Why choose a Rite of Passage?

Step into the next phase of your life with confidence and clarity.

Creating an appropriate challenge for our youth, Rites of Passage fill a gap in the development of young people today and address the increase in isolation, anxiety and mental health challenges by providing tools and resources for young people to navigate challenges in their environments and to actualise their goals. They offer a map for the transformation and understanding of oneself, each other and the gifts we have to offer the world.

For over 20 years the Rites of Passage Foundation (ROPF) has been providing conscious, community-led, nature-based rites of passage programmes. Born from a wish to send our teenagers on their way to becoming confident and responsible adults, the rites create a safe place to meaningfully mark the transition from teenagehood into becoming a young adult.

Our rites are a multi stage process. Teenagers who have experienced their initiation are invited back to subsequent programmes as mentors for the new initiates. A lot of them come back many times and eventually step into leadership and facilitation roles. We also offer adult programmes to mark the transitions of other life stages.

Our Programmes

 

 

Tracks

Tracks is our 5-day residential programme for boys (14+ year old) and their fathers. Using nature connection, storytelling, physical challenges, games, ceremony and creative arts, Tracks rites help your son access essential tools for the fundamental shift of child to young adult.

We also offer a pre-rite of passage weekend program for boys 8-10 and their dads called Rising Sons, and a Good Men Make Tracks weekend for any man with an interest in rites of passage, transition and the stages of life.

Tides

Tides is our 5-day residential programme for girls age 14+ and their mothers. Using nature connection, storytelling, physical challenges, games, ceremony and creative arts, Tides rites help your daughter access essential tools for the fundamental shift of child to young adult.

We also offer a pre-rite of passage weekend program for girls 9-11 and their mothers called Rising Tides, and a 2-day residential Ebb’n’Flow programme for women with an interest in rites of passage, transition & life stages.

Programmes for ages 18+

While coming into young adulthood is one of the major transitions in a person’s life, it is not the only point in time when we find ourselves in front of a threshold.

This is why we also offer a range of 18+ programmes, such as Crossroads (5-day gender inclusive programme for ages 18-35), Marking Life’s Stages (3-day gender inclusive intergenerational programme), the Good Men Make Tracks and Ebb’n’Flow weekends, and a seven day Wilderness Solo.

Funding Your Rite

From the outset ROPF has been determined that any family who really wants to participate should not be prevented from attending for financial reasons.  

Self design payment plans (minimum of $40 per week) are available to all. For those needing further assistance we look to a collaborative approach taken case by case. We may also be able to allocate scholarship funds that have been gifted to ROPF to support families who need it.

Gift a rite

We are a small organisation that achieves as much as we can through grants and volunteer support. Your donation helps us fund rites for families in need of financial assistance.

Donations

If you would like to become a one-off or regular donor, please [click here] or contact our Board Chair, Stef Jongkind at admin@tracks.net.nz