Thank-you Letter to Donors, Coming of Age for Boys "Isaac"

Thank you for not putting your money in stocks or bonds or gold but in the next generation of American youths. Your donation towards this life-changing trip has made me go from a needy boy into a motivated young man ready to embrace the responsibilities left for me by past generations. Global warming, economic collapse, water shortage, and energy crisis are the problems that lie looming in our world's future. It is only because of programs like these that young people are given the tools to combat and eradicate these problems. By donating to Journeys, you are shaping young men who will in turn shape the world.

Wild Days - Coming of Age for Boys II

[written by Cameron Withey, mentor on Coming of Age for Boys, August 11-24, 2013]

It was the height of summer, 2013, and nine boys showed up to the yurt at Songaia to answer the call of the spirit of the wilderness: a call to testing and challenge, a call to listen more deeply to nature within and without, a call to live a greater and wider life. They were met by three men to guide them through this process, and off to the woods they went.

Our first two days were spent learning basic skills of wilderness awareness and survival: how to step lightly and not be heard, how to listen and really hear, how to make simple shelter and pack a backpack, and how to stay safe amid backcountry dangers. We played games and all performed skits to much laughter and applause. We even were able to stop, as we journeyed towards our trail on the Sol Duc River of the Olympic Peninsula, to take a swim in the cool clear waters of Lake Crescent.

Starting up the trail, it didn't take long for the group to encounter many of the challenges and joys of wilderness travel. We had heavy packs and sore legs, but also encountered amazing waterfalls and uncountable blueberries and huckleberries. There were bee stings and exhaustion, but also trailside frogs, salamanders, deer, and wild peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Looking at Sol Duc Falls

On our second day on the trail we met a fierce rainstorm just as we were ascending a high pass near Bogachiel Peak. The wind blew rain on our faces and plastic-covered bodies, and fog rolled in, flowing over ridges and down into the valleys below. In the midst of this, we spotted a black bear, standing in a meadow not far below us, eating berries. We stood watching for ten minutes, hushed but for the dripping of the rain.

Turned ankles, wet gear, steep hills, long hikes, homesickness, yes- but ahh: hot soup, fresh cat tracks in the mud, mind-boggling views of misty Mt. Olympus, the foggy Hoh River valley, and the deep clear lakes strewn across the rocky, flowery, sub-alpine land.

Blue Glacier at Mt. Olympus

Checking out a viewpoint into Seven Lakes Basin

And then, after over 24 hours of near-steady rain, the sun broke free as we walked through a wildflower meadow along High Divide, and we basked in warmth, drying ourselves, awed by the mountains surrounding us. Conversation bubbled as we hiked down to our camp at Sol Duc Park for a merry evening, hot food, and deep sleep.

Lupines and Indian Paintbrush on High Divide

As our short but intense trip through the mountains wound down, back along the Sol Duc River to our trailhead, we transitioned into our coastal leg. It began with a short hike through the woods on a damp, foggy morning, but it wasn't long once we arrived to the beach before the fog cleared and the sun came out. Everyone enjoyed some well-deserved beach play, involving frisbees and a major, whole-group engineering project on a tiny stream flowing down the sand from the hill above.

The industrious young men

It was a relief and a pleasure to be on the sand in the sun, and in the presence of the steady, re-assuring sound of the ocean, but like in the mountains our days were full of activity. The boys took on more and more responsibility for cooking, setting up and taking down camp, navigating, and generally directing themselves. They were challenged by their mentors to take responsibility for their choices and how they affected others. They spent solo time on the land and practiced making fires and shelter to prepare for their 24 hour solo fasts.

The solo is the culminating event of the journey; the boys let go of their childhood and step into the unknown. On the night before they went out alone, we had a ceremony marking this brave step in which they each shared the masks they'd made and painted and what they represented about what they were letting go of. They each impressed us with their depth of self-reflection, and we witnessed them putting their masks into the fire. The next morning, at dawn, they walked out to their solo sites along the beach, to fast and sit with themselves and the wild world.

View from camp at Strawberry Point

Rain and sun, eagle and otter, ocean and sky, fire and boredom, grief and insight. These were some of those present on solo day. We kept the fire burning, and the next morning welcomed them back with song, an orange wedge that tasted like "a slice of heaven," and miso soup. They each shared the story of their experience, each unique, each meaningful both in its simple reality and in ways we aren't yet aware of.

Then: a day of relaxation: of games, naps, coal-burned utensil-making and carving, pizza, singing, and theatrics around the fire. What a day, what a life.

The next morning we packed up and began our journey home, a journey that took us back along the beach with its rocky headlands and starfish, through a day of independence and self-determination for the young men, into the old humbling place of the sweat lodge, to a meeting with the elders, to stand before a gathering back home to share stories and be greeted as a new person, as a youth...

It's a journey that in many ways still continues...

The Journeyers Return: Notes from Coming of Age for Boys

Phew! We've just returned to sunny Songaia after three weeks of journeying through the wilderness of the Olympic Peninsula, and questing through the wilderness of our hearts. Seven boys and four guides set out to undertake the journey between childhood and adolescence. We've braved glacial rivers, torrential downpours, and invasive sand, seen black bears and eagles, and each grown through the fires and blessing of traveling through the wilds with a group of fellow seekers. Below you'll find a glimpse of our journey, written by the boys on one of their final days. Enjoy!

Hiking

During this trip we did a lot of hiking. It started off really hard between the heavy packs and the very treacherous trails, but as the journey progressed and our muscles grew, our packs got lighter, the trails became easier, and hiking overall was tolerable. We woke up early in the morning to start hiking and that did nopt help hiking being enjoyable. The weather everyday affected our moods towards hiking. In the beginning, it was very sullen and rainy, but over time the sun came out and our moods started to brighten. Though the hiking was not fun, the sense of accomplishment of finishing a trail or getting to an awesome view made it all worthwhile.

 

The group poses in front of the largest Sitka spruce in the world!

Enchanted Valley

Enchanted Valley was very beautiful. We really liked waking up in front of waterfalls and amazing mountains. We went on a day hike and it was very fun. We were stopped halfway through because the waterfall had broken the bridge across. Instead, we went to the river and had lunch. Overall, we think enchanted valley was very "enchanting".

 

Morning View of Enchanted Valley

The Beach

The beach was a significantly different experience from the woods. First of all we would fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves instead of rushing river. The sand got everywhere which was annoying! It was a lot harder to hike on the and and it was a lot colder because of the ocean breeze. Overall, it was harder but still fun.

 

Washington or Hawaii?

Solo

The solo was the most challenging part of this trip. We started very early in the morning and it was extremely cold. It got worse as the day progressed. It got colder and we got hungry. There were fresh muscles in the water that we could have cooked but out of a sense of duty, we agonizingly refrained ourselves. As the day grew longer and colder, we started to get very bored and lonely. We started to become into a state where we were growing emotionally and the whole days was physically and emotionally straining. When we got back we ate oranges that tasted like heaven.

An Accomplished Group

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prospective Immigrants Please Note

by Adrienne Rich

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Either you will

go through this door

or you will not go through.

If you go through

there is always the risk

of remembering your name.

Things look at you doubly

and you must look back

and let them happen.

If you do not go through

it is possible

to live worthily

to maintain your attitudes

to hold your position

to die bravely

but much will blind you,

much will evade you,

at what cost who knows?

The door itself makes no promises.

It is only a door.

Coming of Age for Boys 2012

In the summer of 2012, our group of eight boys set out on a three-week backpacking trip through Olympic National Park. Our objective was to begin to fill the shoes of young men and step out of our childhood neediness. We began our journey as complete strangers, yet grew to become close friends. Along the way we faced many obstacles; such as strenuous hiking, learning how to work together, and getting adjusted to the new routine. We overcame these obstacles only with the help of our friendship and guides.

One of our biggest challenges was becoming mature enough for our guides to step back and let us take control of the trip. Pulled together by the great leaders in our midst, we did a good job beginning to take on the responsibilities setting and breaking camp. Breaking camp was difficult for us, and this resulted in the opportunity to do community service trash pick-ups and a lot of exasperation. Fortunately, we learned from our mistakes and improved our clean-up skills.

The physical element of the trip was yet another challenge we faced, and took a great deal of courage to surmount. We hiked a full mile (over 5000 feet!) of vertical and crossed raging rivers, babbling brooks, lush meadows of wildflowers, and flitted across vast fields of glowing snow, then we traveled to the beach and traversed b beaches and scaled sandy bluffs. To culminate this adventure we spent 24 hours of solo time on the beach while fasting and partook in a sweat lodge ritual.

This journey taught us about nature, ourselves, and being a young man in today's society.  It helped us let go of our childhood neediness and dependency, find out about our strengths and weaknesses, and use this enlightenment to step into the role of a young man and start giving back to the people who raised us and cared for us through childhood.

--written by Isaac Zinda and Rowan Gallagher

Coming of Age for Boys II 2011 Mythic Story

Once upon a time,
once below a time,
once above a time,
once beside a time,
once beneath a time.

In a time that there was no time and yet there was.
A group of nine boys set out on a journey into the wilderness.
They came from many different places, some knew each other and some did not.
In the beginning they learned about teamwork, trust and respect and formed a friendship together.
But, as the journey progressed, their number came to eight when one boy left to follow his own path.

They met a master storyteller.
A man of wisdom, he told them of the importance of listening.
He told stories of great warriors, epic journeys, and insurmountable challenges.
After listening to his stories they feasted on meat and bread.

Then they set out to the wilderness.
They trekked for many days and through many camps to a great peak.
There they saw a powerful beast traveling in the valley below.
In their descent, they enjoyed the snow and explored by the river.
They returned to the road and they traveled to a massive ocean.
They saw proud creatures of the sea and the forest.
They sheltered there before trekking over sand and through the woods.
They were tested in teamwork and trust when they were tasked with carrying an injured comrade's burden in addition to their own.
Luckily they received help from fellow travelers who helped distribute the weight between the boys.

They arrived at a time where they were not boys and not men.
They were no one.
They fasted and meditated on what they were and who they wanted to be.
They washed away their childhood and were welcomed into a new way of life.
They were welcomed back as young men.
They left mentors and started a camp of their own.
At first they argued and quarreled.
But they sorted out their differences and agreed to a pact.

A pact of respect and shared responsibility.
They then returned to the land from which they left to continue their adventures individually.

Written by the Young Men of our Coming of Age for Boys II, 2011.

Coming of Age for Boys II Send-Off

On July 31st we sent off another group of young men (along with two amazing mentors) into the wilderness. Here are a few photos from the Send-Off Ceremony.



May the trail rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and the rains fall soft upon your tarps.

(Adapted from an Irish Blessing)

We are excited to see you all again very soon!

Photos taken by Emily Pease.

Coming of Age for Boys I 2011

Arrival at Songaia basecamp was to begin what would reveal itself to be an imposition of joy, discomfort and challenge, as seven youth stepped into the unknown. Severing ties from their childish ways and choosing that which would be their counterpart is a long and difficult process culminating at the end of the trip during the reincorporation process. The representation it chose of itself was that of the wilderness and what marvel and beauty it cherishes.

The sixty-mile hike from Cape Flattery was merely the importance held by the metaphor, as participants were those exposed to the subjection of initiating their first cautious yet courageous steps into manhood. Curious Seals, Sea Otters and Dahl Porpoises deemed their sighting a worthy one as they littered the Pacific Ocean that shapes the western coast. River and headland crossings were to taint challenging hikes. The experience denied no opportunity to swim in rivers and lakes throughout the three weeks; as well as their expressive parent: the ocean. Evenings revealed themselves to be donors of that valuable opportunity as posed by ‘council’; a sacred circle whose purpose is to allow genuine and authentic voices to express both emotions and fears as well as the provocation enticing listening from the heart. Mentors bless individual mentees as they cross the threshold to the ‘solo sites’, the chosen location in which they are to spend 24 solitary hours pondering both life and where on its surface and depth their feet will fall.

Returning from the Journey each boy now a youth tells an individual tale of courage, confidence, and even terror. Crossing the final threshold on the comforting return home, each individual returns with a weight whose lightening of their load in life is evident. The gifts they bring are soon to be shared with the world.

Written by Alessandro Genovese (Age 13), Coming of Age for Boys I 2011 Participant.