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“I have to say it was one of the best things my Mom convinced me to do! For whatever reason, you don’t get the kind of connections you build in this group in your day to day lives with friends. I think one of the huge benefits was the creation of a safe space with an element of spirituality that lets you feel really comfortable sharing your life with the people you’re with. In this modern age where small communities have been abandoned in favor of social networking online, it was really, really refreshing to have meaningful conversations with other people my age and to have guidance from older people who were really personally connected to me.” - SSP Boys Group Alumn |
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“The first day I walked away from the meeting I said something to the effect of |
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“Though it was a “coming of age” program, what I liked was that there wasn’t a huge emphasis on telling me what "coming of age" meant or how I should change – rather, it opened my eyes through activities and speaking to what I wanted to change about myself and how I wanted to grow. It’s a very personal experience and I’d recommend it to everyone going into middle / high school!” |
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"Stepping Stones is perhaps the greatest gift I have given my children. My sons, now 19 and 16, have had the benefit of not only completing the core Stepping Stone program, but their groups have elected to continue on through high school. The result is a very tight knit group of young men who are connected to adult mentors who are not their parents, aunts, uncles, etc. I have confidence that these connections are deep, real, and will continue to help guide my sons through decisions great and small in their life. What a gift to them to have this, especially in the up and down years of adolescence." |
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"Over time our friendship grew so much that I trusted them with my heart... it was so nice to have these people in my group that I could talk to about anything and I knew they would listen, I knew they would have advice, I knew they would care, and it was really good to have that kind of support during this hard time of age when you're confused about what's going on and changing and adapting to the real world." - SSP Girls Group Alumn |
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"Stepping Stones reminds me what is important in this life. Every time I'm with my girls, I'm reminded of all the magic that lives both dormant and expressed in our youth, and within myself. This organization--this village--creates a place for us to reclaim the magic; the simple magic, that lives in nature and in genuine connection. When we gather, I feel the power of our words, of the way that we relate to each other, and the importance of the ways we make meaning in our lives. Being a part of this project reminds me that my actions matter, and truly make a difference in this world. My passions are fed, my voice is heard, my strengths are celebrated and my heart is expanded. This village feels like home." - SSP Girls Group Leader |
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“I feel as if we developed a large degree of wisdom from the program, and real sense of place and who our son is.” - SSP Parent |
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“Middle school is probably one of the hardest times any kid can experience – it’s awkward, it’s confusing – so having some sort of direction is so important, and me personally, I don’t know what I would have done without having my friends there and these older people who aren’t my parents, but they’re not me either, they’re right in between so it’s perfect.” - SSP Girls Group Alumn |
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“We went on many camping trips and what each of the trips gave us was a challenge, a challenge to make it to a certain goal in one day, to make it to the top of a volcano and see incredible views…you get to the top and see everything you’ve accomplished…and you’re like “I did it”, and it’s that feeling of having accomplished something. It’s not something you get every day in school, in every day life.” - SSP Boys Group Alumn |
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“The Leaders aren’t just adults that supervise, they become your friends. We talk about the things they’ve already gone through…they have such good advice, such good stories. In our groups we laugh together, we cry together, it’s just so powerful. I’m so happy I did it because I learned so much and I gained so much.” - SSP Girls Group Alumn |
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"The middle school years are not always easy. Stepping Stones provided a safe outlet for me and other girls during this time of intense transition both physically and emotionally. I was able to create sustainable, and meaningful relationships with a core group of girls when my other relationships with my friends and family were quickly changing. We were able to create a safe space built on honesty and trust that allowed for questions, confessions, advice, and unconditional support for one another. Stepping Stones helped me stay grounded during a time when so many young teens feel lost. I am so grateful for my Leaders, who provided me with the tools to help me stay physically, mentally, and spiritually healthy even to this day, and the bonds and memories I share with the other girls in my group will last forever." - SSP Girls Group Alumn |
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“There were times when I didn’t want to go, in the beginning I was really nervous, like “I don’t want to do this!” but in the end you get so much out of it. It’s definitely worth it.” - SSP Girls Group Alumn |
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"As we went through the opening ritual with the parent group for my 6th grade daughter, I thought about my son, whose group went from 6th through 12th grade, and my other son whose group started in 6th and is now going strong in 10th grade. I was filled with anticipation and excitement for the unique and amazing journey I know she and her group are embarking upon. What made me so thankful about the experiences my boys had was how well known they were by their group and the Leaders. When we had our 8th grade ceremonies, I was struck by how deeply and even differently the Leaders and other boys knew my sons and were able to express it. I knew in the fabric of my being that this was the greatest gift that my children have experienced in growing up. I think it is rare for our kids to be truly witnessed, truly known and so completely engaged by those outside of the family during the most crucial time in their lives. Stepping Stones started off as a big uncertainty, a little hokey feeling, a mix of strange kids, families and new leaders, and it required a leap of faith. But the manner in which I saw my boys develop complete ownership over the years was an affirmation and the ongoing thread and devotion of the group was one of the great anchors in my kids' lives. And now, like passing on a favorite book, I get to sit back and watch with incredible confidence and enjoyment as my daughter begins her Stepping Stones experience." - Chris, SSP Legacy Family |
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“Middle school can be a harrowing time for girls – navigating the pressures of today’s peer culture and distorted body image ideals. Girls thrive in the safety of healthy peer relationships with positive female role models they can trust to share their most intimate hopes and fears, while getting positive feedback and support. Stepping Stones groups provide an experience for the girls to realize they are not alone and to confidently walk through the waters from child to young woman.” - SSP Leader |
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“The activities you do are the bomb, when you start you usually bond with your group and once you become close you decide what you want to do…we did a defense class…the camping trips are so much fun, just being out in the woods with your friends…” |
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“It is a close knit community of peers who meet regularly during the formative middle school years to play, discuss, laugh, create, learn, imagine and explore together in the great outdoors. Stepping Stones youth are encircled and guided by leaders, elders and parents as they move toward adulthood and |
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“Stepping Stones Project is an amazingly organic organization. I’ve seen it change and morph into an organization whose mission is both incredible and idealistic – working in developmentally appropriate ways to help support and foster authenticity, communication, and a love of nature in youth. That’s a huge mission. I’ve also seen us change from an organization into a thriving community of people who share a vision and values that begin to support and affect everyone’s life in a positive way. You may be a young person who has completed your marking ceremony, but you are still part of our village. You may be a parent whose child has completed “the program”, but you are still part of a community. The same is true for leaders, parents, and elders. I love this work.” |
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“In the beginning, I had no real idea of how this group would actually work or proceed. I imagined something vague. Now after almost a year, I am in awe.” |
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“Coming of age rites of passage are essential in these turbulent times, not only to provide young people and their family and friends with an ancient and deeply current body of ritual and meditation to help negotiate the pathways of life, but also to strengthen the commitment for each of us to take our place in the world as fully alive and loving human beings. The Coming of Age program offered by Stepping Stones Project provides an excellent foundation and comprehensive network of support for this crucial work .” - SSP Parent |
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“The leaders are amazingly kind and intuitive! I am a social worker by profession, and feel like they both can really connect with our girls like no other in their lives. We do indeed love our Leaders!” - SSP Parent |
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“The leaders of this group have provided my son a very special time to be safe in opening up to his peers and to the leaders, about who he is, how he feels, what his deep concerns are about his life. The leadership skills are beyond anything I imagined. My son loves going to the group meetings. The experience is incredibly precious. For my son, these men are invaluable role models.” - SSP Parent |
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“We had a rite of passage ceremony…that was an important turning point.” |
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“People go through bat mitzvahs and other religious coming of age groups, but what I like about Stepping Stones is you’re going through it all together…it’s really comforting.” - SSP Girls Group Alumn |
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“Whew. It was all FANTASTIC. The idea that there is even a program such as this is wonderful; that there are people such as our group’s Leaders. Wow. That there is a large degree of ceremony, that there is a genuine respect for others and time is given for everyone to speak. Great. The program levels the playing field for the boys. They see they’re not alone.” - SSP Parent |
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“It’s the place where you get personal without it being awkward.” |
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“After about a year with the group we really trusted everyone. We really trusted the leaders, what they had been through, and we trusted our peers and were able to discuss stuff with them and talk about whatever…” - SSP Boys Group Alumn |
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“It was a great support, especially when our family went through a difficult divorce and my child was struggling. I felt good knowing that my child had a safe place to talk about his life and feelings.” - SSP Parent |
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“[My son] has many friends, but this group seems to be a place to go beneath the surface instead of just playing video games and joking around.” - SSP Parent |
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“The leaders were beyond fabulous, generous, fun, insightful, trustworthy and loving. They created a very special space for our children… I would recommend Stepping Stones in a hot second!” - SSP Parent |
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"We were able to create a safe space built on honesty and trust that allowed for questions, confessions, advice, and unconditional support for one another." - SSP Alumn |
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“It’s a time to hang out with friends and talk, but you also have adults there but they’re not parents, they’re people to hang out with that have already been through what we’re going through…they would tell us stories about their lives and adolescence…it was like chillin’ with friends.” - SSP Girls Group Alumn |