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If you didn’t grow up in a military family, the terminology around uniforms can be confusing. Here’s what you need to know for CHALLENGE.

Pieces

There are different pieces to a uniform. Of course, everyone needs t-shirts, socks, and shoes of some sort, but the only official military style piece you’ll need to pack for CHALLENGE is the pants, commonly referred to as trousers. You’re welcome to also bring a matching outer shirt (usually referred to as a coat, jacket, or blouse) but it’s not required.

These two pieces are made of a thick, durable cotton or cotton blend fabric. They have reinforced knees and seats and lots of pockets to carry all your necessities.

Patterns

If you enjoy this kind of stuff, you can research for hours about all the military clothing camo patterns throughout modern history. From Frog Skin to Kryptek, they’re grouped into Families, just as if you were classifying animals. You’ll hear acronyms thrown around like footballs at a tailgate party.

The ones that are approved for CHALLENGE are called MultiCam or OCP (Operational Camouflage Pattern). They’re composed of seven shades of browns and greens and have been in use across military branches since the early 2000’s.

The pattern that is most often mistakenly brought to CHALLENGE instead of MultiCam or OCP is called M81 Woodland. One way to recognize (and avoid) Woodland is that one of its four colors is black. It’s a darker and higher contrast pattern.

Procurement

Although you can certainly purchase new trousers and coats, you can also shop second hand. MultiCam/OCP pants should be available at any army surplus store, and I’ve also found them at thrift stores and flea markets… you just have to be careful and know which camo pattern you’re looking for. Your easiest second hand option may be an online surplus store, like venturesurplus.com.

That being said, if you’re having trouble finding what you need, or if you signed up for CHALLENGE with only a couple of weeks to prepare, or if you don’t have the funds to spend on this special outfit, we do have loaners available in several different sizes. First come, first serve.

Prepared

TLDR: If you bring a pair of pants in MultiCam or OCP, you’ll be all set for CHALLENGE.

If you’re unsure whether what you’ve found will work, feel free to ask ahead of time. We’re happy to help you check the pattern or answer questions. The most important thing is showing up ready for the adventure, and we’ll do our best to get you what you need to graduate from CHALLENGE with style.

When preparing for a boys’ camp, the focus of packing often turns toward boots and backpacks, but socks matter just as much. In our opinion, wool socks are actually one of the best investments a recruit can make. Unlike cotton, which traps moisture and increases the risk of blisters, wool naturally wicks sweat away from the skin and regulates temperature in both warm and cool conditions. This means drier feet, fewer hot spots, and more comfort over long miles.

Wool socks are also generally thicker than other materials, providing cushion and reducing the occurrence of impact injuries, like shin splints. High-quality hiking socks are often designed to provide cushion in high-impact areas like the heel and forefoot while keeping other areas thinner for breathability. Regardless of whether you decide to invest in a specialty product, make sure to order your size. Maintaining a snug fit reduces friction.

More benefits to wool are that it naturally resists odor, dries quickly, and continues insulating even when damp—an important factor in unpredictable weather. This also means that you can make do with only a few pairs of wool socks for the week (although you should still pack seven *total* pairs of socks).

Some of the brands we’ve personally used include Wigwam, Smartwool, and Darn Tough Vermont. If you need a budget option, Alvada has a 3 pair pack for $20. Just in case a little friction or moisture is introduced, packing moleskin and foot powder is also a very good idea.

At CHALLENGE, where boys are learning responsibility and endurance, dependable gear supports both safety and the ability to focus on growth, teamwork, and the mission itself. Switching to wool socks may seem like a simple swap, but it equips our young men to move forward with perseverance—ready to meet the challenges of the hike and the lessons the journey brings.

References:

The CHALLENGE Packing List: timothygroup.org/challenge/#packing-list

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-15179-2

https://www.wool.com/news-events/news/dynamic-breathability-jun25/

To put it bluntly, yes, it can be. You’re being pushed to your limits, physically and mentally, and that can be frightening. BUT safety is paramount at CHALLENGE, and you can trust that we wouldn’t ask you to do something that you are not capable of doing. All of the staffers have been through CHALLENGE before, and they want to pass on the legacy of growing boys into strong Christian men. A few notes to help ease your mom’s fears (or yours):

• Recruits are issued meals 3x/day and eat the same food as the staff (the staff have latitude to supplement with some snacks, which recruits don’t, but we are *not* starving you or feeding you something we don’t eat ourselves).
• Recruits are scheduled to sleep a minimum of 5-6 hours each night throughout the week.
• There *is* yelling, but not to the degree or cutting tenor of what the military does. It would not be a military style bootcamp without rigorous discipline, but it is not personal, it is not profane, and it is always for the education and edification of the recruits.
• There are planned low-intensity periods cycled in each day to give a mental break and allow staff and dads to check on recruits and ensure they aren’t dangerously overwhelmed.

Even with all proper precautions taken, an adventure camp like this will always have some risk. Appropriately used, danger can be a tool that speaks to a young man. All that said, our goal is for your experience to be intense but safe. We want it to be an environment where you are pushed to grow in your walk with the Lord and realize that you can do and be better than you thought possible.

Our FAQ Page and Other FAQ Posts: Is This an Event for Troubled Youth? Do You Have Payment Plans or Scholarships? My Son is 11. Is He Too Young?

I met Micah’s family around the time that the Ferrill boys first started attending CHALLENGE. I thought it was really weird that they wanted to go to a camp that intentionally made things difficult. Life is hard enough as it is, right? But as I got to know the Ferrills and learned more about CHALLENGE, I realized how beneficial it was for them as men and, even more importantly, as Christians. 

If a young man has already faced many hardships in his life, maybe he doesn’t need CHALLENGE. But most people in our society have so many things so easily that they don’t realize their own strength, and so too easily give up when something comes across their path that takes a lot of effort. CHALLENGE pushes a young man beyond what he thinks he’s capable of and shows him the tools he needs to overcome… tools like a strong relationship with Jesus Christ, the truths of Scripture, and teamwork/community.

One of my brothers-in-law went to CHALLENGE thinking he could do it on his own. He was a young teenager. He had grown up in a Christian home. But he had not submitted himself to God. He realized that “just like I wasn’t able to go through these different challenges without my squad, I was also fully incapable of saving myself from my sin. As the worship leader explained the words of the songs we were singing, I just felt this overwhelming emptiness over my inability… That night I prayed to God… I confessed my sins and my need for a Savior… I knew [then] that I actually had something I could be confident in and Someone I could depend on.” (Read Josiah’s full testimonial here.)

My now husband, Micah, was technically already an adult when he went to CHALLENGE that year. He was a committed Christian, a self-taught software developer, and had spent time as a ministry intern. Looking at him, you would think he had things pretty put together. Yet thinking back, he still calls CHALLENGE the single most pivotal and influential event in his life, aside from actually giving his life to Jesus as a young boy. The purpose, peace, humility, and confidence he gained from the experiences and instructions that week at camp have marked his life since then. (Read about Micah’s experience here.)

Here at The Timothy Group, we’re not doing this because we think it’s fun or we like ‘torturing’ people or we make money from it. It’s hard work, it’s emotionally draining, and we volunteer all of our time. We do it because we think it’s important. We see the way our culture shames and suppresses men, and we want to encourage them in the truth, we want to teach them to stand firm, and we want to see them succeed in their pursuit of strong Christian manhood.

CHALLENGE is not an easy event to run, and it won’t be easy for young men to complete, but it’s worth the trouble.

Register today.

In the first chapter of the book of Joshua, Joshua is taking on the reigns of the leadership of Israel after the death of Moses. It is a big responsibility, full of dangers from their physical enemies, as well as the weight of the spiritual guidance of the people. Multiple times in that chapter God tells Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous!”

Jesus said in John 16:33, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage.” Ephesians 6 tells us to “be strong.” But where does this strength and courage come from?

The second part of the charge to Joshua was, “Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1:9) The end of John 16:33 says, “I have overcome the world.” Ephesians 6 tells us that we are strong “in the strength of His might” and that the armor of God (truth, righteousness, faith, the word of God, etc.) will help us to resist evil.

So courage comes from knowing the truth and relying on God. John Flavel in his excellent work on Preparations for Suffering lists ten more ways we can cultivate this courage.  Here is a short summary:

1. “Get a weaned heart from all earthly enjoyments.”  Not to say that we can’t enjoy the gifts of this life, but, as it was said of Luther, “Money could not tempt him.” So we ought not allow anything but Christ to have a hold on us.

2. “Suffer not guilt to lie upon your conscience.” Flavel gave the example of Joseph’s brothers who were always looking over their shoulders and worried about keeping away the consequences of selling their brother into slavery.

3. “Be well satisfied you are in the way and posture God expects to find you in.”  If you aren’t sure you’re doing your duty, how will you have the courage to proceed when you come up against an obstacle?

4. “Get right notions and apprehensions of your enemies.”  Remember that their power is limited by God’s boundaries and their carnal weapons cannot touch your soul.

5. “Labour to engage the presence of God with you in all places and conditions.” Joshua 1:9, “Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord you God is with you wherever you go.”

6. “Get a high estimation of Jesus Christ.” “They that value him the highest will adventure for him farthest.”

7. “Beware you be not cheated with maxims of carnal policy, mistaken for Christian prudence.”  In other words, don’t let your zeal for Christ be swallowed up by being overly careful. 

8. Look upon troubles with faith.  They wouldn’t appear like such formidable things if we but would see the supports and comforts often met with by souls facing difficulty.

9. Remember that there is a reward for sufferings.  Think on the realities of heaven as certain, glorious, and near at hand, and your current problems will pale in comparison.

10. “Propound to yourselves the best examples.”  Read biographies and fellowship with Christians who have gone before you and been victorious.

Biblical courage is not based on our possessions, merit, or will-power.  It is not in opposition to humility or caution, but is in opposition to apathy and despair.  It’s based on truth, being close to God, and hope for the future. As your prepare your sons or yourself for manhood, remember the true basis for strength and courage is found in Christ, and build on that foundation.