Explorer’s Journey Digital Course

Around age nine, something quietly shifts.

Children begin to see the world, and themselves, in a new way. Explorer’s Journey helps parents understand this threshold and meet it with steadiness, insight, and care.

Coming Soon

*

Coming Soon *

For more than ten years, families have joined me in Explorer’s Journey, my longest-running and most loved parenting course.

It was created to support parents navigating the nine-year change, a subtle but meaningful shift when children begin to experience themselves and the world differently. Their independence grows, their questions deepen, and the approaches that worked in early childhood may no longer fit in the same way.

Explorer’s Journey offers parents a thoughtful space to understand what is unfolding and how to meet this stage with clarity and care. Over the years, it has supported hundreds of families through this important transition.

I am now working to bring Explorer’s Journey into a digital format, so more families can access the teachings, reflections, and tools to support their child during this stage of development. Sign up below to be notified once it is available.

  • A wooden outdoor table set for a celebration, decorated with a small pumpkin, potted plant, candles, decorated cookies, and various snacks. Colorful photos of children are hanging on a string across a screened porch in the background.
  • Colorful painted rocks with words on a wooden surface. Words include 'connection,' 'empathy,' 'nature,' 'travel,' 'love,' 'learning,' and 'truth.'
  • A display of handwritten notes on cardboard cards hanging from a rope tied between trees in a forest, with words like 'Family Values,' 'Rediscover Strengths,' and 'Deeply Feeling'.
  • A boy wearing a Boston Red Sox cap, gray hoodie, and black pants, crouches near a fire made of sticks and branches arranged in a teepee shape on a rocky area. There is a lake and trees in the background.
  • Outdoor scene in a wooded forest with decorative banners, a table with flowers, books, and photos, a second table with a colorful cloth, a violin on a stand, and a small stereo.
  • A rustic outdoor scene with a teepee-like structure made from branches, decorated with purple fabric and a '10' sign. There are two dogs near a small creek, with tents, trees, and greenery in the background. Flower arrangements and mason jars are placed on a tree stump and the ground.
  • Memorial table with framed photographs, candles, flowers, and personal items, set outdoors on a striped tablecloth surrounded by greenery.
  • A woman and a girl outdoors, the girl wearing a floral dress and a leafy crown, smiling as the woman helps adjust the crown. They are in a wooded area with trees, grass, and a decorated flowerpot in the foreground.
  • A person wearing a beige vest, teal striped leggings, and black shoes is climbing up a large rock in an outdoor setting with blue sky in the background.
  • A black chalkboard sign outdoors with handwritten white and pink chalk text displaying family values: "Our Family Values," "Spend time together," "Respect others and the Earth," "Embrace creativity and exploration," and a pink heart at the bottom
  • Wooden stairs leading to a circular arched doorway in a forest, framed by trees and branches.

Join the Waiting List.

If you would like to be notified when the Explorer’s Journey digital course becomes available, please join the waiting list.

 

  • "You may not think you have time for this, or fully understand it at first, but if it sparks your curiosity, I highly recommend it. Ted and Andrea have created a thoughtful, intentional way to honor a child’s transition into their ninth year. It offers a meaningful chance to reflect on your own experience, appreciate who your child is becoming, and gently let go of their earliest years."

    —Syd and Dari, Explorer’s Journey Participants

  • "We loved witnessing our son’s growth through the Explorer’s Journey. It asked us to surrender to the process, which was not always easy, but it truly delivered its magic. I’m sure he will carry the experience, and the strengthened relationships, with him for a lifetime."

    —Eric and Jasmine, Explorer’s Journey Participant

  • "Explorer’s Journey was transformative not only for our son, but for us as parents too. It helped us see him more clearly, appreciate his strengths, soften around his vulnerabilities, and reflect on our family values and parenting with more perspective. Andrea and Ted created a safe, honest space for learning and connection, and working with them was a true gift."

    —Kimberly, Explorer’s Journey Participant

  • “This course allowed me the space to really ‘see’ my son through the busy-ness of our days. It helped me to see my role in supporting his growth and to make space for who he is to become. This time has been a gift to me.”

    — Explorer’s Journey Participant

  • I love the ceremony Andrea created for us. It felt deeply personal, like something we would have made for ourselves, even though we never could have imagined it without her. What she heard, reflected back, and created for our family was an incredible gift.

    — Explorer’s Journey Participant

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Not at all. This transition tends to unfold between ages 8½ and 10, and we warmly welcome families with children anywhere in that range. What matters most is that your child is approaching this meaningful threshold—not a specific birthday.

  • We invite you to trust the timing of the process. Sharing about the ceremony is thoughtfully guided within the course and becomes part of the journey itself. We will support you in how and when to open that conversation, so for now, less is truly more.

  • This is not a religious course. It is rooted in connection—to nature, to self, and to the rhythms of life. If your family holds specific cultural or spiritual traditions, there is space to gently weave those into your experience in a way that feels authentic and honoring.

  • Resistance is a natural and meaningful part of any rite of passage. As Joseph Campbell reminds us, the “refusal of the call” is often where transformation begins. When something is unfamiliar, it can feel uncertain. We encourage you to meet your child with compassion, while holding a steady sense of trust and confidence. They don’t need to fully understand yet—and neither do you.

  • Nature is everywhere. Whether you live in a city, suburb, or near open land, we will help you discover meaningful ways to connect with the natural world right where you are. Ceremony is not about location—it’s about presence, intention, and relationship.

  • Everything we create is designed around your family—your values, your rhythms, your unique way of being. You may be gently stretched (in all the right ways), but you will never be asked to become someone you are not. This work meets you exactly where you are and grows from there.

  • This is very common. We will explore ways to meaningfully include siblings so they feel seen and valued within the process. Many families also find that this experience becomes a foundation, giving them tools and confidence to create ceremonies for older children—and for future family transitions as well.

  • Not at all. While Explorer’s Journey is designed for this particular age, I support families through all stages of transition—from adolescence to young adulthood and beyond. There is always an opportunity to pause, honor, and mark a meaningful threshold.

  • Yes. Ritual and ceremony can be a powerful way to honor transitions, mark meaningful moments, and integrate inner shifts. These elements can be woven into our work together or offered as standalone experiences, depending on your needs and desires.

  • This course is an invitation to step out of the rush and into something more intentional. Many families find that the “pause” becomes one of the most meaningful aspects of the experience. There are guided reflections and simple practices along the way, but you are always welcome to engage at a depth that feels supportive and sustainable for your family.

  • You don’t need to be anything other than who you are. Together, we’ll find accessible and authentic ways for your family to connect with the natural world.

  • All races, identities, structures, religions, and cultures are honored. This work is rooted in inclusivity, respect, and the belief that every family deserves meaningful ways to mark life’s transitions.