Summer Programs > Ages 12-14 > Moon Rise
Moon Rise
“I can't even begin to describe how amazing this has been for me. I was able to really get to know myself and figure out what I wanted in my life. If I ever experience hard times I will be able to come back to the experience [of my solo]. It was truly life-changing. Now I have a clear picture of who I want my friends to be, how I want to act, what kind of relationship I want, and many more qualities I want to keep and let go of.” - Emily, Age 14
Program Details
Moon Rise
Adolescence brings profound changes, big questions, and the possibility of meeting new dimensions of ourselves. Moonrise offers young women* ages 12–14 a nurturing space to honor this transition through an 8-day celebration of womanhood.
Based at Sacred Groves—a ten-acre forest sanctuary and intentional community on Bainbridge Island—participants will spend a week immersed in nature, supported by Rite of Passage Journeys guides and the elders who steward this special place. Through creative expression, storytelling, talking circles, games, and time outdoors, they’ll build friendships, find new ways of expressing themselves, and explore the many different ways an individual can define and grow into womanhood.
They’ll also explore the theme of life’s cycles, from the changing seasons and phases of the moon to menstruation and other transitions of adolescence, with opportunities to ask questions, share stories, and consider how each person’s relationship with their body and identity may evolve over time. We approach these changes with curiosity, care, and celebration, honoring each participant’s own path.
An extended solo experience of up to 36 hours offers time for solitude, reflection, and connection with the land. Away from the everyday expectations and distractions of life, participants can listen inward, recognize their strengths, and reflect on who they hope to become.
Toward the end of the program, participants are invited to engage in a Maiden Ceremony, a rite of passage that honors each participant’s transition into this new stage of life through witness and celebration. It marks not a single definition of womanhood, but a meaningful moment to recognize each young person’s unique journey.
Moonrise is an invitation to celebrate the journey itself: to honor the person each participant already is, welcome the changes ahead, and experience the power of being supported by a community of women as they step proudly into adolescence.
*Our female-identifying programs welcome all who identify as female, including trans girls, as well as non-binary youth. We trust your family and your young person to know which program will be the best fit for them, but if you have any questions please contact us.
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
8 Days
Young Women*
Bainbridge Island
$1995
Aug 1-8
Meet The Team
2027 Guide Teams
Our guides bring years of experience working with young people. With an average age of 30+, most are beyond their college years and bring experience 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 MoonRise guide team!
Sample Itinerary
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Day 1
Participants and families arrive at Sacred Groves on Bainbridge Island for a gear check and send-off ceremony. Once the severance ceremony is complete, parents gather for a chat about what this rite of passage means for them and the larger family, while the participants set up their camp, play games, make dinner and prepare a fire together.
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Days 2 & 3
Time to get to know each other and find the best berry picking spots! These are the days where we focus on creating community with each other and with the land of Sacred Groves. We will identify plants, make delicious meals for each other, build fires, learn about each other’s ancestry, share songs, trade stories and play lots of games in the woods!
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Days 4-7
Now that we know a bit about who we are on this journey with, it is time to dive deep and challenge ourselves! We will use art, song, poetry, ceremony and movement to prepare us for a Wisdom Lodge, an 8-hour solo, and a Maiden Ceremony.
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Day 8
This final day is all about integrating everything we’ve learned and experienced. The trick to wonderful summer experiences is learning how to make it a part of the rest of our lives. How do we carry sisterhood, community practices, creativity, nature exploration and our unique gifts with us into busy teenage lives? We will answer these questions together and with our families.
