Earth Keeper Way – Teen Boys Nature Camp
Earth Keeper Way is a transformative 6-day adventure for boys to embark on a journey to manhood, connecting with nature and themselves through powerful, hands-on experiences.
In a culture where one of the only “coming of age” or Rites of Passage gestures is to hand a 16-year-old the keys to a car, it’s exciting to bring a program forth for boys becoming men. But what does that mean in today’s world? At Earth Keeper Way, trained ceremonialists, rugged outdoorsmen, and gentle-hearted leaders will guide your son to know “the heart of the Warrior”. Life as a man is so many things – protector, kind supporter, communicator; having strength, courage, and confidence; being in touch with one’s emotions and able to navigate them. These are the cornerstones of the Earth Keeper Way nature empowerment camp for boys 11 – 17 in Eagle, CO.
Camp Type: 6 days, Mon. – Sat., 9 am – 5 pm, with one overnight on Friday
Dates: July 28 – August 1; 9 am – 5 pm
Cost: $550 through April 1, then $575
Ages: Rising 6th grade through High School boys
Location: Vail Valley, CO
Activities included: Hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, a gentle sweat lodge ceremony and daily counsel circles make this unique program an invaluable step in a young man’s coming of age.
Earth Keeper Way is designed to help boys transition into manhood by offering an immersive, nature-based experience that focuses on personal growth and life skills. Through activities like kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, and wilderness skills, campers will push their limits, build resilience, and strengthen their connection to the world around them. This program blends outdoor adventure with leadership development, self-awareness, and communication, giving boys the tools to navigate relationships and their future with confidence and clarity. They learn teamwork and true leadership as they build their emotional IQ, and learn about anger management and effective communication using Non-violent Communication techniques.
Camp Details
Only 30% of boys ages 13-18 say, “I feel confident.” (YPulse Study, 2018)
Earth Keeper Way is a transformative experience that supports Middle and High School boys’ passage to manhood through hands-on nature adventures. This 6-day program, including one overnight, is phone-free and offers boys the opportunity to develop key life skills, build confidence, and connect with their authentic selves.
Activities such as kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, and wilderness survival skills give boys the chance to push their boundaries and build resilience. The camp emphasizes holistic growth, helping boys balance strength, intuition, and a deeper understanding of their connection to the natural world and each other.
This empowering camp helps equip boys with life skills for the passage to manhood they are stepping into, and gives them space to ask questions and explore their own answers.
Each day integrates outdoor adventure with personal awareness, leadership, communication, and life skills as boys tackle team and individual challenges in nature. They learn teamwork and true leadership as they build their emotional IQ and effective communication.
Activities include rafting, hiking, rock climbing, outdoor survival skills, and robust games. Campers spend time in Council Circle, learning deep listening skills and how to constructively offer and receive reflection. They learn to recognize and support their personal values, set goals, and develop communication tools for navigating relationships.
All exercises, Councils, games, and activities take the boys one step farther in their rite of passage journey and invite insights to the question: “What kind of man do I want to be?”
On the final day, campers embark on a 2 to 4-hour solo journey in nature to deepen their personal quest. Upon their return to base-camp they prepare a celebration and set up camp for an overnight.
The final ceremony allows the boys to celebrate their personal growth and the bonds they’ve formed during the week. That night they sleep in tents or shelters they build, and together, they cook and clean-up, then share stories and drumming around a campfire they build themselves.
“Our goal is to show boys the path of peaceful warriorship; where they can be strong and empathetic; go all out…and go deep within. There has never been a more important time for young men to find their balanced heart and that’s what we’ll do in our Earth Keeper camps.” Ryan Loo, Lead Facilitator.
The investment in your son’s empowerment and growth is $550 if registered and paid by April 1, then $575. This program provides a unique opportunity for boys to embrace their passage into manhood while gaining the confidence, resilience, and communication skills needed for a successful future.
Investment in your son’s empowerment: $575
Questions?
Email
susie@womenempower.us
Phone
970.328.5472
Contact us to discuss a customized Earth Keeper Way for Boys for your Club, Troop, or other groups.
Boost the confidence of your young boys.
Testimonials
“I’ve floated the river many times in my life, and usually I’d just lay down on the back of the raft and stare at the sky while my parents did all the work. But this time, in my own boat, with my own paddle, it was different. I had to work! I had to make an effort towards the way I wanted to go and it was challenging. I felt more engaged and more free, and more responsible for my actions. It helped me feel more gratitude for what my parents have done for me up until this point, and showed me that I can take care of myself. Even if it’s a little messy sometimes.”
“Earth Keeper Way is an invitation to boys to begin the initiation into becoming young men. This program is a process by which boys find their true strength, see their real gifts, as they as ask, “Who am I in my living with this place?”
Over the course of the program the rhythm of the days is intentionally intensified, culminating in a ceremony which calls upon each boy to call out his own great strengths. Along the way each boy is supported through appropriate trials of body and spirit and he must rely on his team, as well as his inner strength to succeed. He must listen more than he speaks. He must lend a hand at least as much as he works towards his own progress. In this process, each boy is uplifted as an individual, and taught to be a necessary part of the collective’s success.
In a culture where too many boys lack this initiatory process, and turn to YouTube, TikTok and marketing platforms without their highest growth at heart, Earthkeeper Way stands as an essential element in boys process of becoming men.”
Boost the confidence of your young boys.
Facilitator
Ryan Loo – Connecting Boys to Nature, Community, and Inner Strength.
Ryan Loo is a father of five boys and two girls, happily married, and leading men’s and boys’ circles near Austin, Texas. He is deeply committed to the path of self-discovery, mentorship, and community. Seeking truth, he once spent three months alone in the mountains, stripping away distractions to investigate the fundamental nature of reality. He has also undertaken a four-day nature fast without food or shelter to mark a new stage of personal growth. Through these experiences, he sees nature as a mirror that helps us remember who we truly are.
Steeped in the Indigenous traditions of North America and Mexico, Ryan deeply respects the wisdom of ceremony, reciprocity, and connection to nature. He has found that rites of passage are sorely missing in modern culture and that community role models are essential for the positive initiation into manhood.
As a father and mentor, Ryan believes that Rites of Passage prepare young men for their own Hero’s journeys, equipping them with the strength and wisdom to face life’s challenges. In doing so, they become capable of contributing not just to their families, but also to their communities and the greater human story.
“I feel privileged to help guide boys in the Explorers camp discover their unique connection to nature. I’m excited to return to the Earth Keeper Way program and guide older boys in their first steps through their important passage to manhood.”
Boost the confidence of your young boys.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Where and when is it?
Held in Eagle on August 18-23. Refer to the website for details.
What makes it unique?
It combines wilderness skills, nature adventure, self-discovery, team and solo challenges, and mentorship.
How do I sign up?
Register online
What is the cost?
$550 through April 1, then $575, including activities, instruction, equipment, and materials. Payment plans may be available.
What is the refund policy?
Full refund before [May 1]; partial refund afterward.
What will my teen do?
Activities include hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, team-building, mindfulness, journaling, storytelling, learning emotional tools for drama, bullying, etc., non-violent communication, and leadership exercises.
What is a typical day like?
Days include structured activities at base camp, on the Colorado River, and rock climbing outdoors; plus Council time, games, challenges, and time in nature for creative free time. A full schedule will be provided.
Is prior outdoor experience needed?
No, beginners are welcome and encouraged.
How is safety ensured?
Small groups, trained mentors, and first-aid-certified staff are present.
What should my teen bring?
Essentials include outdoor clothing, a 1 qt. water bottle, a journal, a hat, sunscreen (non-spray), and prescription medications. Packing lists for the climbing, river, and overnight days will be provided.
Are meals provided?
No. Please pack your child a healthy lunch and snacks. Boys will create the menu, manage, cook, and clean-up the meals for the overnight. Parents will be asked to donate a portion of the meal. Dietary restrictions are accommodated.
What if my teen has allergies or special needs?
Please inform us in advance for proper support.
How will I get updates?
Daily email updates are provided. Emergency contacts are available and in the hands of all facilitators.
Can parents visit?
No visits during camp, but parents are invited to bring their child to do a site visit before camp, by appointment only.
Boost the confidence of your young boys.
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