Before the pandemic, I was a co-director for Nature's Mystery Awareness School. We ran a three year coming of age mentorship journey with overlapping concepts. It was a highly structured framework with curriculum, ceremonies, insurance, and a high entry fee for families.

I learned a lot from my years with the school about child development, integrating learning and play, and holding complex group dynamics as a mentor, but I feel strongly that I do not want to approach this from an institutional perspective. I will not be taking out insurance or drafting a formal curriculum, instead I’d like to schedule dates for the year for full day adventures, bringing my wealth of mentoring skills, stories, crafts, games and more, while also allowing the girls to reveal what they are wanting and needing as we get to know each other. I’d like to be their mentor and friend, a member of the community, an auntie, and not a “professional” separate from their/your lives. I’d also like to feel that we are in this together, resourcing what we need as a group and navigating complex experiences when they arise as a team!

Before the pandemic, my girls groups were wrapping up their third year together. It is profound to see what a container like this can be for this age. And it was also so helpful for the parents to have each other! I’d really like to hear your ideas, and understand what kind of participation would feel right for you. Each month one adult will join for the outing and drive half the group. This provides an opportunity periodically for mothers to participate. Most months I'd like to bring along young women from my previous groups now 19-21 yo, as well as elders to share their perspective from different stages of life.