2025

Our retreat begins with a 7-mile boat ride across Long Lake in the Adirondacks, leading to a private base camp. Some of us will camp, others will share a four-bed cabin. Together, we’ll cook meals, build fires, chop wood, and reconnect with nature through hands-on, self-sufficient living. One of the days, we’ll hike into the backcountry for an overnight stay by the Cold River.
The experience is guided by the principles of the Rite of Passage Institute and led by Brad Teasdale, Matthew Blesso, and Hans Ruiz. It’s designed to help young men step into adulthood with intention—learning what it means to be both great men and great at being men.
Through storytelling, discussion, and meaningful challenges, participants explore values often left out of school:

Respect & Responsibility – Acting with integrity and owning one’s choices

Gratitude & Honesty – Valuing truth and appreciating life’s gifts

Emotional Expression – Understanding that strength includes vulnerability

Self-Reflection – Imagining the kind of man one wants to become

Awareness of Impact – Recognizing how one’s actions affect others

We’ll also honor the history of the land, once home to the Algonquin people, by integrating elements of their traditional rites into our journey