They’re navigating more pressure, more fear, and more noise than any generation before them, with fewer chances to just stop, breathe, and find themselves.
Our Wilderness Rites of Passage Backpacking Trips were built for exactly this moment.
They help Teens find…
For thousands of years, cultures guided young people through Rites of Passage experiences to help them step into the next stage of life with confidence and purpose.
Our Wilderness Quest journeys bring this tradition back in a safe, guided way through multi-day backpacking experiences in the Marble Mountains of Northern California.
“An absolutely thrilling, exciting, and truly life-changing experience for our 14 year old. This journey was far more than a hike—it became a path to self-growth, reflection, and personal realization. Every step challenged, inspired, and renewed her. The guides created an unforgettable experience, making the adventure both meaningful and empowering. She came away with incredible memories, a fresh perspective, and a deeper appreciation for myself and the journey. Highly recommended to anyone seeking adventure with purpose. She can’t wait to go next year.”
”My daughter just completed a week-long Guided Passages backpacking trip, and there aren’t enough stars to convey how transformative it was. At 18, about to graduate high school and head off to college, she came back more confident, self-assured, and resilient, with friends for life and a new appreciation for her own resourcefulness, for nature, and for what she’s capable of. Jasmyne led with genuine warmth and steady leadership, making sure my daughter felt seen, valued, and celebrated as herself. The rest of the guiding team brought that same care and warmth throughout the trip. As her mother, watching this transformation has meant more than words can say.
“I’ve got nothing but love, respect and admiration for Jasmyne and Guided Passages crew. I’m both grateful and indebted to them in a hundred different ways and a hundred different reasons. This was my son’s second year. The first year I was blown away by the impact it had on him. The change was instant, noticeable from the second he stepped into the parking lot on his return. The trip is a core memory, it ain’t ever going away. But I was unprepared for this year. Last year it was all about the impact the trip had on him. This year, it was all about the impact he had on his fellow hikers. Turns out he’s awesome. He’s sweet and he’s kind and funny and more of everything that I’ve always known, but to hear it from his peers just makes me smile. This trip changes your kids. In the best possible ways. You hear it from the kids in the circle every time, Guided Passages helps them find themselves.”
“Our girl made it home on Saturday after five days and four nights backpacking in the Marble Mountains with Guided Passages for Youth. This was her third year participating and her final middle school adventure! Over the course of the week, they hiked miles of beautiful wilderness, swam in crystal-clear alpine lakes, had a dance party under the stars, journaled, cooked, spent a day solo, built friendships, and immersed themselves in nature. On Sunday morning, the group gathered with their guides and families for a closing circle where each child was honored and celebrated for who they are and how they showed up during the journey. It was a powerful rite of passage experience for all of us. [Her Dad] and I are so proud of this girl of ours and that we could send her on this trip. What a special week and an incredible way to close out her middle school years.”
“Our daughter recently returned from a backpacking trip with this amazing organization, and I cannot say enough about her experience. The hiking, camping, and adventures were incredible, but the real transformation was what happened on the inside.
The leaders created a safe, supportive environment, where these young girls could challenge themselves, build confidence, form meaningful relationships, and discover strengths they did not know they had. We sent our daughter on a backpacking trip, but she came home with something for more valuable: greater confidence, self-respect, resilience, and hope for the future.
The impact you had on our daughter is difficult to put into words. I wholeheartedly recommend this program.”
“When my teen returned from a guided passeges wilderness backpacking trip, she said that she had an absolutely phenomenal time and that it was the best experience of her life. Swapping out screens and daily life for trails, swimming, and campfires was exactly what she needed to recharge and connect on a completely different level. The experience fostered a genuine collaboration of support, and friendships were made. My teen walked away asking to return next year. The guides were incredibly knowledgeable, ensuring everyone felt safe and confident regardless of their prior backpacking experience.
From the gear provided to the backcountry meals, everything was well-organized and stress-free. If you are looking for a unique, impactful experience for your teen, I can’t recommend this highly enough. Thanks for making this trip accessible, safe, and fun with such a great outdoor experience.”
“My 12 yo daughter attended the rights of passage wilderness backpacking trip and loved it! Jasmyne is an amazing mentor and guide and my child felt very comfortable with her and enjoyed the experience so much! I highly recommend this challenging adventure for your tween/teen! She learned so much about herself and loved everything about it!”
“Our 12 year old daughter went on a guided passages rites of passage backpacking trip. She had the time of her life She learned lots of valuable lessons and made a bunch of friends. Guided Passages really did their best to help us overcome any barriers we had that would have prevented her from attending this trip. Thank you so much again for everything. This was the trip of a lifetime for our child.”
“I am thrilled to have [my daughter] participating in this amazing offering in the fall. This is the woman who led the backpacking trip (for five days and four nights in the Marbles) that [my daughter] absolutely loved this summer. The emotional growth that we saw from just that one week with Jasmyne and her team still has us in awe. I want to share this opportunity for any local friends who might not yet be aware of it. If only something like this had been available when I was growing up!”
“My daughter joined in on a 5 day youth backpacking trip summer of 2024 and she had a wonderful time. It was a great experience for her. It was a very hard hike for her, but the feeling of accomplishment afterwards far outweighed the temporary discomfort. They kept the kids very well engaged in games and council and so much more. My daughter enjoyed it all. She made lasting friendships as well. Jasmyne was so accommodating and helpful getting ready for this big trip. We felt comfortable and well prepared. I highly recommend Jasmyne and her unique programs that touch tween and teen lives in a very positive way!”
This Wilderness Rites of Passage trip is for 15-18 year old young women who are ready to mark their transition into this next phase of life. This is a 7-Day, 6-Night Backpacking trip into the Marble Mountain Wilderness of Northern California that includes a 24-hour Solo experience. This is a powerful Rite of Passage journey where they will get to truly be initiated into this next phase of their lives with intention and ceremony.
Who am I? What am I leaving behind from my childhood? Who do I want to become? What are my gifts? What is my calling? Why am I here?
This is their moment to sit with those deeper questions, to sit with themselves, to claim who they are, and to call in what they want in their lives and what they want to share with the world.
Trip Dates: July 8th-14th
Welcome Home Ceremony with Parents: July 15th
Tuition: $1,500.00 (See below for program inclusions)
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This wilderness adventure is for incoming 7th, 8th, and 9th Graders age 12-14, who are ready for the adventure and challenge of a lifetime. This will be a 5-Day, 4-Night Backpacking trip into the Marble Mountain Wilderness of Northern California to mark the transition into their teenage years, get wild, stretch themselves, connect with themselves and others in deep and meaningful ways, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
This is going to be a powerful and life-changing experience that will help middle schoolers move forward into this next phase of their lives with more confidence, intention, and purpose.
Trip Dates: June 16th-20th
Welcome Home Ceremony with Parents: June 21st
Tuition: $1,250.00 (See below for program inclusions)
*Payment plans, partial scholarships, and fundraising opportunities available if cost is a barrier.
Kerrick was raised in the Hill Country of Austin, Texas where he studied at the University of Texas. After some travel, he moved to the Rogue Valley of Oregon with a vision to farm and support youth. He completed his Bachelor’s of Science in Applied Cultural Anthropology with Honors in 2004 at Southern Oregon University, and devoted over a decade supporting youth and their families navigate local and state social service programs. During this time, he and his partner cultivated a food forest at their home and founded Verdant Phoenix as an educational mini-farm in 2016.
Verdant Phoenix Farm became an expression of a way of life for Kerrick. He is interested in the relationships between humans, soil, microbes, plants/trees/shrubs, food, culture, time, and the web of life. As these elements inform his horticultural practice, Kerrick enjoys supporting landscapes, gardens, farms, and their people who are interested in belonging to the land.
