Frontiersman Camping Fellowship

The FCF provides a unique opportunity for leaders (oldtimers) and Rangers (youngbucks) to develop skills and experience spiritual growth at a new level.

By earning the required merits, you can join an elite group of woodsman who are as eager to demonstrate their skills with a Blackpowder rifle or a piece of flint and steel as they are to worship. In the Southern New England district our group is called the Minuteman Chapter, taking its name from the citizen soldiers of this Great Nation.

To learn more or to find out how you can become a member of the FCF, please contact the FCF President. To download an application for FCF Frontiersman, Buckskin, Wilderness or Trapper's Brigade click here. Send your completed Frontiersman applications to the FCF Vice President.


FCF Symbol

The blazing campfire symbolizes the spirit of FCF, which is:

  1. Christian love (warmth)
  2. Personal witness (light)
  3. Dedicated service (usefulness)

There are 5 logs around the fire, representing the 5 things needed to keep the spirit of FCF alive. These are:

  1. courage
  2. achievement
  3. friendship
  4. leadership
  5. woodsmanship

Requirements for membership

Leaders and Rangers now enter FCF the same way, by completing a set of required merits know as the Trail of the Grizzly. Merits awards required for the Frontiersman Advancement display a green grizzly paw. Bucksin merit awards display a black grizzly paw and the Wilderness merit awards display a white grizzly paw. Here is what you need to do:

Boys only

  • Be at least 11 years old and at least an Adventure Ranger.
  • Be recommended by the outpost commander.

Leaders only

  • Complete the Ranger Basics module of the Leadership Training Academy.
  • Be a Royal Rangers leader in good standing with his church.

Leaders and Boys

  • Earn the following 8 merits (thus earning the Grizzly Trail FCF award patch):
    1. Rope Craft
    2. Fire Craft
    3. Cooking
    4. Compass
    5. Lashing
    6. First Aid Skills
    7. Camping
    8. Tool Craft
  • Explain the plan of salvation.
  • Explain the meaning of the 4 gold, 4 red, and 8 blue points of the Royal Ranger emblem.
  • Participate in the Frontier Adventure

Time Periods

An exciting aspect of the FCF is chosing a time period that governs what your clothes outfit look like, what your tent shelter looks like, and perhaps even what type of Blackpowder rifle you shoot. Even though we are the Minuteman, we don't all choose to dress in the colonial-era style. The time periods you may choose from are:

  • Voyageur
  • Colonial
  • Mountain man
  • Longhunter

At various FCF events, an outfit judging competition will be held.

Trappers Brigade

By working to help others, you can earn Trappers Brigade service points and achieve different levels. To download a Trappers Brigade application (.xls file), click here.


Pathfinders

Founded in 1995, PathFinder Missions exists to construct churches, Ranger camps, Christian schools, clinics, orphanages, missionary dwellings, or anything a missionary needs to build God’s Kingdom at home in the USA, or in the most remote areas of the world. Teams need a variety of construction talents, such as carpentry, masonry, framework, post and beam work, and native material construction. Accepting the challenge of a Royal Rangers PathFinder Missions trip may also require you to use your campcraft, woodsmanship, backpacking, and survival skills. PathFinder Missions trips are classified by three levels of intensity, from entry level to advanced, and awarded accordingly:


  • The Bronze PathFinder Mission — U.S. Missions construction projects outside one’s home district. (Such as Indian reservations or in urban settings.)
  • The Silver PathFinder Mission — Overseas projects to moderately accessible construction sites with basic conveniences. (Such as churches, Rangers camps, or orphanages.)
  • The Gold PathFinder Mission — Overseas construction projects to harsh, remote areas of the world where other teams are unable to go due to the tough living conditions of these assignments. (Such as packing or boating equipment and building supplies to site.)

Check out our Forms page to get information on a trip you can join.

FCF Sponsorship

What is a sponsor?

  1. Vouches for or is responsible for a person.
  2. Supports or champions a cause.
  3. Assumes responsibility and leadership.
  4. Makes a pledge or promise on behalf of someone.

Why should I be a sponsor?

  1. Royal Ranger Charge - Reach, Teach and Keep Boys and Men for Christ.
  2. FCF Motto - To give and to serve. Show a spirit of servant-hood.
  3. Discipleship - A lifestyle that reproduces itself in others. Only Christians reproduce Christian and FCFer's reproduce FCFer's
  4. Leadership by example - If we take sponsorship seriously and pour our love and knowledge into someone they will get a great start in FCF and become our future leaders.
  5. The key to your brother's success.
  6. A great way to help increase FCF Membership.

Who can be a sponsor?

  1. Anyone who is a current member in good standing.
  2. Has a servant's heart.

Where is a sponsor required?

  1. Buckskin
  2. Wilderness

How can a sponsor help the candidate?

  1. Pray for him.
  2. Help him complete required merits.
  3. Help him complete FCF membership.
  4. Ensure candidate is equipped, go over checklist.
  5. Provide encouragement.
  6. Give a gift if possible.

Did you Know?

  • FCF Shelters are available from the Minuteman Chapter. They will be loaned on a first come first served basis. Any member may use one as long as it is for FCF promotion and is properly cared for. Contact our FCF Vice President for details.