Frequently asked questions.

You are not alone! We are getting this feedback from a lot of families, and the struggle is real.

We hope that kids participating in ongoing weekend activities may elect to skip (for part or the entire activity) once a month without significant repercussions.

While we believe that the best way to participate in Wayfinders and get the most out of our program is to attend in its entirety, we understand that your child may have to miss occasionally due to other commitments.

Bottom line, it is our strong belief, (and obviously we are biased!) above all else in these times, our kids need time to unplug to recharge and reconnect, and the best way to do that is with friends in nature. We think this is worth prioritizing.

Retreats and weekly fire circles take place at Lenoir Nature Preserve, on the boarder of Hastings and Yonkers. The location has an indoor space for severe weather days.

Actively participating in creating healthier and more sustainable communities is one of the pillars of the Wayfinders experience. We support participants with exploring the building blocks necessary for affecting change. Exposure to the step-by-step process in planning and implementing a service project will initiate Wayfinders as leaders in their communities.

The retreats/fire circles will begin as a same-age groups, but following opening circle & gratitude, we will often split into multi age-based or interest-based groups, depending on the activity. Sometimes we will partner older and younger participants to create a peer mentoring component to the program. At the end of the retreats/fire circles - we will regroup to reflect as a same age group in our closing circle.

Wayfinders is ideal for kids and families interested in building stronger communities, developing leaders, and connecting with nature, and are willing to step off of the treadmill (even if just for an afternoon) to explore the quiet and stillness of being away from technology, rushing from one activity to another, and the pressures of daily life, to observe, reflect, and learn in community and in nature.

It is not ideal for kids who are unwilling to get dressed in layers and be outside (although we have witnessed kids (and adults) who did not think they would enjoy this, find themselves enjoying deeply and surprising themselves once in the mix.)

Programs are in the woods!

We will start with opening circle and gratitude and end with closing circle and reflections. By sharing the “story of the day” or the themes or moments that stuck with kids during the program, they further expand their understanding of what they learned.

Programs include development of leadership skills (every participant will be encouraged to participate as a leader during the program and will be mentored on how to authentically bring themselves into the program).

Nature games and physical challenges will be included in our programs.

We will work with our hands with natural materials (for example - wildcrafting or foraging, making bowls or spoons from logs, cordage, dream catchers, fire building/tending, knife skills, shelter building, etc.)

We will integrate creative arts like music (i.e. drumming, singing), and arts (i.e. crafting with nature, mandalas), movement (i.e. choreography) into our work.

Programs inspire community building both within our immediate Wayfinders community, and beyond as participants take on issues in our community (i.e. lobbying for banning of leaf blowers, and idyling)

Activities will be designed to help youth discover and communicate their natural gifts and passions. We believe strongly that if kids start with their natural talents and then engage in activities that give them the experience to pursue their passions, that the path to self-discovery will be a rewarding and meaningful one.

Stay tuned for our curriculum page with more details!

A stronger connection with nature.

A broader understanding and feeling of interconnection with themselves, each other, and the earth.

Leadership skills

A strong connection to the Wayfinders Community and the community at large.

Exploration and identification of personal passions.

Survival skills (shelter, fire, plant identification, animal tracking, etc.)

The drive and skills to take action on local and global issues.

Upon completion of the program, participants and their families are invited to be part of a coming of age rite-of-passage experience. Additionally, participants are invited to apply to be a peer mentor. Your child will step out of the role of participant and into the role of leader and facilitator of the activities. There is no better way to learn the skills than to teach them and there are no better teachers than peers who have been through the program. Your child will learn leadership, problem solving, and mentoring skills, which will also result in a wonderful resume builder.