Trail Life USA

Troop FL-0031

Viera, FL

Woodlands Trail

Patrol Patch

The Trailman receives the joining award patch during the first Court of Honor after he joins and wears it on his uniform. Each two year level within the Woodlands Trail has a unique patch. It holds the seven branch pins earned as he proceeds through the program. During each two-year program, the Trailman participates in activities from among seven areas (known as branches), including:

Heritage (Brown)

An exploration of American Heritage, Christian Heritage, and a boy’s own family heritage. Emphasis is placed on upholding the finest traditions of the heritage we obtain from our forefathers.

Hobbies (Black)

An exploration of various indoor and outdoor hobbies that demand varying levels of knowledge, skill, or aptitude.

Life Skills (Burgundy)

Teaching life lessons ranging from the practical and mundane to higher-level interpersonal skill sets.

Outdoor Skills (Blue)

Gaining basic understanding of woodcraft, hiking, exploration, and camping skills.

Science & Technology (Yellow)

An exploration of physical and natural science concerning our created world.

Sports & Fitness (Green)

Having fun in the outdoors with sports and other activities.

Values (Red)

Instilling biblically based values in the boys. The central focus of this branch is teaching of the Christian faith.

The Forest Award

To earn the Forest Award, a Trailman must first earn a branch pin for each of the seven branches listed above. Each branch pin includes requirements for core steps and elective steps, which are typically completed at troop meetings or camping trips, and a “Hit the Trail” activity taking place at a community site away from the troop meeting. To allow a Trailman to make up missed requirements, a series of Family Home Activities have also been developed.

  • One Sylvan Star shall be awarded for each branch making a maximum of seven stars.
  • Sylvan Stars are pinned to the Forest Badge and are worn on the uniform.
  • Sylvan Stars may not be awarded until the Forest Award has been earned.

Special Awards

The Timberline Award

The Timberline Award is the highest award a Trailman can achieve in the Woodlands program. It was developed to celebrate a boy's entrance into the new world of Trail Life USA's Navigators program.

Just as the tall timbers stop at the Timberline's edge, so must a Mountain Lion's time stop in the Woodlands Trail program. As the Trailman proceeds on his individual path, he leaves the Woodlands Trail and embarks on a new trail of exploration and experiences. The Trailman leaves with many good wishes and prayers that he will continue to Walk Worthy with the God that created him, loves him, and guides him.

There are four Manhood Principles and requirements for the Timberline Award:

  • To live boldly and avoid being passive
  • To live responsibly
  • To lead courageously
  • To live for the greater rewards of God

The requirements for this award are as follows:

  • To show that you are living boldly and are avoiding being passive, the Trailman will have earned his Mountain Lion Forest Badge and invited a friend that is not currently a registered member to a Woodlands Trail meeting, outing or activity. In addition, the Trailman will have attended an overnight campout with the Troop during his Mountain Lion year(s).
  • To show that you are living responsibly, you have kept a written record of chores that are completed at home that has been signed off by a parent or guardian. You are also completing assignments at school on time and doing your best to achieve the A/B honor roll.
  • To show that you are leading courageously, you have planned a service project in your community and enlisting help from your fellow Trailmen to complete it. Your service project helped to make your community cleaner, better, safer or fulfilled a need. The total combined hours spent by all who helped with the service project should total no less than twenty (20) hours.

To show that you live for the greater rewards of God, you have done one or both of the following:

  • You are known as someone who always speaks the truth. Your Trail Guide, parent or mentor may ask you a question that is difficult for you to tell the truth because you may have been worried about getting into trouble. You, however, told the truth and showed that you are honest and trustworthy.
  • You have shown Christ-like behavior. You have sacrificed your wants and needs for someone else without wanting to be recognized for it. You have shown that you love others as yourself by your actions.

The Worthy Life Award

This special award within the Woodlands Trail program centers on faith. Requirements are different for different age groups. The award may be earned once in each age group, with the badge for the award changing for each age group.