Passages
Moon Sisters
This spring, Wayfinders is offering a monthly earth-based program for female-identifying youth ages 11-13. We gather each month to learn new skills, crafts, personal empowerment, and to deepen our competency, connection, and care for each other and the larger cycles of life.
THE 2023-24 PASSAGES PROGRAM INCLUDES:
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Passages Retreat @ Lenoir
We are seeking interested participants (in 6th-8th grades) who want to join a close group of peers exploring the ins and outs of transitioning into adolescence in a supported and nature connected way. Reach out to set up a short call to find out if the program is right for your kid!
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Camping Weekends @ Westchester Campgrounds
$400 (Programming - including kayaking/canoeing & meals Included)
Saturday, September 30th-Sunday, October 1st
Saturday 9:30am - Sunday 4pm
Camping Orientation & Prep Session
Thursday, September 21st
5:50-6:30 @ Lenoir Preserve
Stay tuned for Spring 2024 camping dates.
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One-on-One Mentoring
$150 (Three 30 minute sessions)
Three one-on-one virtual mentoring sessions to provide participants with support in creating a “council”*, and determining goals for the ROP journey.
* comprised of three key individuals in the Wayfinders life (i.e. family member, coach, friend) who will be supporting their Passages journey.
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Parent Only Gathering @ Lenoir
Tuesday, September 12th
5:00-6:30 pm
Join us for a Parent/Guardian only evening to experience what your child does at Wayfinders. It will be fun, restorative, and you’ll get to know the amazing Wayfinders community.
Included for all enrolled Wayfinders families.
More about Passages
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Ropes Course
This experience brought together our crew to really get to know each other at the start of our camping trip!
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High Ropes
The kids even got the mentors up on the high ropes with all of their support and encouragement!
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Cooking Together
In the wintertime, we came together to make granola as part of our fundraiser, but first we cooked and ate lunch together! Yum!
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Hiking on the OCA
We spend time exploring the trails, learning to navigate and sharing stories along the way!
We are taking a step back to see the big picture…
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Who we are?
We are a tight knit group of youth ages 10-13 who are joining together to support each other in the transitions of this time.
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What are we up to!?
In a world that sometimes feels like a run on sentence, the PUNCTUATION of our group gatherings enables us to pause, breathe, and reflect on our changes so that we can truly emerge into our fullest selves.
Marking the transitions into the next stage of life, though challenges that allow us to see and celebrate accomplishments, fosters engagement in the next stage - in this case - adolescence, where the importance of being initiated is essential to stepping into our best selves.
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Wayfinders Rite of Passage
Wayfinders Rite of Passage program is emerging as we go!
We will spend time this year discovering the needs of our group and developing programs to best match the cohort.
The program will ask youth to step out of their comfort zone and into some edge places where they find out more about themselves.
This process cannot be done alone, we work with youth to find support from a self-selected Council (including family members, elders, and close community) as they explore where they came from and where they are headed.
What is Wayfinders Rite of Passage?
If you have been looking for an alternative to a traditional coming-of-age rite of passage...
Wayfinders is here for you!
Weekly basecamp afterschool sessions at Lenoir Preserve, camping trips in northern Westchester, a Sunday retreat at Lenoir (and potentially more), & one-on-one mentoring for youth ages 11-14.
Disconnect to reconnect, build strong bonds with yourself, each other, the community and the earth.
This time in life, when youth are “coming of age” is complex and pivotal…
Rite of Passage creates opportunities to discover what it means to come home.
We are wayfinding - finding our way, remembering our original instructions of being human, discovering how simple and connected it all is.
It’s not too late to reclaim this peaceful and soulful way, or continue on the journey to self discovery.
Wayfinders Rite of Passage is a small group of youth ages 11-14 curious about the next chapter of life, transitioning from youth to adult - from the “me” to the “we”, taking on new roles and meaning in their families and communities.
At the beginning of the Rite of Passage program, we will work with each Wayfinder to establish their “Council”. Councils will be comprised of a few key people in their lives who will support them as they embark upon their Rite of Passage. Examples include an elder, such as a grandparent, an aunt or uncle, and someone they look up to in their community.
Gender identifying groups will be created to explore topics related to adolescent development.
MENTORS
Mentors and councils wrap around our youth to help support this transition with listening, witnessing, wisdom and guidance.
In addition to our seasoned team of mentors, diverse spiritual leaders will lead unique experiences throughout the program.
