Navigators & Adventurers
(ages 11-17)
PLEASE EXCUSE OUR MESS. This page is being revised based on the 2023 program changes unveiled at the Trail Life Nationwide Leadership Convention.
Trail Life troops are organized according to biblical principles in Proverbs 24:3-4, reflecting developmentally appropriate groupings of boys (K-U-W-L): Woodlands Trail (Knowledge), Navigators (Understanding), Adventurers (Wisdom), and Guidon (Life).
The Navigators and Adventurers program is designed for young men ages 11-17 (middle-school and high-school age).
Navigators and Adventurers work on rank advancement.
Their ranks represent a growing ability to operate comfortably, safely, and confidently in the outdoors. These skills form the foundation of later adventures and teach important life lessons in character development.
Boys in Navigator patrols range in age from 11 to 13 years old.
Navigators participate in a true outdoor program with hiking, camping, and other activities. They are in more of a learning mode, developing their core skills with adequate supervision and easing gracefully into camping by patrols.
Navigators have a simple patrol structure. The youth leader is a Junior Patrol Leader, and members are called upon as needed to step up and handle certain jobs during meetings or activities according to the duty roster. They should camp, cook, and eat by patrol during outings whenever practical. Preferably, the Trail Guide or Trailmaster only gets involved when youth leaders are not making satisfactory progress and then, if possible, only to the extent of backing up the Junior Patrol Leader’s authority.
Adventurers
(9th-12th Grades)
In Trail Life USA, troops are organized according to biblical principles in Proverbs 24:3-4, reflecting developmentally appropriate groupings of boys (K-U-W-L): Woodlands Trail (Knowledge), Navigators (Understanding), Adventurers (Wisdom), and Guidon (Life).
Adventurers are high school-age teens who are ready and willing to make big decisions. Where Navigators focus on ranks as they become capable outdoorsmen, Adventurers focus on awards that represent increased independence and leadership skills.
While the younger age-level programs are much more structured and defined by specific program materials, the Adventurers program is purposely less structured and more flexible for older boys to customize according to their interests and goals. A unique aspect of the Adventurers program is that different patrols can actually choose to engage in different program emphases. There is the potential to operate multiple Adventurers patrols as if they were separate units. One patrol could be engaged as a backpacking crew. Another may enjoy a variety of high adventure activities. Yet another may choose to focus their program efforts around watercraft. And finally, another patrol might be more engaged with planned coed activities with the high school-age Patriot girls from the American Heritage Girls troop. The point is that the boys at this age can work together socially in a group setting to determine their own interests as a
The First Officer and Second Officer, as high profile youth leaders, oversee the Adventurers program. Patrol Leaders are selected to head each patrol.
NAVIGATOR AND ADVENTURER RANKS AND AWARDS
Both Navigators and Adventurers begin their trail to the Freedom Award with the Recruit Trailman Rank, moving upward through all six ranks. To ensure each Trailman approaching the Freedom Award is of sufficient maturity, the upper ranks (Journey, Ascent, and Horizon) may only be earned as an Adventurer. In addition to these ranks, the Ridgeline Award is the highest honor that may only be earned as a Navigator:
RECRUIT TRAILMAN RANK
This is the joining rank that must be earned by all Navigators and Adventurers on the trail to the Freedom Award. Among other requirements, a Recruit Trailman must memorize the Trailman oath and motto and the Pledge of Allegiance, demonstrate the Trailman sign, salute, and handshake, and demonstrate proper folding of the American flag.
ABLE TRAILMAN RANK
To earn the Able Trailman Rank, a Trailman must have earned the Recruit Trailman Rank, meet troop participation requirements, and earn a total of six Trail Badges, including any four Core Skills Trail Badges and any two additional Trail Badges. A Navigator earning the Able Trailman Rank must complete fifteen hours of service each program year; an Adventurer must complete twenty hours of service each program year. A board of review is also required.
READY TRAILMAN RANK
To earn the Ready Trailman Rank, a Trailman must have earned the Able Trailman Rank, meet troop participation requirements, and earn a cumulative total of twelve Trail Badges, including all nine Core Skills Trail Badges and any three additional Trail Badges. A Navigator earning the Ready Trailman Rank must complete fifteen hours of service each program year; an Adventurer must complete twenty hours of service each program year. The Trailman must also demonstrate leadership to the troop. A board of review is required.
RIDGELINE AWARD
The Ridgeline Awards is the highest honor that may be earned as a Navigator. To earn the Ridgeline Award, a Trailman must have earned the Ready Trailman Rank, meet troop participation requirements, earn the Navigator Worthy Life Award, and complete a community service project. A board of review is required.
JOURNEY RANK
The Journey Rank may only be earned by an Adventurer. To earn the rank, a Trailman must have earned the Ready Trailman Rank, meet troop participation requirements, and earn a cumulative total of fifteen Trail Badges, including all nine Core Skills Trail Badges, any one True Freedom Trail Badge, and any five additional Trail Badges. He must complete twenty hours of service each program year, demonstrate leadership to the troop, and draft a plan for completing at least four Freedom Experiences as an Adventurer, including two minors and a major. A board of review is required.
ASCENT RANK
To earn the Ascent Rank, a Trailman must have earned the Journey Rank, meet troop participation requirements, and earn a cumulative total of twenty Trail Badges, including all nine Core Skills Trail Badges, any three True Freedom Trail Badges, and any eight additional Trail Badges. He must complete twenty hours of service each program year, demonstrate leadership to the troop, and complete at least one Freedom Experience since becoming an Adventurer. A board of review is required.
HORIZON RANK
To earn the Horizon Rank, a Trailman must have earned the Ascent Rank, meet troop participation requirements, and earn a cumulative total of twenty-five Trail Badges, including all nine Core Skills Trail Badges, all six True Freedom Trail Badges, and any ten additional Trail Badges. He must complete twenty hours of service each program year, demonstrate leadership to the troop, and complete at least two Freedom Experience since becoming an Adventurer. A board of review is required.
FREEDOM AWARD
The Freedom Award is Trail Life’s highest honor. To be considered for the award, the Trailman must have earned the Horizon Rank, meet troop participation requirements, and complete a total of four Trail Life-approved Freedom Experiences as an Adventurer, including two in one major field, one minor in a second field, and one additional minor in a third field. The Trailman must also complete the Adventurer Worthy Life Award, complete a Freedom Servant Leadership Project, and complete a Freedom Award Board of Review.
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