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Following a boy's journey through the Rites of Passage Adventure Weekend, he is considered no longer to be a boy, but to be a JourneyMan or JMan. This is a symbolic recognition that he has begun a pro-active journey from boyhood into manhood. The ongoing mentoring program at Threshold Passages uses group meetings, called JourneyMan Groups or JGroups, for mentors and JourneyMen to interact for a year following the initiation weekend. Threshold Passages creates an environment in which positive male role modeling can take place over a long term. Participants learn about accountability, integrity, personal responsibility, honest communication, connection to feeling, and about the importance of discovering a sense of personal mission in the world. The mentoring model followed by the Threshold Passages program does not automatically assign Mentors to JMen. It is within a group environment that appropriately closer Mentor/JMan relationships are allowed to develop. All Mentors have been subjected to state and national criminal background checks.
The annual JGroup schedule involves meeting regularly every other week with special additional quarterly meetings throughout the year. Mentors are asked to provide transportation for the JMen to and from the meetings. JGroups can be classified either as an "In" meeting or an "Out" meeting... Listen to what boys express Admire what’s great, unique, and worthy Accept boys for who they are, how they are, where they are Mentor boys on their path to who they are becoming Bless the courage and the genuineness that we see We don’t FRAP. We don’t: Fix boys or perceive them as “broken” Rescue boys from their predicaments Advise about what to do unless specifically asked Project our own boyhood issues onto others "Out" meetings are focused on continuing to develop the bond of trust between the JMen and the Mentors and is fostered in a FUN setting. Outings can include indoor rock-climbing, lazer-tag, model rocket building, bowling, etc. The goal is to allow everyone to just be kids and be in touch with the value of "play." "In" and "Out" meetings are alternated, with 13 of each having been experienced throughout the year. As well, quarterly activities are planned and occur on a weekend. The thematic pattern is as follows... JMen that wish to staff an RPAW will go through a screening process that includes an Elder Interview and mandatory acts of service. Once these requirements are met, JMen can attend an RPAW and help lead the process to initiate more boys into their journey to manhood. Once a year has passed, the JMen can elect to continue with Threshold Passages up until their 18th birthday at which time they are ceremonially recognized as men. To continue on with Threshold Passages, the young man must pass a background check and be willing to participate as a mentor. |
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