Trail Life USA
| Trail Life USA | |||
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| Headquarters | Belton, SC | ||
| Country | United States | ||
| Founded | June 2013 | ||
| Membership | 26,000+ (January 2017) | ||
| Chief Executive Officer | Mark Hancock | ||
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Website traillifeusa |
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Trail Life USA (TLUSA or commonly Trail Life) is a faith-based non-aligned Scouting organization that provides youth mentorship and character development to more than 26,000 boys in the United States. The organization was founded in 2013 in reaction to changes in the membership policy of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to allow the participation of openly gay youth. All charters of Trail Life USA must pledge to follow a "Statement of Faith"; the organization states that non-Christians and those who affirm homosexuality are not eligible to lead or charter in the group as these beliefs contradict their "Statement of Faith". However, youths of all or no religious beliefs are allowed to join.
OnMyHonor.net was a group formed by John Stemberger to oppose the proposed membership policy change in March 2013 and consisted of parents, Scoutmasters, Eagle Scouts and other Scouting leaders. In May 2013, Boy Scouts of America (BSA) voted to change its membership policy to allow youth of any sexual orientation. Following the vote, John Stemberger changed the mission of OnMyHonor.net to start a new alternative Scouting program.
Following the vote, the Faith Based Boys (FBB) was founded. In May 2013, American Heritage Girls (AHG) joined the FBB. FBB official Thomas Dillingham indicated that the group would start accepting applications in August for youth memberships and group leaders.
OnMyHonor.net, Faith Based Boys and other regional and national groups, TrailHead USA and Frontier Service Corps, joined together to form the new group. A leadership meeting was held in Louisville, Kentucky on June 29, 2013 to discuss forming a new group. The AHG cofounder Patti Garibay was invited to the Kentucky meeting as an advisor. The organization would be based on the AHG program.
Walk Worthy
Trail Life USA was formed in July 2013. On September 6–7, 2013, a national convention was held for the new group where chartering rules, programs, rankings, and uniforms were adopted and its name revealed. Over 300 names were considered for the new organization. The group selected Trail Life USA as its name and chose to start in January 2014 with an expected 1000 incubation troops formed by then. It was also revealed in September that Trail Life would be partnering with American Heritage Girls. During the national convention announcing Trail Life USA, Stemberger told the audience "Real men value truth over tradition," and "Real men value principle over program, and they value integrity over institutions."
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