School Programs
With over 50 years of experience in rite of passage education, we partner with schools to design immersive programs that strengthen students’ social-emotional skills, leadership capacity, and connection to the natural world.
Each Journey blends nature immersion, solo and group reflection, communication skill development, teamwork practice, and intentional acknowledgment of milestones such as graduations or coming-of-age transitions.
Through challenge, adventure, and mentorship, students learn to take healthy risks, navigate change with confidence, and cultivate empathy and resilience. Educators tell us their students return more grounded, self-aware, and connected—to themselves, their peers, and their learning communities.
“Our 4 night backpacking trip on the Olympic Coast met or exceeded every expectation. The students’ experience struck a wonderful balance between adventure and reflection, individual growth and community cohesion, challenging situations and quiet moments, structured activity and free exploration. Daily conversations in a circle, gracefully led, probed questions of community, morality, moving on to high school and more. Each of the four Journeys leaders modeled good citizenship and outdoor skills and ethics. The students returned home better prepared to take on the next phase of their lives. ”
Programs for Schools
mark transitions, build confidence & support connections
marking a Rite of Passage
Rite of passage work is essential in schools because it provides a meaningful structure to support students through the many significant transitions they experience. Our programs offer intentional space for reflection, mentorship, challenge, and celebration ~ helping students make sense of who they are becoming. By marking these transitions with intention and support, schools help students build resilience, self-awareness, and a deeper connection to their community.
Nature-Based connection
Being in nature brings many meaningful benefits during any critical time of growth and transition. A study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health suggests that “practicing forest bathing, even just once, significantly increases adolescents’ mental well-being.” Immersed in the natural world, students can step away from distractions and reflect on their identity, values, and place in the world. By facing challenges outdoors and participating in nature connected ceremonies develop a sense of connection to something bigger than themselves.
Team Building & Leadership
Adolescence is an important time for students to explore their voice and start stepping into creativity and leadership. Group activities like hiking, problem-solving tasks, and cooperative games create opportunities for youth to practice leading and supporting their peers. This allows them to understand different leadership styles, develop empathy, and recognize the value of every team member—skills that are essential for confident, compassionate leadership in their school and community.
Specialized Programs for Waldorf and Montessori Schools
While we have the capacity to create programs for all schools, both Montessori and Waldorf have particular curriculum needs that we can accommodate in skilled ways. In these programs, students gain deeper awareness of self and understanding of necessary building blocks needed to step into a collective, caring community. Through changing landscapes, students endure physical challenges and deep reflections from nature itself. Ultimately bringing forth a profound togetherness both internally and externally. With our trained staff, we can create programs that are specific to your values as a school and classroom.
Waldorf Curriculum
Connection to nature
Inner-growth and self-discovery
Rhythm and Rituals
Experiential, hands-on learning
Story and imagination to creating meaning
Montessori Curriculum
Connection to nature and the real world
Independence and self-direction
Observation and self-reflection
Inner discipline
Whole person development (mind, body spirit)
program options
Backpacking the ozette triangle
Basecamp trip - olympic national forest
basecamp trip - ropj basecamp
Traverse throughout the beautiful Olympic Peninsula, experiencing both the majestic coastal forest and breath-taking sea stacks. This easy to moderate, 9 mile trail* loops you along wooden boardwalks, sandy and rocky shores, with tons of wildlife and rich archaeological and cultural significance to generations past and present.
*Because outdoor skills can differ from student to student, we recommend this trip as a great starting place for most. If you are confident that your students are up for a more physically challenging trip, please inquire about other options at info@riteofpassagejourneys.org
Enjoy the beauty of the Olympic Peninsula in a front country group campsite. Spend the day connecting with peers through outdoor skill building activities, games, day hikes and daily talking circles.
We will still spend time in the wilds hiking to incorporate challenges and Rite of Passage elements, but without the backpacking element.
This is a good option for schools that have too varied student physical skills for a backpack trip. Or it is a good first step for a school to dive into Rites of Passage work with more conveniences of normal bathrooms, etc.
Join us here in Bothell, WA at RoPJ Basecamp to explore the forest, play games in the meadow, practice outdoor skills, learn about the local ecology & experiment in the community garden.
Just 30 minutes North of Seattle, this trip is an accessible option for schools looking for a weekend trip or field trip.
Journeys is part of the Songaia Intentional Living Community which has a large perma-culture garden, native plant educational garden, and a forest refuge in the middle of Bothell. A good option for schools with youth not as comfortable with the wilderness and want to begin to learn more.
book your school program
Ready to book a program for your school? Email us at info@riteofpassagejourneys.org to get started.
We are here to help create an amazing program
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We are here to help create an amazing program 〰️
Frequently Asked Questions
Resources
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What is a Rite of Passage school program?
Youth need ways of meeting their edges, to stretch their capacity, in ways that are positive and life affirming. They will find ways to do this, potentially in negative ways, if schools and communities do not provide these opportunities.
The transition from childhood into adolescence & adolescence into adulthood is pivotal. Schools can provide opportunities to bring deeper meaning and conscious awareness to the developmental changes.
We need to find new cultural rituals that are non-appropriative and are aligned with the youth participating, connected to land and with what is actually happening in their lives! We specialize in this!
What is the purpose or goal of the program?
Intention setting and marking a significant transition. These brings deeper meaning to a student’s life
For students to gain more confidence in themselves and trust in community.
To support schools, youth and families in providing an experience they will never forget and that will make a positive impact for the rest of their lives.
How can your school schedule a program?
Choose from one of programs above, or schedule to chat about creating your own custom program!
We love the creative process of learning about your school’s needs, sharing about our curriculum and finding impactful ways for the two to meet.
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What are some focuses in the curriculum and tools you use?
Experiential learning with focus on reflection of self, community, and nature. Great for team-building, self development, goal and intention setting and preparing for any next phase of life. All based around nature activities, games, reflection, and embodiment practices.
Specific curriculum can include shelter-building, fire-making, knot-tying, nature-based arts and crafts, leadership skill activities, group teamwork activities, non-appropriative ritual/ceremony, camp craft, communication skills, the way of council, nervous system regulation by understanding more about grounding & centering, and much more.
Let’s have a chat ~ we love to share about our curriculum and how it weaves with your schools.
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We have an exceptional safety record and are currently in the important process of a risk management audit.
We provide trained and experienced guides who are skilled in emotional and physical safety. At least one of our guides will be certified as a Wilderness First Responder, and all of our guides are competent in First Aid and CPR training.
Depending on the program, we ask for a varying quantity of teacher/parent chaperones to join us. We will share our teacher/parent chaperone handout which explains more about their role and expectations on our trip.
In addition, risk taking is part of any rite of passage and wilderness exploration. We find a keen balance between the nature of exploring in the wilderness and the necessary boundaries around safety. We will speak to each school and design a program that incorporates tolerance for risk and as much transparency as possible in this process.
In addition we always include youth in the process of creating group agreements around safety. This is particularly important around incorporating talking circles and confidentiality. In addition to the leadership and group care aspects of these trips.
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All prices are per student per day
Basecamp Day Program at RoPJ - $65 (includes lunch only)
Basecamp Overnight Program at RoPJ - $140
Basecamp Overnight Program in Olympic National Park - $150
Backpacking Overnight Program in Olympic National Park - $170
These prices include experienced guides, most food needs*, group gear (participants/chaperones will get a list and must provide their own personal gear), curriculum development, transportation from basecamp to the coast. We can provide shuttle from the Lynnwood Light Rail or the Seattle Airport. Please inquire for rate.
*If a school has a lot of specialty oriented food needs there would be an extra cost. We can accommodate some special needs like vegetarian or gluten free. Vegan is a little more complicated and might require a student to bring some additional food.
All prices are based on a minimum of 9 students (or participants). Schools may bring fewer than 9, but we will charge for 9 students. 1 teacher or chaperone is required per 9 students at 50% the cost.
Interested in booking or creating a program for you school?
Please email us at info@riteofpassagejourneys.org, and our School Program Coordinator will be in touch!
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There are ways to support your youth before and after our journeys, such as helping them get in shape for hiking or backpacking. We also share resources for a school to learn to facilitate council and share this with families. In addition it’s important to offer support for incorporating their experience into everyday life. We can assist with resources that support this.
At the very least, we want to share with parents that a Rite of Passage is a time to mark change in their youth. One of the most important things is to provide time to listen to those changes and asking questions is important.
A practice of providing options to a youth is good! Sometimes they don’t know what they want or need and an open-ended question can have too much pressure. So providing options of independence or possibilities can help them find their own voice in the school and family system.
For a brief overview of our parent/guardian resources, including an intro to council, click here
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You can download a copy of our sample packing list for a week long backpacking trip here. This can be quite extensive. There are some resources in community to rent or borrow gear. If the list seems daunting please do speak to our School Program Coordinator.
In addition, we are in the process of developing a basecamp packing list. Please inquire if you are considering this option.
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Group Agreements will be based on your specific school’s needs and ideas, but all Journey’s program are based on these 3 tenants:
Respect Yourself
Respect Others
Respect Nature
Creating group agreements are an essential part of the Rite of Passage process. The guides will cultivate group opportunities to speak about what “safe enough” means. As this incorporates risk taking as a natural process of being human. Our intention is to not make things “perfect” but to bring understanding that being human is vulnerable and complex and be curious together how we intentionally create resiliency, empathy and understanding in community.
