YOUTH RITES of PASSAGE & QUESTS for VISION

NATURE CONNECTION RITES of PASSAGES

With Dr. Tom Pinkson, Andrew Smyth, & Kimberly Danek Pinkson

— Carrying on Ancient Wisdom Traditions —

Opportunity to reconnect with the WISDOM & POWER of NATURE and the WISDOM & POWER of YOUR OWN NATURE

Quests and related rites of passage are part of ancient wisdom traditions rooted in deep and intimate connection with Mother Earth, with the Creator, with the infinite power of the Universe. They can be honoring, empowering, and healing. The intention you set, what you seek, and what you are willing to give all play a big role in what experience you may have.

Programming is anchored in Nature’s wisdom principles and carries on Indigenous wisdom teachings passed on to us with great responsibility. We offer these rites of passage to support you/your child to:

Rediscover the intelligence and power of their own inner nature

Experience ceremonies based in ancient wisdom ways

Grow a deep-rooted knowing of self

Build relationships and a sense of belonging and purpose

Participate in traditions that have been used for millennia to support and guide people seeking a good life

Learn tools to connect with the Earth, recharge mind and body, and cultivate joy

Return to wholeness in recognition of interdependence with all beings.

In group ceremonies and in solitude, on the land, near the sea, in the forest, under the stars, we can quiet the mind, open the heart, and remember we matter.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Vision Quest
(ages ~15-18)
August 3-8 | Tahoe National Forest

Rite of Passage Weekend
(ages ~10-14)
October 4-6 | Los Padres National Forest

Quest for Vision
(Youth & C-Suite Leaders)
May 2025 | Los Padres National Forest

DETAILS
Location: We will meet at a designated trailhead for an opening ceremony with parents/guardians/or special adult friends you would like to have included as part of your blessing send-off ceremony.

Price: In order to make this experience accessible and inclusive of a diverse group, price is on a sliding scale ($300—$1,200) and includes a donation to support land stewardship,  questing with your guide/s, and scholarships for those with less economic access. Each quester is responsible for individual travel expenses and all camping gear and meals.

Upon registering, you will receive preparatory instructions as well as a packing list.

For more information or to reserve your spot, GET IN TOUCH today.

Amid the stressors of the times—from social media and academic pressures to climate change, school shootings, and racial and social injustice and division—our youth are experiencing rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation as never before seen in modern times.

Our children are literally being born into a world on fire, looking for hope on screens and devices, connection through wifi, when what they need is Nature connection.

Nature connection can restore hope and a sense of purpose and belonging that drives health, wellness, and joyful being.

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All programming is custom designed according to developmentally appropriate age groups and geographic regions.

Dr. Tom Pinkson

Following the instructions of his Huichol grandmother”, mara’akame Guadalupe de la Cruz, Tom is a pioneering bridge builder sharing Nature’s teachings and Indigenous and ancient wisdom ways as tools to address the challenges of our time. For over 55 years, he has traveled the globe leading rites of passages, including Vision Quests and plant medicine ceremonies. With B.A., M.S. and Ph.D degrees, as well as studies from the Amazon to the Yukon, from Polynesia to South East Asia, throughout the United States and Europe, Tom’s work blends western psychology, contemporary and ancient wellness practices, brain science and quantum physics, to help people wake up and remember to live from the truth of who and what we are: that we are love and love is for giving.

Tom is an author of six books, has been a keynote speaker at conferences around the world, is a member of The Elders Council, and lives with his wife and animals, near his daughters and grandsons, in Santa Barbara, CA.

Kimberly Danek Pinkson

Kimberly went on her first Vision Quest when she was just 13-years old, with her Dad, world-renowned rites of passage guide, Vision Quest leader, and spiritual medicine teacher, Dr. Tom “Tomás” Pinkson. She has since completed over 20 quests. The ceremonies and traditions Kimberly incorporates in her rites of passage work are based on Nature’s wisdom principles and carry on the lineage and teachings Dr. Pinkson was given by his Indigenous mentors beginning over 55 years ago. 

Kimberly has led classes and retreats around the world and been a keynote speaker on sustainability, children in nature, and the power of moms at conferences such as Bioneers, The World Women’s Conference in Seoul, Korea, the North Carolina Women’s Conference, and Natural Products Expos East and West; she has also been a media analyst on channels such as TODAY, 20/20, and Bloomberg, and she has worked with brands such as Stonyfield Farms, WalMart, Method, Nissan, and NBC Universal.

Andrew Smyth, M.A., LMFT

Andrew is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a passion for healing through nature connection. He believes each of us has a unique inner knowing which constantly attempts to guide us towards our highest potential and as a therapist, it is his job—in the office or in the backcountry—to create an environment of safety and trust for one’s knowing to be acknowledged and understood. 

Through a combination of mindfulness, somatic based therapy (Hakomi) and nature connection we can relearn how to regulate our system and find balance in the now. Once our mind/body is able to relax and let down its “protective mode” we are open to a natural organicity of healing. In this often chaotic and fast paced world, we forgot how to slow down in order to remember our bodies innate wisdom. The co-regulation of a safe therapeutic relationship, combined with nature provides the container for deep healing and transformation.

INQUIRE

To learn more about upcoming youth nature connection rites of passages and quests for vision, contact us today:

Kimberly Pinkson |  Andrew Smyth