The Coming of Age for Boys is a comprehensive journey designed for male identified and associated youth ages 10 through 13. Running from October through June, the program aims to facilitate organic learning outdoor skills, cultivate a deep connection with nature, and foster both personal and collective growth.
Through a series of engaging activities spread across the fall, winter, and spring, participating youth will develop essential physical skills such as wood carving, fire starting, and animal tracking, as well as internal skills like storytelling, conflict resolution,and build tools for sensory management and emotional regulation.
The program also emphasizes building relationships and trust within the group, culminating in a rites of passage celebration during a campout. By meeting regularly at various locations, the program provides a consistent and immersive experience, allowing youth to connect with the natural world and each other in meaningful ways.
In the context of this program with Rewild Portland, sensory management refers to the ability to effectively process and respond to sensory information from the environment. This includes activities that enhance sensory awareness, such as tracking, stalking, mediation, sit-spot practice, and mapmaking, all of which help participants become more attuned to both their self and surroundings; developing a deeper connection to nature and awareness of self.
Emotional regulation, on the other hand, involves the ability to manage and respond to one’s emotions in a healthy and constructive manner. This is fostered through practices like storytelling around the fire, social circling techniques, and high-energy games that encourage participants to share their experiences, build trust, and support and challenge each other. These activities help our youth develop resilience, empathy, and a sense of belonging, which are essential strengths for navigating the transition into adolescence.
The program runs from October to June and features two meetings per month: one two-hour evening meeting on a Monday and one six-hour meeting on a Saturday, usually in the same week. Finally, in a campout after the last meeting in spring, we hold a celebration that integrates the skills, awareness, and relationships that have been fostered with one another throughout the year.
Themes
Fall
Hearth + Shelter: Goal setting. Wood carving, tools, atlatl and rabbit stick. Mallet making and structural joinery. Fire starting. Scouting. The beginnings of ritual and exploring personal practice. Readying for winter.
Winter
Craftsmanship + Creativity: Storytelling, using our tools and skills to expand craft. Canvas pouches and sling bags. Salve making, candles, waterproofing, charcoal and turpentine. Orienteering. Connecting with place. Ritual building and envisioning. Goal assessment.
Spring
Renewal + Growth. Animal skills; tracking, birds language. Spring harvest, and cordage. Advanced shelter building. Learning the cycle of place. Generating personal ritual and routine. Goal achievements.
When We Meet
Our program meets every other Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm. There may be some variations in time for certain meetings.
Dates:
October 19
November2 Campout 9am through 4pm Nov 3rd
November 16, 30
December 7, 14
January 11, 25
February 8, 22
March 8, 22
April 5, 19
June 14, last Saturday meeting
June 17, 18, 19th campout 9am(17th)- 5pm(19th)
Nov will have a 1 night & 2 day campout, June a 2 night, 3 day end-of year campout.
Meeting on a regular basis is one of the main points of this program. Rewild Portland summer camps are a fantastic introduction to being in nature; this program takes that kind of camp experience as inspiration and makes it a regular event. This long-term mentoring experience is meant to consistently bring our young people out in the elements, among plants and other-than-human animals, experiencing, attuning to, and playing in wild spaces.
Where We Meet
This program meets at a variety of locations, including the MudHut, a permaculture homestead in St. Johns; Green Anchors, Rewild Portland’s headquarters, also in St. Johns; Kelly Point Park; the Columbia Children’s Arboretum; and other places. We grow our roots in consistent locations throughout the year. This way, we get to experience the transformation of an ecosystem through the seasons, and by stewarding the same green spaces, we can see the positive impacts of tending the wild.
Tuition
Tuitionis $1950 for the year, which can be paid all at once or spread out over 9 auto-payments of $217 per month. Participants must make a year-long commitment to the program.
*Cancellation & Refund Policy: No refund within 60 days of programming due to cancellation. This gives us adequate time to fill the open space.
Social Guidelines & Policies
Rewild Portland believes that blanket policies regarding behavior for youth of different ages and backgrounds results in lost learning experiences. Instead we use developmentally appropriate guidelines and processes based on the needs of both the group as a whole and individuals in order to maintain social cohesion and safety. Every potential family should download and read our guidelines before enrolling in the program. Download it here.
Our staff-to-student ratio is around 1:6. If a student is unable to participate with the autonomy we give them at this level of supervision and requires more attention from our staff, we cannot accommodate them with this program. In the past we have welcomed youth who need more supervision to attend with an aide or helper who is hired independently from Rewild Portland.
Staff
Born and raised in Portland, Johnny Spathas has always been at home in the Pacific Northwest. From a young age, Johnny has had a close affinity for wild spaces. He is drawn to deepen his understanding and connect with our environment, and share curiosity and exploration with others. Spending lots of time in nature, camping, crafting, and at play, Johnny has developed a passion for weaving together the dynamics of the social landscape, stories, and environment in which we are all inextricably connected. Sharing his experiences and knowledge around creative expression, communication, movement, and reflective process brings great joy to his life. Johnny has been working with Rewild Portland since 2011 in various capacities. He began as an instructor at our Day of Rewilding program and helped establish and run the kitchen at Echoes in Time for four years. He has also been a core instructor at our Homeschool Immersion Program since 2017. Johnny is an intentional learner who seeks out many opportunities to deepen his knowledge and understanding. Some of his favorite connections center around social forestry, tracking, skillsharing, creativity, community, and animals. Johnny is known for his goofy smile, his willingness to play, building with natural materials, and baking chocolate crinkle cookies.
Cameron Christensen (he/they) was born and raised here in Portland. His background is in early education, having worked with both neurotypical and neurodivergent children of all ages. In his free time, he loves playing music and spending time at the river with his dog Aurora.
Fill out the form below to register for this program for the 2024-2025 year. Email info@rewildportland.com to inquire about scholarships!
Rewild Portland is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit dedicated to sharing earth-based arts, traditions, and technologies with a wide range of residents in the Portland Metro area. We understand that even though we work hard to keep our program costs as low as possible, our programs still may not be accessible to everyone. This year we are able to offer a limited number of scholarships for the Coming-of-Age Boys Program.
Please fill out this application to join our waitlist:
Coming-of-Age Program for Boys
A Mentoring Program for Male-Identifying Youth
The Coming of Age for Boys is a comprehensive journey designed for male identified and associated youth ages 10 through 13. Running from October through June, the program aims to facilitate organic learning outdoor skills, cultivate a deep connection with nature, and foster both personal and collective growth.
Through a series of engaging activities spread across the fall, winter, and spring, participating youth will develop essential physical skills such as wood carving, fire starting, and animal tracking, as well as internal skills like storytelling, conflict resolution,and build tools for sensory management and emotional regulation.
The program also emphasizes building relationships and trust within the group, culminating in a rites of passage celebration during a campout. By meeting regularly at various locations, the program provides a consistent and immersive experience, allowing youth to connect with the natural world and each other in meaningful ways.
In the context of this program with Rewild Portland, sensory management refers to the ability to effectively process and respond to sensory information from the environment. This includes activities that enhance sensory awareness, such as tracking, stalking, mediation, sit-spot practice, and mapmaking, all of which help participants become more attuned to both their self and surroundings; developing a deeper connection to nature and awareness of self.
Emotional regulation, on the other hand, involves the ability to manage and respond to one’s emotions in a healthy and constructive manner. This is fostered through practices like storytelling around the fire, social circling techniques, and high-energy games that encourage participants to share their experiences, build trust, and support and challenge each other. These activities help our youth develop resilience, empathy, and a sense of belonging, which are essential strengths for navigating the transition into adolescence.
The program runs from October to June and features two meetings per month: one two-hour evening meeting on a Monday and one six-hour meeting on a Saturday, usually in the same week. Finally, in a campout after the last meeting in spring, we hold a celebration that integrates the skills, awareness, and relationships that have been fostered with one another throughout the year.
Themes
Fall
Hearth + Shelter: Goal setting. Wood carving, tools, atlatl and rabbit stick. Mallet making and structural joinery. Fire starting. Scouting. The beginnings of ritual and exploring personal practice. Readying for winter.
Winter
Craftsmanship + Creativity: Storytelling, using our tools and skills to expand craft. Canvas pouches and sling bags. Salve making, candles, waterproofing, charcoal and turpentine. Orienteering. Connecting with place. Ritual building and envisioning. Goal assessment.
Spring
Renewal + Growth. Animal skills; tracking, birds language. Spring harvest, and cordage. Advanced shelter building. Learning the cycle of place. Generating personal ritual and routine. Goal achievements.
When We Meet
Our program meets every other Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm. There may be some variations in time for certain meetings.
Dates:
October 19
November 2 Campout 9am through 4pm Nov 3rd
November 16, 30
December 7, 14
January 11, 25
February 8, 22
March 8, 22
April 5, 19
June 14, last Saturday meeting
June 17, 18, 19th campout 9am(17th)- 5pm(19th)
Nov will have a 1 night & 2 day campout, June a 2 night, 3 day end-of year campout.
Meeting on a regular basis is one of the main points of this program. Rewild Portland summer camps are a fantastic introduction to being in nature; this program takes that kind of camp experience as inspiration and makes it a regular event. This long-term mentoring experience is meant to consistently bring our young people out in the elements, among plants and other-than-human animals, experiencing, attuning to, and playing in wild spaces.
Where We Meet
This program meets at a variety of locations, including the MudHut, a permaculture homestead in St. Johns; Green Anchors, Rewild Portland’s headquarters, also in St. Johns; Kelly Point Park; the Columbia Children’s Arboretum; and other places. We grow our roots in consistent locations throughout the year. This way, we get to experience the transformation of an ecosystem through the seasons, and by stewarding the same green spaces, we can see the positive impacts of tending the wild.
Tuition
Tuition is $1950 for the year, which can be paid all at once or spread out over 9 auto-payments of $217 per month. Participants must make a year-long commitment to the program.
*Cancellation & Refund Policy: No refund within 60 days of programming due to cancellation. This gives us adequate time to fill the open space.
Social Guidelines & Policies
Rewild Portland believes that blanket policies regarding behavior for youth of different ages and backgrounds results in lost learning experiences. Instead we use developmentally appropriate guidelines and processes based on the needs of both the group as a whole and individuals in order to maintain social cohesion and safety. Every potential family should download and read our guidelines before enrolling in the program. Download it here.
Our staff-to-student ratio is around 1:6. If a student is unable to participate with the autonomy we give them at this level of supervision and requires more attention from our staff, we cannot accommodate them with this program. In the past we have welcomed youth who need more supervision to attend with an aide or helper who is hired independently from Rewild Portland.
Staff
Born and raised in Portland, Johnny Spathas has always been at home in the Pacific Northwest. From a young age, Johnny has had a close affinity for wild spaces. He is drawn to deepen his understanding and connect with our environment, and share curiosity and exploration with others. Spending lots of time in nature, camping, crafting, and at play, Johnny has developed a passion for weaving together the dynamics of the social landscape, stories, and environment in which we are all inextricably connected. Sharing his experiences and knowledge around creative expression, communication, movement, and reflective process brings great joy to his life. Johnny has been working with Rewild Portland since 2011 in various capacities. He began as an instructor at our Day of Rewilding program and helped establish and run the kitchen at Echoes in Time for four years. He has also been a core instructor at our Homeschool Immersion Program since 2017. Johnny is an intentional learner who seeks out many opportunities to deepen his knowledge and understanding. Some of his favorite connections center around social forestry, tracking, skillsharing, creativity, community, and animals. Johnny is known for his goofy smile, his willingness to play, building with natural materials, and baking chocolate crinkle cookies.
Cameron Christensen (he/they) was born and raised here in Portland. His background is in early education, having worked with both neurotypical and neurodivergent children of all ages. In his free time, he loves playing music and spending time at the river with his dog Aurora.
Fill out the form below to register for this program for the 2024-2025 year. Email info@rewildportland.com to inquire about scholarships!
Rewild Portland is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit dedicated to sharing earth-based arts, traditions, and technologies with a wide range of residents in the Portland Metro area. We understand that even though we work hard to keep our program costs as low as possible, our programs still may not be accessible to everyone. This year we are able to offer a limited number of scholarships for the Coming-of-Age Boys Program.
Please fill out this application to join our waitlist: