Weekend Adventure

Journey-Men Groups

About Mentoring

Journey-Men Groups

Information for Parents

Information for Boys

Volunteer Opportunities

Threshold Passages, Inc has a 100-year mission. By the time a century has passed, it is our goal to make initiation and mentoring an integral part of society once again. At that time, there will be no need for organizations like ours because it will be part of what we all do.

August of 2007 has seen the successful completion of our fifth Rites of Passage Adventure Weekend (RPAW) and the end of year 5. 95 years remain in our mission. Year 6 will culminate with the next RPAW, scheduled for August 8-10, 2008.

If August 2008 is too far away contact us and we can share dates all over the world for RPAWs and maybe you can do your weekend somewhere else and return to JGroups here.

Download the application form above, then call to confirm space is available...and mail in your registation forms with your deposit or the full fee or pay via credit card below. We will follow up with you upon receipt of information.

Threshold Passages, Inc is a 501c3 registered non-profit. We are not doing this for the money. However, we do need money to put on these weekends and run the program. We must charge a nominal fee. Payment plans are available. If you are unable to pay the full amount, there are other financial options.
~No boy will be turned down for lack of tuition.~

Rites of passage have played an important role in many cultures for thousands of years. We believe that our rites of passage must be relevant and appropriate for our culture and time, while tapping into the old traditions that still hold meaning.

Participants are adolescent males, ages 12 to 17, who apply to participate in the RPAW. Participation is limited so that sufficient adult mentors are present for the youth attending. The typical ratio of staff to boys during an RPAW is 2:1. Threshold Passages adheres to a strict non-discrimination policy. The weekend begins on a Friday evening and ends on a Sunday afternoon. The event is held in a natural setting.

The specific processes used at rites of passage are kept confidential from the participants. That is so younger members of the community do not receive the adult information before they are ready, because rites of passage are considered sacred and personal and should not be treated casually, and because rites of passage rely on a degree of theater, surprise, and spontaneous response that would be lost if participants knew in advance what was going to happen. However, adult members of the community, especially parents, can be fully informed of all processes and events of the RPAW.

The isolation of the natural setting removes participants from the routines and patterns of their lives so that they can discover new aspects of themselves. They have the opportunity to let go of old patterns that might no longer serve them. They start fresh, discover new, more mature qualities, and learn and adopt new responsibilities and roles.

The participant has an opportunity to experiment with these responsibilities and roles in a non-shaming environment, and to adjust to some of the changes that may begin on the RPAW. The participant's time away gives the community time to prepare for the changes as well. When the participant returns from the RPAW as a "JourneyMan" (defined below), his family is encouraged to accept him as changed and to support the adolescent's increased exploration of life-skills and roles.

Primarily with young men, initiations incorporate physical or emotional tests. These help the boys discover inner resources that they often are unaware of and gain new self-respect and confidence. The tests also help ensure that the initiate is ready for the challenges and responsibilities of adulthood. In the RPAW, the tests are individualized. They are challenging, but do not involve winning and losing, which can create shame. Each boy has the opportunity to test himself in ways that build self-esteem and facilitate growth.

In Threshold Passages, after the boys have faced their challenges, there is a celebration at which they are presented with a talisman. In addition, the young men are honored with a new status within the Threshold Passages community; they are now called "JourneyMen," meaning that they are now on the journey to manhood. JourneyMen are offered leadership opportunities and are eligible to staff as leaders on other young men's RPAWs. A young person's family and community commemorate his passage into manhood through a ceremony or celebration that follows their RPAW.

Some of the primary experiences and lessons a boy gets through Threshold Passages are...

Respect for the feminine: mother, women, and the feminine community Respect for the masculine: constructive and supportive ways of being with a community of men Self respect: understanding of their own unique gifts and of their inherent worth How to connect with and express feelings in healthy and appropriate ways, including anger management Encouragement to honor their own spiritual connection through their own personal rituals of renewal Knowledge of one's own flaws and limitations Communication skills and emotional literacy

For more information, please contact us.