Join Us!
Wilderness Passage
Teens aged 12-15
Join 4EEE instructors for a week long Teen Wilderness Passage experience in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Wilderness.
This program is for teens age 12-15 to learn and experience self-reliant skills. The focus of the week is building and sleeping in a debris hut, making friction fire, tending fire, and learning about needs versus wants.
Every human has four elemental needs: shelter, water, fire and food. Our ancestors were deeply connected to these needs. They knew how to find and create solutions to meet them, as well as how to pass these essential skills on to the next generation. Without this lineage we would not be here today. Our modern world seems to have forgotten much of this. Wilderness Passage is a journey that reconnects youth with these skills, creating confidence, self sufficiency, and transformation. We light the ceremonial fire for each passage and provide parental guidance for supporting this transformation before and after the passage.
Attending a Wilderness Passage program is also where the foundations are set for teens wishing to participate in Teen Quests, Teen Treks or Teen Scout programs.
As this may be considered a “coming of age” tradition – we at 4EEE know that this is not that and is an attempt to create a “rites of passage”. We can only offer a slice of a passage to our youth because traditionally this would have been done through the family and community village.
Through this experience we hope to instill the seeds that teens can share with their community and that these skills help them in finding their vision.
Those teens that have attempted/succeeded in sleeping in a debris hut are encouraged to participate in this program. There are additional layers of teaching, experiences and skills that aren't offered in this format.
Program Details:
Parents will drop-off and pick-up at the Burton Educational Preserve in Nevada City. Teens will travel with 4EEE staff less than an hour away to the Sierra Nevada mountain wilderness.
Arrival: Sunday, June 16th, 1-4pm.
Departure: Friday, June 21st, 4-5pm.
Meals: All main meals included - dinner on Sunday; breakfast/lunch/dinner on Monday-Thursday; breakfast and lunch on Friday. * Please pack any snacks or beverages the participant would like in addition to meals (granola bars, hot chocolate, tea, etc.) *
PRIOR EXPERIENCE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. * Please contact us at info@4eee.org prior to registration if you have not participated in our programs before! *
We held a zoom meeting for Parents/Guardians of teens either registered or interested in participating in the Teen Wilderness Passage weeklong program.
We shared more about what this program can offer your teen and how you as parents/guardians can support them. If you'd like a copy of the recording, please contact Tam at tam@4eee.org. The recording is intended for parents/guardians only.
