Getting started on the Trail Life

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Troop GA-0456 is all about families speaking Godly principles into the lives of each other, learning life skills, and enjoying the journey together!  We have a structure and online system, called Trail Life Connect, which makes this possible.  Following are steps to integrate into the Trail Life Connect system.  

Please use the Contact Us link if you have any questions.

Before step one: "Come and See" - Visit a meeting or an outing.  Then once you are ready to join us on the Trail Life, here are the practical steps:

Step One: Primary Adult Registration - Ask a troop leader to send you an invitation via email or text.  This will allow you, the primary adult, to register within the Trail Life Connect system.  You will create a profile with user name and password, etc.  Please complete this form with the information of the primary adult not the youth (name, phone, birthdate, etc.)

Notes on this form:

- VERY IMPORTANT:  Use an email address which you check regularly.  This is the primary form of communications used by the troop.

- Patrol - Select the patrol which matches your youngest son - Fox Ages 5-6, Hawk 7-8, Mountain Lion 9-10, Navigator 11-13, Adventurer 14-17 (as of November 1). If unsure, should be able to leave blank.

- "Adult CC Email" - when registering an adult this can be left blank or you can choose to add a spouse email here.  The spouse will receive a copy of email correspondences. 

- Please add a photo to your profile.

- Most everything can be adjusted at a future date as needed on your profile page.

Step Two: Youth Registration - Login to www.traillifeconnect.com (your newly created adult account)  Navigate to your profile page.  On the right is a button "Add Son".  This button will bring up a form for entering your your son's information.  (You will complete one son at a time.)  Each son will have a unique user name.  If your son has an email address, we recommend you use that.  If not, then create a user name of your choice.  At the completion of the form, you will be asked to submit the national dues to Trail Life USA (currently about $40.00 per son).

Notes on this step:

-The primary adult will manage the youth account.

- As your son matures and reaches the Navigator level or above, he will begin to manage his own account.

-  "Adult CC Email" - Include the primary adult's email address here.  Yes, this means you will receive duplicate emails for troop wide announcements.  It also means that if an email is sent to the youth only, then the responsible parent will have a copy.  

- Please add a photo to your son's profile.

Step Two Part B: Optional Spouse Registration - It is possible to add an additional adult member to your household.  This is usually done when the spouse (or other adult such as a grandparent) intends to be directly involved in troop activities and possibly hold leadership positions.  

If this is not the case, other adults can stay informed via the Adult email CC as mentioned above or by subscribing to the troop calendar as detailed below.

Step Three: Local Troop Dues - Once you and your Trailmen are registered in Trail Life Connect, then you can pay the local troop dues.  This can be done electronically through this website (www.walkworthyscouting.org)  on the Donations / Dues page OR you can bring a check made out to "Walk Worthy Scouting".  Local troop dues are $125.00 for each youth with a family cap of $250.00.  (There are no dues for adults.) 

These dues cover expenses such as reserving campsites, awards, etc.  

Additional expenses will include items such as uniform clothing, parking fees during outings, food, and needed equipment.  Some special or high adventure items will have additional costs.

Our goal is to schedule one or two targeted fundraisers allowing Trailmen to "earn" enough to cover expenses.  Some scholarships are available thanks to some generous donations to our troop's parent 501c3 non-profit "Walk Worthy Scouting".  

Step Four: Completed Medical Forms.  So far God has blessed us with not much more than minor scrapes, bruises, and a broken wrist, however Trail Life is an outdoor based activity.  There are risks with a potential for injury.  As such, it is imperative that we have a current medical information form on file for all adults and Trailmen before each event.  These forms can be found within Trail Life Connect.  Look at the details section of almost any scheduled event for the link for the download icon next to the words "Medical Form Required".

Step Five: Calendar - All troop events / details will be posted on the calendar within www.traillifeconnect.com  The calendar can be accessed via the tree menu on the left or the icon button on your Dashboard.

Login regularly.  RSVP to events.  

Hint: Set an event in your regular calendar (recurring weekly with an alarm) as a reminder to login and check announcements and the calendar.

You can subscribe to the troop calendar.  Troop events will auto-populate in your everyday calendar (iCal, Google, etc.). Look for the link in the menu tree under calendar and follow the instructions.  Many wives / mothers / other adults choose to subscribe to the troop calendar.

Notes on this step:

- Subscribe to calendar: Click on Calendar in the tree menu on the left in Trail Life Connect and then on iCalendar Feed for the details

-One touch access on your phone or tablet:  You can make Trail Life Connect act like an app.

iOS - Navigate to www.traillifeconnect.com and login.  Click the send to icon (square house with up arrow).  Select Add to Home Screen.

Android - Navigate to www.traillifeconnect.com and login.  Click the three dot menu icon.  Select Add to Home Screen.

Step Six: Education - Begin to familiarize yourself with the Trail Life System

Welcome to Trail Life Button:  On your Dashboard in Trail Life Connect.  Here you will find videos and other resources.

Handbook: The troop will provide each Trailman with the appropriate handbook.  New revision released August 2023.  

The Woodlands Trail handbook also includes a series of stories about Bramble the Fox, Fletch the Hawk, and Tracker the Mountain Lion.  These are great for family time or pre-bedtime stories.

Basecamp: Here you will find a wealth of resources.  Click on the Basecamp icon from your dashboard or the tab in your profile.  The Basecamp Overview will get you started down the learning trail. 

Step Seven: Uniform - Trail Life USA has a shop for all things Trail Life.  https://shop.traillifeusa.com   

We let each family purchase uniforms directly from the Trail Life USA store.  If you need assistance from recommendations to scholarship monies to assist with the purchase, please ask troop leadership. 

Uniforms - 

• Start with a "formal" Troop Uniform shirt. 
• Upon earning your Woodlands Trail Joining Award or the Navigator / Adventurer Recruit award, the troop will provide shoulder loops and a troop number patch.
• We advise purchasing uniforms in individual pieces versus the packages.  This allows for returns should the sizing not be as expected.
• Other Trail Life shirts and accessories are available for purchase
• Note: Current uniform pants have skinny legs. This will hopefully change in the future. 
• Any complimentary shorts or pants in good condition can be worn.
• Some hand me downs and scholarships are also available

We believe God has given you a unique set of gifts and talents and He is giving you the opportunity to be an active participant in what he is doing in His Kingdom.  Wow!  What a privilege!  

As a volunteer led organization, active participation by all is vital to the success of the troop.  Parents are often spectators for most youth organizations.  Not so with Trail Life and Troop GA-0456!  Get in the game.  Get your hands dirty.  Get side by side with your son actively learning and participating.

Trail Life USA has put in place a series of protocols to keep both adults and youth safe.  The most notable is the 1-2-3 Rule.  The 2 is for the requirement for no less than 2 "Registered Adults" be present.  

A Registered Adult is a trusted member of the team and is eligible to hold official leadership positions.  Troop GA-0456 desires for each active adult to complete the Child Safety and Youth Protection Training and become a Registered Adult. 

Similar to the original invitation to join Trail Life Connect, this step is initiated via an invitation from troop leadership through Trail Life Connect.  This "invitation only" is a practical part of the youth protection protocols allowing the troop leadership to get to know the individual before allowing them to be trusted around our youth as a "two-deep" leader. 

Upon receipt of an invitation, links will appear in the adult's profile page to complete the background check and the Child Safety and Youth Protection Training (renewed every two years).  Once these are complete, and the Troop Ministry Liaison gives approval, the adult can be counted in "Two Deep Leadership", can serve in an official role of leadership, and can be in a position to allow God to use him / her to guide a generation of young men.