life Award is Trail Life’s faith-building award. A Trailman can complete the Worthy Life Award up to five separate times: once as a Fox Trailman, once as a Hawk Trailman, once as a Mountain Lion Trailman, once as a Navigator, and once as an Adventurer. A meeting with the Chaplain and the Trailman is to be scheduled to have a final conference for the Trailman to explain what he has learned through the Worthy Life Award process.
Awards are purchased by the troop. By the month of December, achievements and completed family activities since the beginning of the year will be recorded. All achievements and completed family activities are to be recorded by May for the troop to order and receive awards in time for the Court of Honor in June. A specific date will be given for the last day to present family activities and hold conferences with leaders. If achievements are not reported by the date given at the end of the year, your son may receive an "IOU" award until our next order is placed.