Men’s Wilderness Quest

Are you feeling the call to quest? To discover your wild soul? To be initiated as a man? If so, join us in a deep, challenging and transformative rite of passage over 9 days, including 3 full days of solo time in the wilderness.

Rites of Passage has been guiding men on wilderness rites of passage for over 30 years. These deep transformational journeys into the heart of nature and the hearts of men have had an enormous impact on the men who found the courage to say “yes” to the inner call.

This is a classic Wilderness Quest program in the tradition of Rites of Passage, which has offered this program for over 40 years.

DAYS 1-3

The first 3 days are Severance or preparation time for the solo. Meeting in Council sessions, the group will explore a range of subjects related to the Quest solo, including safety-related issues: flora/fauna, weather-related concerns (heat, cold, lightning), essential first aid, our buddy system, and tarp-tying.  The group will also explore eco-spiritual tools that can be of great value in preparing, such as the Four Directions teachings, exploration of Intent, self-generated ceremonial practices, and teachings from the Death Lodge. Group members will have several hours to follow their calling to find a solo site to hold them in the wilderness for days and nights.

DAYS 4-6

You will have three days of time in the liminal world or Spirit world, between your old life and the birth of the new. This is time to let go, heal, reflect, write in your journal, sing, dance, laugh weep, call in the life awaiting you, mark your passage with ceremony.

DAYS 7-9

The final 3 days, following the return from the solo, will be devoted to taking the necessary steps of return or Incorporation in a fully conscious way. This process begins with a Council session where each participant has the opportunity to tell the story of their Wilderness Quest solo and to receive essential feedback and confirmation from staff regarding what has been achieved.

Read Tom Anderson’s article A Community of Men in which he describes the need for this work.

*Transportation is not included in these fees and is the responsibility of the participant.  You will need a higher clearance vehicle for the program, but not a 4 wheel drive vehicle.

Mike Bodkin, the Emeritus Executive Director of Rites of Passage, has guided people into nature for personal and spiritual development for over 35 years.  He also directs the guide training program at Rites of Passage.

Munro Sickafoose is a husband, father, wilderness quest guide, and ordained minister. He has been deeply involved with indigenous earth–based ceremonies for many years, and leading groups and individuals in the wild since 1996.  Munro’s interest in men’s work began in the early 1990’s with the growing understanding that along and many other men, he had not been initiated into male adulthood in a healthy way.