A Christian alternative to the Boy Scouts increased its membership by 70 percent during the pandemic

Trail Life USA, launched in 2014 and headquartered in Orlando, Florida, is reporting dozens of new chapters and more than 30,000 members.

Trail Life USA CEO Mark Hancock told The Christian Post that 65 new troops have been created thus far in 2021, with over 100 in the process of being chartered.

That’s a 70% increase.

The launching of Trail Life USA came partly in response to the Boy Scouts voting in 2013 to allow openly gay males to become scouts.

This change prompted many churches — a significant source of support for the Boy Scouts — to sever their ties with the prominent scouting organization.

Later, the Boy Scouts announced further changes, such as allowing openly gay scout leaders in 2015. BSA also expanded membership to include girls, prompting a lawsuit from the Girl Scouts. 

Hancock said Trail Life membership initially “came largely from individuals who had participated in the Boy Scouts” and “churches have come to see Trail Life as a distinct program.”

He said “Trail Life USA is not just a program that meets at the Church. It is a ministry of the Church.”