BECOME A WAYPOINT
Be part of Open Circle’s mission to revitalize and heal community through the wisdom of nature and deep listening.
WAYFINDERS 2026
Rite of Passage Initiative
Wayfinders is about finding direction through mentorship, service, and the wild places that teach us who we are.
A journey across generations — restoring belonging, courage, and care for the earth.
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WHO WE ARE
Grounded in research and rooted in community - reweaving the social fabric.
We are part of a growing movement demonstrating that connection—to nature, purpose, and one another—is one of the most powerful antidotes to trauma, moral injury, and disconnection.
An initiative of Open Circle, created in partnership with Atz and Mossy Kilcher and community elders rooted in the land, Wayfinders unites elders, mentors, and young adults in a shared journey of renewal—restoring belonging and purpose across generations, beliefs and divides. -
WHAT WE DO
From hardship to healing, from healing to purpose
Through nature immersion, mentors and community partnerships, we are cultivating lifelong networks of care that strengthen individuals, families, and the social fabric that holds us all.
Central to each Wayfinders journey is a nature-based rite of passage—a six-to-ten-day wilderness immersion that blends ancient practices of initiation with contemporary science, eco-psychology, and developmental learning. Participants move from struggle to strength, discovering the gifts hidden in their challenges and returning home with renewed purpose and a commitment to serve their communities.
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HOW WE DO IT
We don’t just lead programs — we deepen relationships and build lasting capacity.
Through partnerships with local nonprofits, foundations, and organizations, we seed and support regional hubs—currently in Alaska, California, and Minnesota—each rooted in local culture, land, and leadership.
We don’t just run programs; we train mentors, strengthen organizations, and build lasting capacity so communities can continue this work for generations. In doing so, we’re growing a national movement where caring for people and caring for place are where we come together.
The truth is simple…
I would not be here without Open Circle.
When I first met Open Circle, I was in a fragile place. I had come undone. I’ve often been in spaces that have asked me to leave parts of myself behind. This was different. People saw my whole human being. They valued my presence. It was a groundbreaking space where the ways I naturally led finally found a name and a validity. It was a gift that helped me walk from addiction back to healing with my family and now passing it forward as I lead communities of learning and care with other young entrepreneurs.
I wasn’t asked to prove anything.
I was invited to belong.
— Justin Joseph Taylor