In-School Group Mentoring for Boys
For Male-identified students in Grades 5 – 12
Journeymen’s CIRCLES course is a positive mentoring group for boys featuring weekly in-school group meetups, engaging experiential learning activities, and deep conversations boosting mental health.
In a safe, supportive, and empowering community of their peers, volunteer adult mentors, and trained facilitators, participants explore the 7 CIRCLES themes of Compassion, Integrity, Resiliency, Community, Leadership, Equity & Service as we journey toward healthy adulthood.
All of our meetups use some form of the “talking circle”, during which all participants practice authentic communication, speaking and listening from the heart. In-school CIRCLES meetups are free to attend, and fees for outdoor adventures and off-site trips are sliding scale with fee waivers available for those in need.
Pre-registration for CIRCLES is currently open for boys attending Vashon Island Schools and Hilltop Heritage Middle School.
Pre-registration does not guarantee placement as final rosters are determined with school administrators.
Why CIRCLES?
Boys who participate in CIRCLES…
Increase academic achievement
Reduce discipline referrals
Develop a positive personal identity
Build meaningful, intergenerational relationships
Increase awareness/understanding of emotions and influence on behavior
Expand their empathy and take the perspective of others
Improve communication/listening skills
Develop a core set of values
Awareness of the impact of their actions
Increase decision-making & problem solving skills
Improve ability to resolve conflict
Engage in meaningful service for school and community
CIRCLES Outcomes are in alignment with Washington State SEL standards, including:
Self Awareness, Social Awareness, Self Management, Social Management, Self Efficacy, and Social Engagement.
“The CIRCLES program has given our most at-risk students both a sense of empowerment and responsibility for making the world around them a better place.”
– Superintendent of Schools
“I’ve figured out ways to get confidence from within and not seek acceptance or validation from others.”
– Youth
“There really are no words that do justice to how much gratitude I have for Journeymen to be a part of my son’s life – thank you – never underestimate the impact you are making in so many lives.”
– Parent
Interested in having CIRCLES at your school?
CIRCLES are currently active in…
Vashon Island, WA
Tacoma, WA
Seattle, WA
CIRCLES are currently offered to self-identified male students at select schools in Tacoma and Vashon Island, Washington. Enrollment is coordinated with school staff based on needs and capacity. We encourage interested parents to submit a Registration Form below and we will do our best to accommodate your request.
FAQ’s
By creating safe spaces for boys and young men to begin to process their personal and shared traumas we are addressing the needs of some of our regions most impacted youth and providing pathways to success in school and beyond.
- 1 in 3 young men have no positive male figure
- Boys with no role model are 2x as likely to turn to crime
- 1 out of 3 boys say they lack a sense of identity
- Boys are 3.5x more likely to commit suicide than girls
- Boys are less likely to apply to, attend, and graduate from college than their female peers
Recognizing that western society is struggling to properly welcome boys into manhood, Journeymen creates these necessary transformational experiences for adolescent boys to discover, refine, and amplify their authentic selves.
We encourage compassionate, inspired and resilient young men through nature-based rites of passage, mentorship, and community engagement.
Through these initiatives, Journeymen is deeply committed to fostering equitable and regenerative communities that address many of modern society’s most prominent issues, including sexual assault, violence against women, racism, and preserving and restoring natural resources.
In-school CIRCLES meetups are free to attend, and fees for outdoor adventures and off-site trips are sliding scale with fee waivers available for those in need.
Journeymen Institute is not affiliated with any religious group or church.
We look to our external and internal environments for inspiration, wisdom, and guidance. Finding our place in nature is both fun and healthy.
Each circle is capped at 15 students and requires an adult-youth ratio of at least 1:5
All mentors participate in an intensive 8-hour training and submit to a full background check process.
Enrollment is coordinated with school staff based on needs and capacity. We encourage interested parents to submit a Registration Form if interested in particpating and we will do our best to accommodate your request.