FAQs

Rites of passage mark significant transitions in our lives. From birthdays and graduations to weddings, funerals, and other moments of profound change, these experiences help us acknowledge where we’ve been and welcome what comes next.

Without meaningful ways to mark these transitions, we can feel lost or listless, sensing that we are ready for something new without knowing how to get there, who we might become, or when it is time to move forward. Facilitated rites of passage give shape to these moments, creating space to slow down, reflect and explore what lies ahead with the support of community and the natural world.

Our goal is that participants return from their rite of passage experience with a new and empowering story that helps them take responsibility for the decisions that set the course of their future. We help each person create the story of who they are and the kind of life they want to build, based within the exploration of their own personal values. We also help them find the story that connects them to their community. From this self-exploration, participants emerge with a stronger sense of personal responsibility and understanding.

Yes! Traditional rites of passage often follow a structure that gives the experience a meaningful beginning, a transformative middle, and an intentional return.

Severance, or send-off, marks the transition out of everyday life and into a shared journey. The threshold is the journey itself: the challenges, discoveries, relationships, and moments of reflection that shape the experience. It culminates in a solo experience, during which participants craft an intention statement articulating their dreams for the future. Reincorporation, or return, offers space to share those experiences and begin integrating what they've learned into everyday life.

This structure helps participants recognize their journey as something meaningful and enduring—not simply an adventure, but an opportunity for growth, insight, and change.

It’s common for our programs to be a participant’s first backpacking experience! While trips can include physically challenging moments along the trail, they are not intended to be tests of endurance. Participants in average physical condition are generally well-equipped to take part, and no prior backpacking experience is required.

Our guides are trained to teach participants everything they need to know to feel confident and capable in the backcountry. Along the way, participants learn and practice essential skills like navigation, cooking, sanitation, safety, and campcraft. Learning these skills for the first time is often one of the most rewarding and memorable parts of the journey!

We strive to make our programs accessible to as many people as possible, and most participants in average physical condition are capable of completing our backpacking journeys. Some days can be physically challenging, but that challenge is often a meaningful part of the experience. Our groups travel at a thoughtful pace, take breaks as needed, and work together to support one another along the trail.

That said, we encourage all participants to make an effort to physically prepare for their journey. It doesn't need to be complicated! Regular walks (make it a family activity!) while wearing properly fitted hiking boots and carrying a gradually weighted backpack are great ways to get ready.

As a general guide, participants ages 10–12 hike approximately 1–4 miles per day, while participants ages 12 and older hike approximately 4–8 miles per day. All participants carry a backpack that may weigh up to one-third of their body weight.

Ultimately, you and your physician are best positioned to determine whether a program is appropriate for you or your child. Our staff is also happy to talk through individual questions or concerns as you consider joining us.

Generally speaking, accommodating medications is not a problem on our programs!

For youth participants, medications are held by Guides and distributed at the prescribed times. This practice is in place to ensure the safe and appropriate handling of medications, not as a matter of trust. In certain situations, the Program Director may approve youth participants to self-administer non-prescription medications.

Adult participants are responsible for carrying and managing their own medications.

Participants who will take part in a Solo Fast ranging from 24 to 72 hours are asked to consult with their physician beforehand to determine whether fasting is appropriate for them and to discuss the safe use of medications during the fast.

Whenever possible, we ask participants to avoid starting or discontinuing medications immediately before or during their program, as changes can have unpredictable effects.

Everyone deserves the chance to access their next rite of passage. That’s why we work hard to offer financial aid for youth programs and sliding scale program fees for adult programs. With the support of our generous donors, we offer nearly $50,000 each year in assistance to make meaningful, transformative experiences possible for all people.

Learn more about financial aid →

Journeys owns a small amount of gear that we can loan to participants who need support.

Before borrowing gear from us, please reach out to your circle of friends, family and community. You may be surprised how many people are excited to support your experience by loaning you gear, or even renting or buying gear for you.

If you do need to borrow gear from Journeys, please email us as early as possible, and we will do our best to get you what you need.

If you have extra gear that no longer fits your child, please consider donating it to our Gear Bank for future participants! Every year we lose a few items to the adventure, so we're always grateful for gently used gear to help replenish our supply. You can bring donations to your program start or leave them with us at the end of your trip.

We wholeheartedly encourage participants to attend a program with friends! Returning to everyday life after a powerful experience like this can sometimes be challenging, and having a familiar face alongside you can help ease that transition. Sharing the experience also creates a wonderful opportunity for continued connection, storytelling, and mutual accountability long after the journey ends.

If your child is attending with a friend or group of friends, we encourage you to talk beforehand about the importance of branching out, welcoming others, and making room for new connections. While having a familiar companion can be comforting, we sometimes see friends unintentionally stick together rather than engage with the broader group. Some of the most meaningful parts of the journey come from stepping outside our usual social circles, building new relationships, and learning alongside people with different backgrounds and perspectives.

Journeys has a long history of thoughtful, proactive risk management.

We take a comprehensive approach to managing risk through thorough staff screening and training, ongoing policy review and evaluation, and continuous learning. Our summer wilderness programs maintain an average guide-to-participant ratio of 1:3.

All staff are trained and certified in First Aid and CPR at a minimum, and every summer wilderness program includes Wilderness First Responder (WFR)-certified leadership.

Read more about our Risk Philosophy →

At Rite of Passage Journeys, we believe everyone deserves to feel a sense of belonging and have their identities affirmed and respected. We know that systemic inequities, including racism, colonialism, ableism, and classism, shape our society and the field of outdoor and rites-of-passage education. We have a responsibility to examine how systems influence access, whose voices and knowledge are valued, and how we show up in our programs, relationships, and organizational practices.

Read more about our approach and committments to equity, inclusion, and belonging →

Homesickness happens, even for our adult participants!

Our Guides are trained to support youth experiencing homesickness, whether through one-on-one mentorship or community conversations around the campfire, depending on what feels most helpful for each participant. It's common for these feelings to come and go during the first day or two.

With time, shared experiences, new friendships, activities, learning, and plenty of laughter, most participants find themselves settling in and becoming immersed in the journey.

We take allergies seriously and approach each situation on a case-by-case basis to understand individual needs and determine what accommodations are possible. Additionally, all of our programs carry epinephrine auto-injectors, and our staff are trained in their use.

Food Allergies & Dietary Restrictions

We can accommodate many dietary restrictions, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free diets, as well as many food allergies. Please include all dietary restrictions and food allergies in your registration materials, providing as much detail as possible.

While our guides take precautions to minimize cross-contamination, we cannot guarantee a completely allergen-free environment due to our food storage and preparation systems. If your child has a severe allergy that could trigger a reaction through even minor cross-contamination, multiple overlapping food allergies, or highly specific dietary needs, please contact our Program Director before registering.

Environmental & Other Allergies

Please document all environmental and other allergies in the Medical Information Forms included in your registration packet. Our Program Director may follow up with you to discuss specific triggers, potential risks, and any necessary precautions.

For more serious or potentially life-threatening allergies, we ask that you speak directly with our Program Director before completing registration so we can understand your needs and discuss an appropriate plan.

An important part of our journeys is the opportunity to spend time alone in nature. We call this the Solo. It is an invitation to step away from the routines and relationships of everyday life, spend time in one's own company and the company of the natural world, and listen more deeply to one's thoughts, feelings, questions, and intentions. Solos are consistently ranked by our participants as the most impactful piece of our programs.

Solo duration varies depending on program and participant readiness. Our guides are trained to evaluate the readiness of their crew and may adjust solo times as needed to meet a group where they’re at. In general, solos are:

• 10-12 years old: 4-8 hours

• 12-14 years old: 12-36 hours

• 14-16 years old: 24-48 hours

• 16-18 years old: 24-72 hours

• 18+: Varies by program

Participants gradually prepare for this experience through shorter periods of independent reflection, or "sit-spots," journaling, group conversations, and other reflective activities.

During the Solo, each participant has a designated place in nature where they can experience solitude while remaining supported by our guides. Guides establish clear boundaries, orient participants to their surroundings, maintain communication systems, and conduct regular check-ins throughout the experience. Participants know how to request support, and guides may modify, relocate, or end a Solo whenever needed to protect someone's safety and wellbeing.

Following the Solo, participants return to the group and have time to share, reflect on, and integrate their experiences.

There is no particular experience participants are expected to have or insight they are expected to discover. The Solo is simply an opportunity to meet themselves where they are, with the support of our guides and the larger group.

Fasting offers an additional opportunity to step outside familiar routines, practice simplicity, and pay attention to what arises when we temporarily set aside some of our everyday comforts and habits. Fasting is always a choice, not a requirement. Participants can have a meaningful Solo experience without fasting from food, and choosing not to fast does not affect their participation in the program or Solo.

Some medical conditions or other circumstances may make fasting inadvisable. These needs are always taken seriously and accommodated.

We also recognize that fasting doesn't have to mean abstaining from food. Participants who do not fast from food may explore other forms of fasting, such as temporarily stepping away from social interaction, technology, social media, or other everyday comforts and distractions. These alternatives can offer their own meaningful opportunities for reflection and connection.

Ultimately, the Solo Fast, like every part of our rite of passage journeys, is a challenge by choice. Our guides are skilled at helping participants find an experience that honors their individual needs and readiness while still offering opportunities for growth.

If you have questions or concerns about whether fasting is appropriate for your young person, please share relevant information in the Parent/Guardian Questionnaire and medical forms, or reach out before the program.

Great question! You can review our full cancellation policy here!

Parents and guardians often recognize the importance of supporting young people through the transition into adulthood, while young people themselves may feel less ready, uncertain, or even apprehensive about the experience.

The best advice we can offer is to start with a conversation. Share what the program means to you and, if you have them, stories of your own rites of passage. Then make space for your young person to share their questions, concerns, and fears. Sometimes, simply having the opportunity to express themselves and have misconceptions addressed can open the door to curiosity, or even excitement, about the possibility of embarking on an adventure with us.

If your child remains undecided or resistant after you've talked, take some time to consider what might be behind their hesitation. Is it primarily a fear of the unknown, or might it be telling you something important about their readiness for this experience? If you feel confident that the timing is right but would appreciate support in helping your child explore the opportunity, please reach out. We'd be happy to talk it through with you and offer ideas for approaching the conversation.

Remember, moving into a new stage of life is a big undertaking. It can feel daunting, unfamiliar, and even frightening—and that is, in part, what our programs invite young people to explore. Some resistance is natural and to be expected. Saying goodbye to friends, family, technology, and familiar comforts for one to three weeks can feel overwhelming, or even inconceivable! Give your young person time to adjust to the idea. Sometimes, the possibility simply needs a little time to settle in.

No, Rite of Passage Journeys is not a wilderness therapy program. While our experiences can be deeply meaningful and transformative, our programs are designed for personal growth, self-discovery, and rites of passage, not clinical treatment or therapeutic intervention.

Our Guides do not serve as therapists or mental health professionals in their roles with Journeys, and we do not provide clinical assessment, diagnosis, or treatment. Our work is grounded in our scope of practice as experiential educators and wilderness guides. While we create space for reflection and emotional exploration, we are not equipped to provide the level of individualized emotional or behavioral support that a therapeutic program offers.

Participation in Journeys programs is voluntary, and young people choose to take part in the experience. We strive to create a supportive environment where participants can explore challenges, build confidence, deepen relationships, and discover their own capacities, while recognizing the boundaries of our role and expertise.