2012 Parents Journey

Parents Journey, July 6 - 8

Cross Generational Communication

Our Goal In this two and half day intensive, you will have the opportunity to explore many of the same tools that the young people will be learning on Teen Journey.

By profoundly understanding what teens are awakening to, parents can more lovingly and effectively support their teens.

GOAL: Our goal is to empower ourselves and one another, to exchange skills and to tap into our role as true elders who are responsible for bringing up a future generation.

Looking around at the number of parenting, mothering, and family magazines, we were shocked to discover none that addressed the

very real issues parents of teens face. It only shows that our society really doesn't know what to do at this age, mostly because we ourselves had little real guidance then.

Unlike most indigenous cultures, our culture provides no real guidance for transitioning from childhood to adulthood. Not only does it leave young people confused and often angry, it means that we as parents are often confused as to how to properly guide them as we missed this essential piece when we were their age.

This is why we feel it is important to offer this Parent Journey program that works in tandem with Teen Journey.

Where do youth get their myths today?

“They make them up themselves. This is why we have graffiti all over the city. These kids have their own gangs and their own initiations and their own morality and they’re doing the best they can.

But they’re

dangerous because their own laws are not those of the city. They have not been initiated into our society”.

Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth (p. 9) In order to discover their true power and who they are, it is necessary for the teen to face and overcome challenges.

Through their struggles they discover a new sense of self worth and inner power. They then are able to step into their new status as a young man or woman in the larger community.

On Children by Kahlil Gibran Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness; For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Why this is Important for You as a Parent…

Parenting itself is a long journey with many bumps along the road. The tools you had for parenting babies and young children turn out to be completely ineffective for parenting teens. At this time your journey as a parent undergoes a profound shift. You find yourself challenged, as you have never been before. Once sweet and gentle children may now question you about who you truly are and everything you stand for. At Parent Journey, you will recognize the lost connection you did not receive when you were a teen and profoundly understand this transition so that you can more lovingly and effectively support your teens.

This is more than just a program, itʼs an invitation for the parents to initiate themselves into a conscious and heart centered community where we work together to nurture true human beings. Our goal will be to empower ourselves and one another, to exchange skills and to tap into our role as true elders who are bringing up a generation of highly responsible young people.

The powerful Rites of Passage the teens experience at Teen Journey will be even more powerful when met with a shift in consciousness of the parents who choose to go on the Parent Journey this summer. In these times of fragmented community and loss of village we have a lot to gain by removing ourselves from our daily lives so that we can strengthen, clarify, and renew our purpose together.

The past few years have shown us how effective these Rites of Passage have been for the teens. Every year we invited parents to prepare the Return to the Village ritual and provided them with some extraordinary tools to aid the cross generational communication.

Now, we invite the parents to explore further and deeper the same questions the teens will be facing: Who Are We? and What We Are Here For?

They then return to the larger community where family and friends have prepared a receiving ceremony for them. Each teen is celebrated by their peers and mentors to this larger community and now feel inspired to live their gifts.

The Return

Giving is receiving. The young people are acknowledged by their mentors and fellow participants for the progress they have made in discovering who they are at TJ.

Receiving Ceremony

Having journeyed through the rites of passage and earned the status of an adult, they are re-introduced into the community that recognizes and honors them as a young adults.

Celebration

They are welcomed and celebrated with music, story and a feast.

Parents Journey, July 6 - 8 This year tuition is included for one parent to attend Parent Journey, July 6 - 8, at the beautiful Halfmoon Haven Beachfront Retreat & Spa! Here, you will have the opportunity to explore many of the same tools that the young people will be learning on Teen Journey. Read all about it on our Parent Journey page.

What’s Included: • •

•

Accommodation: 2 nights at Halfmoon Haven Meals: Lunch and dinner are included in the sessions. Make sure to inform us of any allergies you may have. If you have a particular diet, you may choose to supplement the catered meals with your own food.

Full program of workshops & ceremonies, including Sweat-lodge

Have a teen at Teen Journey?

First parent is included in the price of the Teen Jour ney program. Additional parent is CAD $240

Parents Journey Facilitators David Hatfield Co-facilitating Teen & Parents Journey – David Hatfield is a leadership consultant and facilitator specializing in rites of passage, conflict transformation, masculinity work and improvisational singing. He has designed and lead rites of passage work for youth and young adults in Canada, USA, Spain, New Zealand and Australia for 13 years. He is completing his M.Ed. in Social Ecology and is researching the experiences of rite of passage program participants.

Ela Rezmer Ela brings to Teen Journey leadership that is led from the heart with clarity and trust. Her passions stem from a multitude of projects always coming from a place of love. Her greatest desire is to invite everyone to create communities that expand consciousness through self inquiry. As a lifelong explorer of self-inquiry, Ela has studied with and been initiated by some of the world’s most renowned, international spiritual leaders including: the Dalai Lama, Dr. Carlos de León, Dr. Vernon Woolf, Juan Ruiz Naupari, and Mantak Chia amongst others. This vision has guided her to serve the spirits of Youth, Mentors, and Parents. Ela brings depth, expertise and a fountain of love to her work and life.

Chris has worked as a youth counsellor for children at risk.

Besides teaching life skills, employment counselling and conflict resolution for teens, Chris has worked extensively with those affected (directly & indirectly) by autism. He is expanding this work, and other information important to him (such as Shamanic Teachings) through various workshops, private family counseling and weekend men’s retreats.

Chris Fletcher

Jennifer Fletcher I am most inspired by the simple acts of human kindness and the coming together of people for the greatest good of all. Teen Journey is an authentic display of just that and it is with great pleasure that I have watched it grow and evolve, with ever deepening excellence and real impact. I am honored to be part of the team, to witness from afar, holding space for this great Vision, and the deeper message that it serves.Â

VISION TJ is the jour ney to the wisdom of the heart to discover who we are.

Show me your youth and I will show you the future of your nation"Georges Vanier Teen Journey is a Vancouver. B.C. based non-profit organization created to empower youth with a vision of interconnectedness, as members of a global village that live from the heart with passion and purpose. Founded on the established research and time-tested practices blending indigenous wisdom with the human potential movement, Teen Journey is a transformational program for youth in search of inner guidance. Led by local and international leaders in the fields of arts, science, and personal development, Teen Journey

Teen Journey is a global community of dedicated, loving and conscious

participants learn the value of self-inquiry as a means to change

people who have come together with

themselves and the world around them. Following an intensive 7 day

the intention of being in service to

Rite of Passage, Teen Journey maintains a year-long program

the future caretakers of our planet:

designed to nurture the values of community, self-inquiry and

our Youth.

creativity cultivated over the 7 days.

Journey website: www.teenjourney.org

INTENTION To e m p o w e r a n d i n s p i r e y o u t h t h r o u g h s e l f r e a l i z a t i o n a n d c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e g l o b a l v i l l a g e .

MISSION • To provide both practical and personal mentorship to the youth involved in Teen Journey • To grow relationships that can bridge the generation gap – between youth, parents and grandparents • To rebuild a relationship of trust between youth and adults, and create a safe space where young people can create their own history • To connect the youth of Teen Journey to an international community and give them an opportunity to experience new cultures and perspectives

A paradigm shift on every level, the barometer of success at Teen Journey is the quality of relationships people have with themselves, each other and with the planet.

Parents Journey Location TJ Leaders & Mentors Parent Journey Print Tour Info Registration Form

Registration through Sacred Earth Journey a licensed company Sacred Earth Journeys (B.C. Reg 28465) Â Tel: (604) 874-7922, Fax: (604) 909-1717, Toll Free 1-877-874-7922

www.teenjourney.org Designed by Science to Sage/Karen Elkins www.sciencetosage.com