Woodlands
The program begins in the lush forests on the Woodlands Trail. Broken into three groups, the boys will gain knowledge about outdoor skills, citizenship, character, friendship, and faith through enjoyable activities, awards, and skill instruction. Boys earn pins to add to their group patch as they participate in the program.
This unit is for boys ages 5 - 10 (K - 5th grade), and is broken down into three patrols by age and grade.
The Woodlands Trail programming is delivered by Registered Adult Leaders, who are overseen by the Unit Leader, referred to as the Ranger.
This unit is for boys ages 5 - 10 (K - 5th grade), and is broken down into three patrols by age and grade.
- Fox Patrol - Start from ages 5-6 (K - 1st grade)
- Hawk Patrol - Start from ages 7-8 (2nd - 3rd grades)
- Mountain Lion Patrol - Start from ages 9 -10 (4th - 5th grades)
The Woodlands Trail programming is delivered by Registered Adult Leaders, who are overseen by the Unit Leader, referred to as the Ranger.
Adventure is at the heart of the Trail Life USA program. Boys love hiking, camping, fishing, tree-climbing, story-telling, and s'mores around campfires. Weekly meetings are designed with that in mind. Held outside whenever possible, meetings are designed to delight the raucous, rowdy, unruly nature of a boy. Trailmen engage in hands-on experiences that develop character, deepen faith, and hone practical skills in the seven program branches (Outdoor Skills, Life Skills, Heritage, Hobbies, Values, Science & Technology, and Sports & Fitness).
Boys also love stickers, patches, pins, and awards. Each week as boys meet in their patrols, they work on a Branch Step as part of a planned meeting or a "Hit the Trail!" adventure. As Branches are completed, pins are added to the Branch Patch. Each branch builds the structure of the Branch Patch boys wear on their uniform. In each patrol level, when all seven Branches are complete, boys earn The Forest Award.
Along the trail boys engage with older boys in the Troop and with mentors who are vetted by church leadership, background checked, and must complete extensive Child Safety and Youth Protection Training.
During the last year in Woodlands Trail, a Mountain Lion can earn the prestigious Timberline Award. The Timberline Award is the highest award in the Woodlands Trail program and, once earned, becomes a permanent part of the Trail Life Uniform. It was developed to celebrate a boy's entrance into the new world of the Trail Life USA Navigators program. In many Troops, the Timberline Award is presented as part of a meaningful bridging ceremony when Trailmen move from the Woodlands Trail program to the Navigators and Adventurers uniform.
Boys also love stickers, patches, pins, and awards. Each week as boys meet in their patrols, they work on a Branch Step as part of a planned meeting or a "Hit the Trail!" adventure. As Branches are completed, pins are added to the Branch Patch. Each branch builds the structure of the Branch Patch boys wear on their uniform. In each patrol level, when all seven Branches are complete, boys earn The Forest Award.
Along the trail boys engage with older boys in the Troop and with mentors who are vetted by church leadership, background checked, and must complete extensive Child Safety and Youth Protection Training.
During the last year in Woodlands Trail, a Mountain Lion can earn the prestigious Timberline Award. The Timberline Award is the highest award in the Woodlands Trail program and, once earned, becomes a permanent part of the Trail Life Uniform. It was developed to celebrate a boy's entrance into the new world of the Trail Life USA Navigators program. In many Troops, the Timberline Award is presented as part of a meaningful bridging ceremony when Trailmen move from the Woodlands Trail program to the Navigators and Adventurers uniform.
Woodlands 2025 Focus: Adventure and building Godly men. The scheduled outdoor experiences that build a young man's skills and allow him to grow on a personal level, as a role model and a leader.
1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV) Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.