Experiences
An overview of Journeys program offerings
At Rite of Passage Journeys, our wilderness EXPERIENCE programs provide an opportunity to journey into beautiful, wild terrain in Washington state and in our own hearts. We provides incredible wilderness programs appropriate for children, teens, adults, and now, for elders. These one to three-week programs are designed to enhance personal awareness, community and understanding of the earth. Joseph Campbell described the experience of leaving home in search of our calling as part of the “Hero’s Journey” – challenges to our character that make us face who we are and grow up.
Our summer youth programs, for ages 8 to 18, help young people navigate the journey from childhood to adulthood in a supported, mentored way. Led by a team of experienced wilderness mentors, participants will safely experience the physical challenges of ropes courses, demanding mountain backpacking, as well as the interpersonal themes of self reliance, responsibility to self and others, group dynamics and conflict resolution. Along with the demands of physical exertion, come nighttime campfires, story telling, stargazing and the beauty of the Pacific Northwest wilderness and beaches. Each experience along the way opens the door for deeper self-discovery inspiring participants to realize and claim their gifts, skills and strengths; all while making lifelong friends and exceptional memories.
Our adult programs, for ages 18 and older, grew out of the strong need we saw to guide adults through their own rites of passage—for transition does not, of course, end at age 18 (in many ways, it just begins!). Our adult programs include solo time, time in nature, use of ritual & ceremony, and individual and community mentorship and reflection. Our powerful program design includes preparatory activities, a pre-program meeting, and post-program opportunities to reconnect and renew.
All of our programs are led by a team of exceptional wilderness guides, able to move smoothly from practical details of safe wilderness living, to exploring the interpersonal relationships involved in community living; to the soul-centered and intuitive aspects of the sacred work of vision quests. With a ratio of 3:1 participant to mentor, each participant has a chance to connect through regular one-on-one conversations, and have time for individual attention and reflective conversation. Every journey has at least one Certified Wilderness First responder.
