“It is time to let the seeds that are sitting inside us, see the light of day, for them to find the ground upon which they may grow.”
The Challenges and
Beauty of these times As we emerge from this pandemic, and face into the ecological and human crisis around us, we know that our young ones have taken a real battering. This year in particular, when many of our usual cultural rites of passage - exams, proms, increased independence - have been cancelled, postponed or just plain disappeared, something magical and different is really needed. We believe that a rites of passage experience held in the wild beauty of all that nature brings will help to address, and redress, the imbalance. For our young women to grow into beautiful, healthy and resilient adults they need ground for their seeds to land upon, and spaces to explore the gifts and talents that are theirs to bring into the world. Simple structures and well-held spaces can help them to navigate the challenges of adolescence, and challenges of these times. This structure is provided by the three steps of the rites of passage process. By doing this within ‘wild’ nature, we have access to deep, rich roots and a safe, caring space, away from the stresses of the everyday. This makes transition more joyful, easier and much more real. Rise Up Wild will offer a space for teen girls/young women aged 14-16 to explore themselves, experience the beauty of wild nature, and to begin to make their way into a rich and fulfilled life. |
Dates: 8th- 13th August 2021
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An Invitation To Parents and Carers: To do this work well, we need to involve YOU.
We would like to invite you to a Zoom discussion(s) where we can share our ideas and experiences and most importantly, listen to you. PLEASE CONTACT US for more details.
We will discuss the details of the solo and what may work for your daughter. Explore why you might be drawn to encourage your daughter to take part in something like this. What you think your daughters need in these times. How can we best develop this offering so that it can truly serve your girls, and live up to the extraordinary times our young people are living in, and the extraordinary and individual people that they are.
Sending our children out is a Rite of Passage for the parents too, and by working together we are addressing and honouring the changes that are happening in your relationships with each other.
If you are interested in discussing this further but would rather not do this in a group, one to one Zoom meetings can be arranged.
By working closely with the parents before and during the camps we want to create a bigger community of understanding and support, so the work will be more effective, and create a connective experience for both parent/carer and child.We are considering the idea of offering parents the chance to be in the woods the night of the ‘Solo’, to be a part of the ‘sending off’ and welcoming them on their ‘return’. We would welcome your feedback on this idea. Either way, the work we do together before hand will create an experience that becomes deeply embedded in your own relationship with each-other and the story of your family.
We would like to invite you to a Zoom discussion(s) where we can share our ideas and experiences and most importantly, listen to you. PLEASE CONTACT US for more details.
We will discuss the details of the solo and what may work for your daughter. Explore why you might be drawn to encourage your daughter to take part in something like this. What you think your daughters need in these times. How can we best develop this offering so that it can truly serve your girls, and live up to the extraordinary times our young people are living in, and the extraordinary and individual people that they are.
Sending our children out is a Rite of Passage for the parents too, and by working together we are addressing and honouring the changes that are happening in your relationships with each other.
If you are interested in discussing this further but would rather not do this in a group, one to one Zoom meetings can be arranged.
By working closely with the parents before and during the camps we want to create a bigger community of understanding and support, so the work will be more effective, and create a connective experience for both parent/carer and child.We are considering the idea of offering parents the chance to be in the woods the night of the ‘Solo’, to be a part of the ‘sending off’ and welcoming them on their ‘return’. We would welcome your feedback on this idea. Either way, the work we do together before hand will create an experience that becomes deeply embedded in your own relationship with each-other and the story of your family.
What are Rites of Passage?
For thousands of years, cultures around the world have relied on the wisdom of intentional Rites of Passage to awaken the mature spirit within young people. There is now a growing movement in ‘developed countries’ to support young people in this way, as a part of creating a new regenerative culture, that is alive to the possibilities of thriving life.
A Rite of Passage marks a period of change, of transition from one state of being to another. It offers the young person (or whatever age the person is at) a place to make and mark that change, where they are given a structure to contain them, so they can cross their own threshold into becoming. On their return, they are welcomed back as a new being, as one who has done what they intended. Their story is witnessed by the tribe, by their community, and they are more ready to bring their gifts into the world.
Traditionally, a Rites of Passage ceremony would be initiated by the community a person is living within. That person is sent out by their whole village, who will sit in ceremony, talking and dreaming and holding space and making a gift for the young person, whilst they are out in nature. In Western cultures when people take part in Rites of Passage work (adults and teens) they often leave and return, to a community, that has no idea or experience of what that person has just been through.
We want to help parents and carers, and the wider community, to understand these kinds of nature-based Rites of Passage, so that when an initiate returns, they are welcomed back with open arms, and seen for who they now are. So more on wilderness rites of passage see the work of the School Of Lost Borders.
For thousands of years, cultures around the world have relied on the wisdom of intentional Rites of Passage to awaken the mature spirit within young people. There is now a growing movement in ‘developed countries’ to support young people in this way, as a part of creating a new regenerative culture, that is alive to the possibilities of thriving life.
A Rite of Passage marks a period of change, of transition from one state of being to another. It offers the young person (or whatever age the person is at) a place to make and mark that change, where they are given a structure to contain them, so they can cross their own threshold into becoming. On their return, they are welcomed back as a new being, as one who has done what they intended. Their story is witnessed by the tribe, by their community, and they are more ready to bring their gifts into the world.
Traditionally, a Rites of Passage ceremony would be initiated by the community a person is living within. That person is sent out by their whole village, who will sit in ceremony, talking and dreaming and holding space and making a gift for the young person, whilst they are out in nature. In Western cultures when people take part in Rites of Passage work (adults and teens) they often leave and return, to a community, that has no idea or experience of what that person has just been through.
We want to help parents and carers, and the wider community, to understand these kinds of nature-based Rites of Passage, so that when an initiate returns, they are welcomed back with open arms, and seen for who they now are. So more on wilderness rites of passage see the work of the School Of Lost Borders.
The Team
Jenny ArchardJenny trained as a Wilderness Rites of Passage guide with the School of Lost Borders in California. She is also trained in a shamanic practice. Through both of these ways she has led many ceremonies for people on the and with nature. Jenny is also a Forest School leader, group facilitator and leads Way of Council groups. She has lead on the families and wellbeing work for Neroche Woodlanders for ten years, and has lead overnight family and youth camps. In her past she has worked as a windsurf instructor and generally loves being outdoors, dancing, getting muddy and especially loves cooking on the campfire.
Young WoodYoung Wood is on the Blackdown Hills, within the public forest estate, and yet fairly hidden. Some of the land is old woodland, with historical coppice, and close by the ancient Neroche Castle as well as iron age Orchard Hill Fort. Neroche Woodlanders, of which Jenny is co-founder, co-manage the woods with the forestry commission, with the aim of improving the biodiversity and beauty, and having local people involved in learning, loving and working the land. www.nerochewoodlanders.org
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Sarah ChurchillSarah is a qualified Forest School leader and has experience running day and overnight camps as well as working as a 1-2-1 mentor for young people. She has co-run Family Camps at Trill Farm with Chris Holland for the last four years. She is co-founder of Glow Collective, where she teaches Pilates, and is qualified to work with young people. In 2018 she signed her son up for a course of camps in Devon ending in a solo night out in the woods, and so has experienced being the ‘parent’ and going through that rite of passage herself.
In 2020 she went out on her first Vision Fast on Dartmoor, with Jenny as her guide. It was great! 
Camp HelperWe will have one or two camp helpers, to help with food, girls questions and to make sure things go smoothly.
(It probably won't be a puppy...!) |
