“The day walk is a journey upon the face of the earth, a ceremony of preparation, a pilgrimage through the mirror of nature. In the natural world, signs and symbols of your inward journey are reflected. The walk is a distilled version of the threshold phase of the vision fast [the solo period at the center of a full Vision Quest].” —Steven Foster and Meredith Little

The Day Walk Weekend offers you the opportunity to break from the regular world, put away your phone and calendar, and look inward while surrounded by the quiet, still sounds of nature. You will be accompanied by experienced guides and a group of like-minded participants as you give yourself the gift of pausing, listening, sharing from the heart, and being truly heard and seen, both by the guides and the Land. This opportunity invites you “jump in” and set an intention, perhaps marking a new accomplishment, solidifying a new insight you’ve had, or bringing clarity to a seemingly stuck area of your life.

“It has been said that all spiritual stories, across cultures, have the same plot line. A hero comes to an impassable river, or other obstacle, which is guarded by a monster. The hero withdraws to gather strength, to prepare inwardly, mentally and spiritually. Only when ready, the hero calls forth the monster to confront it. By defeating, befriending, or taming the monster, the hero takes it on as an ally, absorbing its powers, which then allows a crossing of the once-impassable river.

Consider how that plot line informs the task of a Day Walk: a solitary, ritualized day spent in nature, meant to clarify a stated personal intention and to incorporate it into one’s life. The Day Walk is a psyche (soul) story with three phases. First comes Severance: withdrawal from one’s day-to-day existence, the severing of ties, the preparation for the challenge to come. Next is Threshold: the time for separating the wheat (what is essential, true and authentic in us) from the chaff (what needs to be let go off, or seen in a radically new way), for confronting the monster and then passing over the previously impassable. The final stage is Incorporation: taking the lessons back into the body of one’s life, and out into the world and our communities.” (Text adapted from The Day Walk Essay, Scott Eberle, M.D.)

This Day Walk will take place on the beautiful private land of the Friends Wilderness Center, located near Harpers Ferry, WV. The area is a river-side wilderness community located on the historical lands of the Manahoac, Shawandasse Tula (Shawanwaki/Shawnee) and Massawomeck Peoples.

Trip Schedule and Locations:

October 3rd: Arrival between 4PM and 6PM. Participants will meet at the Tree House area of the Friends Wilderness Center and set up tents/hammocks, meet as a group to begin the ceremony, and begin to share and acclimate with the Land and each other.

October 4 th : Participants will receive nature-based teachings to help acclimate and commune with the natural environment and partake in experiential nature-based hikes and creative activities, in preparation for the setting of their individual intention that evening. These activities, particularly the intention setting, will guide, ground, and inform their Day Walk on the 5th.

October 5 th : Participants will be ceremonially put out on their solo Day Walk in the morning, returning in the late afternoon to food, refreshments and community. The rest of the afternoon and early evening will be an opportunity for each person to share the story of their Day Walk, and to receive feedback and mirroring from the guides and group.

Program Guides

Bryan Bieniek, LGPC, MS, MAT is a Wilderness Rites of Passage guide and lead facilitator on this journey. He has been leading Vision Fasts and Day Walks since 2012 and believes strongly in the role of ceremony as a means to increase capacity for insight and healing. Read More >>

Joseph Haddad Graduate Counseling Intern, inspired by Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, Joseph loves to nurture, witness, and admire the flowers and fruits of people. Joseph graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in both Psychology and Theatre Arts, and is currently completing a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Joseph approaches working with people through an anti-oppressive framework, applying a myriad of evidence-based practices and indigenous wisdom to meet the unique needs of diverse populations.

Hiking Terrain / Difficulty Level

The Friends Wilderness Center is a diverse ecosystem of 1600 acres of Blue Ridge forest, criss-crossed by hiking trails and mountain streams. All trails are marked and maintained and most are easy to moderate in difficulty, but are not paved. Participants should be prepared to hike and explore the property throughout the duration of the event, but long hikes and difficult terrain are not a requirement, depending on people's comfort levels.

Program Costs

Program registration is $249 for the whole program and participants need to be registered prior to October 1st, 2025 in order to secure a space in the program. Space is limited to 6 participants and spots are reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis based on deposits received. Program cost covers the cost of:

* Licensed healthcare providers and guide wages for three days

* Friends Wilderness Center campsite fee for 2 days

* Administrative Fees

* Some provided meals

* Base camp communal supplies

People interested in this program who may not be able to participate due to financial hardship are encouraged to reach out to Bryan at bryan@outdoortherapeutics.com to discuss options.

Questions before registering?

Please contact bryan@outdoortherapeutics.com if you have questions and to register.

Sourcing the Fire's Day Walk Weekend