What is the Ridgeline Award?

The Ridgeline Award is an older-boy Trail Life award on the path toward the Freedom Award. Worthy Life Program work is part of the current requirements. Ask your son’s leaders or check Trail Life Connect for the official requirements.

What is The Standard?

The Standard is the sash carried by Navigators and Adventurers. It displays badge of office, rank and awards, required Trail Badges, elective Trail Badges, and faith awards. Woodland Trails boys do not wear The Standard.

How does leadership change as boys get older?

Younger boys learn to participate well, work with others, and take responsibility for themselves. Navigators begin meaningful youth leadership, and Adventurers take on greater planning, decision-making, mentoring, service, and responsibility while adults increasingly coach rather than direct.

Who tracks service hours?

Older Trailmen are expected to track their own service hours and report them to troop leaders as required. This is part of the increasing responsibility and self-direction of the older-boy program.

Are service hours required?

Tracked service-hour requirements apply to the older-boy program rather than Woodland Trails. Navigators and Adventurers should follow the current requirements for their advancement level and talk with leaders about qualifying service.

What are Trail Badges?

Trail Badges are part of the older-boy Trail Life advancement program and give Trailmen opportunities to develop knowledge and skills in specific areas. Requirements and completion are tracked through the Trail Life program and troop leadership.

How is advancement different for Navigators and Adventurers?

As boys move into Navigators and Adventurers, advancement becomes more individual and self-directed. Older Trailmen are expected to take greater responsibility for completing requirements, developing skills, tracking progress, service, and communicating with leaders.

What ages/grades are Navigators?

Navigators are generally ages 11–13 and grades 6–8. At this level boys take greater ownership of skills, advancement, service, decisions, and leadership.

How does missing meetings affect advancement?

It depends on the program level and what was missed. Woodland Trails advancement is heavily participation-oriented, while Navigators and Adventurers take more individual responsibility for completing and tracking their advancement. Leaders can clarify specific requirements.

What are the different Trail Life program levels?

Trail Life serves boys from ages 5–17, kindergarten through 12th grade, with a program designed to grow with them.

Woodland Trails — Ages 5–10 / Grades K–5
Younger Trailmen learn through hands-on activities, outdoor adventure, skills, games, character development, and biblical teaching. Woodland Trails is divided into three age-based patrols: Foxes (K–1), Hawks (2–3), and Mountain Lions (4–5).

Navigators — Ages 11–13 / Grades 6–8
Navigators begin taking greater ownership of their skills, advancement, service, decisions, and leadership.

Adventurers — Ages 14–17 / Grades 9–12
The oldest Trailmen take on greater independence, leadership, mentoring, service, and advanced challenges as they prepare for Christian manhood.

Visit our Program page for a more complete explanation of how Trail Life grows with your son.