Just when you thought the pandemic was closing more doors and keeping your kids from getting involved in activities outside of school, here comes Trail Life USA.
This may seem an unlikely time to start a new boys’ club, but troop master Cody Snyder of Garrettsville explains, “Last year, a band of five local men took up the task of starting our own local Troop 2206. After a year of meetings and planning, our group was officially chartered by Friendship Alliance Church.”
Now that Troop 2206 has been chartered, there’s no time like the present to teach local boys how to face their fears and rise above life’s challenges, acting in faith, Snyder added. The troop schedule is based on the school year and now that school is back in session, official sign-ups to join the troop will be held on Sunday, October 4 at Friendship Alliance Church following service, starting at noon.
The church is located at 19126 Ravenna Road in Chagrin Falls (on State Route 44 outside Mantua near Sirna Farms). Boys at James A. Garfield and Crestwood schools should be receiving information from the school office about the new Trail Life troop shortly.
While COVID-19 has prevented boys from getting together to do many things they love, the formation of this new troop is offering opportunities to positively overcome the restraints imposed by the pandemic… creatively, safely, and responsibly, Snyder says.
Snyder explains that the organization was established to teach boys how to confront challenges of all sorts. “Trail Life USA was founded in July 2013 by former Boy Scout leaders, when they could no longer stand by while the BSA organization started walking away from the foundations it was based on in 1910: faith and core family values.”
“Essentially, Trail Life USA was created as a Christ-centered, nondenominational alternative to the historical Boy Scouts of America, founded on biblical principles of male leadership and Christian family values.”
Currently, there are currently over 30,000 Trail Life members nationwide, with more than 800 troops located in all 50 states. For about $30 per year plus local Troop dues, boys from kindergarten through 12th grade can participate in a troop setting with male mentors “where they are challenged to grow in character, understand their purpose, serve their community, and develop practical leadership skills to carry out the mission for which they were created,” according to the organization’s website.
The local troop will meet at Friendship Alliance the second and fourth Monday of every month with the ambitions of also having an adventure outing once a month (campout, hike, boat float, etc.). The adventures are designed for troop members and their parents. October meetings are set for the 12th and 26th of the month at 6:30-7:30pm.
Parents with questions about Trail Life can contact troop master Cody Snyder (330) 647-3761 and/or log onto traillifeusa.com for more information about Troop 2206 and about the nationwide organization.
