When a boy moves from the Woodlands Trail to the Navigators program, Troops are encouraged to hold a significant rite of passage ceremony. In many Troops, older boys create a bridge for Trailmen to cross over from the Woodlands Trail to the Navigators program. A significant part of the ceremony commonly involves a boy receiving his Standard from his father or a significant mentor.
The Standard is the offical staff used to track and celebrate a young man’s journey during the next 6-7 years in the program. As a boy grows in understanding and wisdom and develops the character and leadership skills that will propel him into manhood, he adorns his Standard with Trail Badges and Advancement Medallions and tracks his progress on Trail Life USA’s Trailmap to Manhood. Each Trail Badge represents a milestone in understanding or the development of a skill as a boy proceeds on the Trail.
In Trail Life USA, skills universally needed for godly manhood are developed through required Trail Badges as young men earn the ranks of Able Trailman, Ready Trailman, Journey, Ascent, Horizon, and Freedom. Elective Trail Badges help a Trailman explore unique areas of gifting and come to understand the way God has specially created him.