THE PATHMAKER PROGRAM
"Walker, your footsteps are the path, and nothing more.
Walker, there is no path, the path is made by walking…"
(from Antonio Machado's Proverbs and Songs #29)
The Pathmaker Program
OUR core offering
The Pathmaker Program is a transformative journey for boys ages 9-19, guiding them toward self-discovery, emotional intelligence, and a sense of deep belonging within their community and the living world. Our innovative mentoring curriculum is rooted in principles of natural adolescent development and wholeness. This helps boys and young men move forward in life with authenticity, confidence, compassion, and a sense of purpose.
The Inner Compass
THE Pathmaker Framework
The Pathmaker Program's structure and 12-month curriculum are based on a four-directions model of psychological wholeness we call the Inner Compass. This framework for adolescent development draws on varied sources, especially ecopsychologist Bill Plotkin's books Wild Mind and Nature and the Human Soul.
Each of the four cardinal direction of the Inner Compass corresponds to an essential facet of wholeness. These facets are distinct dimensions of our innate or natural potentials, and different ways of relating to and expressing oneself in the world.
THE NORTH: THE LEADER WITHIN
This realm of the self operates through heart-centered thinking, and is all about caring for oneself, others, and the world, and making positive things happen. Cultivating the Leader Within starts with self-awareness and an ongoing exploration of values and priorities. Developing the Inner Leader entails learning a variety of practical skills, such as self-compassion, time management, and accountability.
THE EAST: THE SACRED TRICKSTER
The East direction of the Inner Compass provides the gifts of wisdom and a sense of oneness and interconnection, along with humor, awe, and wonder. While fully present in the here and now, the Sacred Trickster is equally aware of the depths of time and the vastness of space. We can we turn toward the East when life feels too serious or overwhelming, and a dose of wisdom, gratitude, or laughter is prescribed.
THE SOUTH: THE WILD INSTINCTIVE ONE
This one lives in direct and full-bodied kinship with the animate world, infused with the powers of the rushing river, the approaching storm, the pack of howling coyotes, and the vast night sky. A well-developed South facet is also open and receptive to feeling the full spectrum of emotions, welcoming each one as a vital messenger about our inner state and our relationships.
THE WEST FACET: THE EXPLORER OF THE DEPTHS
The adolescent years naturally give rise to introspection around questions like: What is life really about, and what is worth prioritizing? Who am I? What is my destiny? Who am I called to become? When the arrow of our Inner Compass points to the West we may also find ourselves captivated by our nightly dreams, or by myth, story, symbol, metaphor, the possibilities of romance, and countless other portals into the excitement of all that is new and unknown.
The Pathmaker Curriculum
YEAR-ROUND OFFERING
To succeed on the path to life-serving manhood it is invaluable to have a broad set of insights, practical skills, and inner capacities. Our rich curriculum is offered via weekly discussion prompts, experiential practices, skill-building exercises, games, and special projects, all tailored for the two age brackets we work with: 9-13, and 14-19 years old.
WINTER CURRICULUM / THE NORTH
The Leader Within
Acquiring varied abilities to care for oneself, others, and the world.
Learning skills for effectiveness and making positive things happen; abilities to see what needs to be done, to make a plan, and to carry it out, either on one's own, or in collaboration with others.
Learning to regulate one's nervous system
Developing good habits for time management, personal organization, follow-through on agreements, and accountability.
Practicing clear and compassionate communication.
SPRING CURRICULUM / THE EAST
The Sacred Trickster
Exploring practices for present moment awareness and concentration, eg mindfulness meditation, and breathwork.
Developing skills for sensory awareness and close observation, including deep listening, journaling, and sketching..
Cultivating a holistic 'big-picture' view of life that integrates scientific and spiritual perspectives from varied sources.
Tapping into awe and wonder in connection with the inner and outer wilds.
Enjoying spontaneity, humor, and playfulness.
SUMMER CURRICULUM / THE SOUTH
The Wild Instinctive One
Developing embodied emotional intelligence.
Exploring body awareness and somatic practices for being at home in one's skin.
Engaging in movement practices including dance, martial arts and primal movement.
Cultivating a sense of deep belonging and kinship with the animate world.
Coming home to a sense of place within the particular landscapes and ecosystems of one's local bioregion.
AUTUMN CURRICULUM / THE WEST
The Explorer of the Depths
Exploring multiple layers of meaning in myth, story, metaphor, symbols, archetypes.
Attuning to one's inner depths via dreamwork and embodied imaginal practices.
Expressing oneself from the depths via journaling, visual arts, poetry, or music.
Valuing and tending to one's own emerging sense of meaning, identity,
and purpose.
The Value of a Trustworthy Inner Compass
With a reliable Inner Compass the naturally turbulent teen years can be navigated with resourcefulness and resilience. While each young man ultimately charts his own way forward, Rooted Futures' Pathmaker Program provides a supportive community from which diverse paths can radiate outward into the future.
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