But these initiations were never just a formality or a threshold. They were tests that put these young men in uniquely challenging situations where they had to learn about their inner strengths and gifts in order to succeed.
What’s more, these rites of passage infused their natural drive for freedom and risk with a sense of personal responsibility.
Unfortunately, in today’s culture, these intentional rites of passage for young men and boys entering adulthood have been almost completely lost.
As a result, young men and boys today are more likely to initiate themselves in much more unhealthy ways, like their first experiences with drugs, alcohol, or sex, as well as excessive video gaming, screen time, and social isolation.
In this age of disconnection and overstimulation, where depression, social anxiety, academic struggles, and a lack of belonging are rampant among young men and boys, the obstacles to their healthy development are massive, and for parents, these challenges can seem insurmountable.
That’s why we firmly believe that today, the need for constructive, intentional, and positive rites of passage for young men and boys is greater than ever.
Wild Human Preserve
6666 State Rd 1308,
Green Mountain, NC
All are critical for a young man on his journey towards adulthood.
The Journeyman Rite of Passage Adventure Weekend provides all of this and more.
For the last dozen years, parents have said, after their son’s participation in our Rite of Passage Adventure Weekend, he came home…
The Journeymen Rite of Passage Adventure Weekend helps a young man to better know himself, cultivate healthy relationships, and capably and maturely begin to step into his inner knowing of what it means to become a healthy and mature man.
A parent’s challenge today is to lead their son into a life path of healthy self-esteem, meaningful social connection, and mature male mentorship.
Journeymen offers you assistance to guide your son into well-being.
A primary function of any rite of passage is to allow children to consciously choose a new adult identity rooted in self-reliance, clear life direction, and the support of others.
Our Rite of Passage Adventure Weekend program is designed to support teenagers in leaving their daily environment, to identify and develop a healthy sense of self-esteem.
Through the support of mature male mentors who model emotional self-responsibility, relational intelligence, and generative life purpose, Journeymen will help your son into adulthood.
Our adult mentors will help to facilitate this process and help your child gain the skills and understandings they will need to fulfill their potential as members of the community.
Our weekend incorporates safe physical, mental, and emotional tests. These tests can help a boy discover inner resources that he may not have been previously aware of, thus helping him gain new self-respect and confidence.
In our weekend, the tests are challenging, but do not involve winning and losing, which we believe creates the potential for shame.
Each boy has the opportunity to test himself in ways that build self-esteem and facilitate growth.
The specific processes facilitated at the rite of passage event are not publicly disclosed, so that, younger members of the community do not receive the adult information before they are ready, as the rite is considered sacred and personal and should not be treated casually.
The Rite of Passage Adventure Weekend also relies on a degree of theater, surprise, and spontaneous response that would be lost if participants knew in advance what was going to happen. (We can share all information with the parents or guardians, asking that this information be kept in confidence).
Following our Rite of Passage Adventure Weekend, the boys and young men who participate are honored for their accomplishments with a welcoming home ceremony and potluck feast.
Join us for our upcoming Rite of Passage Adventure Weekend. (ROPAW)
October 25 – 27, 2024
(October 24 – 27 for mentors)
Wild Human Preserve
6666 State Rd 1308,
Green Mountain, NC
We conduct two Rite of Passage Adventure Weekends per year—one in the spring and one in the fall.
To have a personalized conversation with our Executive Director Skylar Wilson to see if the ROPAW is a fit for your son, contact us today or email Skylar at journeymenasheville@gmail.com.
With that in mind, our Rites of Passage Adventure Weekends (ROPAWs) incorporate safe physical, mental, and emotional tests, which are designed to help young men and boys discover inner resources that they may not have been previously aware of, helping them gain self-respect and confidence.
These tests are challenging and they give each one of our J-Men the opportunity to test himself in ways that build self-esteem and facilitate growth. But these tests do not involve winning and losing, which we believe creates the potential for shame. Journeymen’s Rites of Passage Adventure Weekend (ROPAW) is hosted twice each year as a modern-day opportunity for young men and boys to find personal empowerment, self-knowledge, and let go of what no longer serves them so that they can grow into the men they want to be.When the ROPAW is complete, those who participate are honored for their accomplishments with a welcoming home ceremony and potluck feast.
More confident
Less anxious and resentful
More capable of taking on leadership roles
Able to identify their authentic sense of self
Able to focus and concentrate better in school
Better equipped to responsibly direct their life
More open to talking about difficult personal issues
As such, the specific tests and challenges that take place during our rites of passage events are not publicly disclosed, so younger members of our community won’t receive information that’s meant for adults before they’re ready.
That being said, we will gladly share all the details with parents or guardians, asking that this information be kept in confidence.
We conduct two Rites of Passage Adventure Weekends (ROPAWs) per year, with one taking place in the spring and one in the fall.
If you’d like to speak directly with our Executive Director, Skylar Wilson, to see if this program is a good fit for your son as either a mentor or mentee, contact us today.
Or, if you’re ready to sign up right now, you can fill out the corresponding form below.
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