Explorer’s Journey Course
Somewhere around age nine, something quietly shifts.
Children begin to sense their own separateness. They start to see where they end and you begin, and the relationship you've known with them starts to change shape. Explorer's Journey gives your family a way to meet that change with intention and care.
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, a Waldorf-inspired course, 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.
Explorer's Journey is open for registration.
The next in-person course, for families living in the Ojai/Ventura, CA area, begins October 18.
Over six classes, I'll walk you through the tools that carry a family through this passage and co-create a ceremony that honors who they're becoming. Your family will hold that ceremony between Class 5 and Class 6, on a date you choose.
The classes are 1.5 hours on Sundays, and run from October through March.
Class dates
Class 1: Sunday, October 18
Class 2: Sunday, November 15
Class 3: Sunday, December 13
Class 4: Sunday, January 24
Class 5: Sunday, February 7
Class 6: Sunday, March 21
*Dates are subject to change.
→ Register for Explorer's Journey by adding to cart.
A rites-of-passage experience for the shift that arrives around age nine — for the child moving through it, and the parent beside them.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.