Summer Programs > Age 16-18 > Fire on the Mountain
Fire on the Mountain
“I have made deeper connections here than I ever did at school or at home. Being in the wilderness and going on a solo journey has changed my life for the better. I've made friends to keep, gathered thoughts to remember fondly, and found more respect for other people and myself. This was a great experience.” – Jane, age 16
Program Details
Fire on the Mountain
As young people approach adulthood, the world gets louder with opinions about what success looks like, what matters, and who they should become. Parents, friends, school, and society all send messages about what to prioritize and how to build a meaningful life. But which values truly feel like our own?
Fire on the Mountain invites young people ages 16–18 to step away from everyday expectations and explore these questions in the wilderness. Over eight nights of backpacking and two nights in the frontcountry, participants take on the challenges and rewards of traveling through wild landscapes, building self-reliance, and learning alongside a community of peers.
Through group conversations, reflection, and shared experiences, participants examine the values that shape their choices. What have they been taught to pursue, and what actually feels important? What gives them a sense of purpose? What lights a fire inside them, and what do they want to carry forward into adulthood? Together, they begin to identify the values that can serve as their own north star.
Halfway through the journey, participants prepare for and undertake a 24-hour solo experience. Time alone in the wilderness offers space to listen inward and reflect on what surfaces. Away from the noise of everyday life, they can make room for their own questions, insights, and aspirations.
Fire on the Mountain offers an accessible introduction to more rigorous wilderness travel, and prepares participants for the personal challenges and growth opportunities available through our three-week Solo Crossing program.
Want more information? Download the Welcome Letter!
At A Glance
Dates Session #1: July 3-9, 2027
Dates Session #2: August 13-19, 2027
Cost: $1495
Duration: 7 days
Who: All-Genders, Age 10-12
Location: Backpacking, Olympic Coast
Quick Links
11 Days
All Genders
Olympic Coast
$2595
August 11-21
Meet The Team
2027 Guide Teams
Our guides bring years of experience working with young people. They offer a range of diverse perspectives from across youth education, wilderness, wellbeing, and rite of passage fields.
We pride ourselves on the care and supervision we provide, historically maintaining an average 1:3 guide-to-participant ratio. This means individual attention, stronger relationships, and the support kids need to grow.
Check back in early 2027 to meet the Fire on the Mountain guide team!
Sample Itinerary
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Day 1
Participants and families meet at Rite of Passage Journeys basecamp for a gear check and send-off ceremony. Then we’ll make our way to the Olympic peninsula via scenic ferry ride to set up camp at a front country camp site.
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Days 2-5
Let’s hit the trail! These days are full of hiking, games, and getting to know ourselves and one another through nightly talking circles (aka ‘council’). We’ll also spend time getting ready for our solo experiences with sit spots: a shorter time alone in the wilderness to explore both inner and outer landscapes.
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Days 6 & 7
It’s time to experience being alone in the forest. After writing an intention statement and choosing a spot, we’ll say goodbye to our guides and peers and venture out to set up our own solo camp. When we return, the group will be ready to listen to the stories we have to tell.
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Days 8-10
We’ll spend these days back on the trail, waking early to hike for most of the day. Our evenings will be spent diving even deeper into questions about what it means to become an adult and what we want for our future selves.
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Day 11
Time to return home! Full from the wonders and sights experienced and our new friendships, we'll make the triumphant journey back across the ferry to basecamp and waiting families. And yes, we'll have some stories to tell...
