Without social-emotional support, boys are more likely to turn to self-destruction and violence. This reality drove Vashon Island natives Nicky Wilks and Alex Craighead to found Journeymen Institute, which aims to bring out the best in our boys.
Wilks and Craighead explain that while boys were traditionally initiated into manhood, most modern youth never undergo an intentional rite of passage. A rite of passage is a ceremony that marks the transition from one phase of life to another. Journeymen’s mission is to encourage compassionate, inspired, and resilient young men through nature-based rites of passage, mentorship, and community engagement.
Journeymen provides statistics that lay bare the problem of struggling boys, including:
- 1 in 3 young men have no positive male role model
- 1 in 3 boys say they lack a sense of identity
- Boys are 3.5x more likely than girls to commit suicide
- Boys are less likely to apply to, attend, and graduate from college than their female peers
Wilks’ professional experience includes three years teaching high school, five years in college admissions, and twelve years coaching youth sports. Craighead is also veteran youth sports coach, and he has ten years of classroom teaching experience, holding a Masters in Teaching from Seattle University.
In addition to offering summer camps on Vashon Island, Journeymen partners with several school districts in the Puget Sound region, offering in-school mentorship to boys at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
Journeymen facilitates vital experiences to guide the men of tomorrow to discover their authentic gifts, create a strong vision for their future, and fully engage in their lives through meaningful service and effective, heart-centered action.
Journeymen Institute
Boys summer camps for ages 9 through 19
Journeymen is accepting registrations for their camps in May – July, 2021. Voyagers camp is for boys in grades 3 to 5, Wayfinders is for 6th through 8th graders, and The Quest is for young men ages 15 to 19. This summer Journeymen has a new offering, Kindle, for boys in grades 3 to 5 plus a parent/guardian.
- Kindle – the ultimate celebration of our sons. Equal parts play and purposeful process, this experience is the perfect opportunity to share in the magic of childhood with your special young guy.
- Voyagers, Wayfinders – boys will be encouraged and supported to test their physical, emotional, social and psychological boundaries, growing in their self-confidence, refining their authentic leadership style, and deepening in character.
- The Quest – a highly intensive rite of passage experience designed to welcome our participants into a new story of life. Outside the influence of modern media, peers, teachers, and the traditional systems of authority, boys will be given opportunities to dive into their past, cultivate the power of presence, and create a vision for their future.
Journeymen is not affiliated with any religious group. They look to “our external and internal environments for inspiration, wisdom, and guidance,” adding, “Finding our place in nature is both fun and healthy.” They are active on Instagram with their profile @JOURNEYMEN.
