B’naiture Mentoring & Four Worlds Approach
Coming-of-Age
B’naiture is a coming-of-age journey from childhood into adolescence.
Our program supports the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual passage of youth from childhood innocence into the teenage years, where one opens to greater awareness of self and the world.
This can be an exciting and challenging time for youth and parents, and it can be difficult to navigate without guidance and outside mentorship. We craft a journey that supports the whole family to move through this rite of passage with grace and confidence.
B’naiture Meaning
“B’naiture” is a play on the Hebrew words B’nai Mitzvah and the English word ‘nature’.
B’nai Mitzvah is the plural for Bar or Bat Mitzvah, which means to be a son or daughter of the mitzvot.
The word mitzvah is often times translated into English as “commandment.” The root of mitzvah is related to the Aramaic tzafta which means to connect.
In B’naiture, as children become more connected to nature, they also become more connected to themselves, their peers and mentors, and Jewish tradition, preparing them for a life of rich connection.
Cohort Structure
In B’naiture, we cultivate intimacy in cohorts of boys, girls and parents, and offer different levels of challenge, skill and learning building for our first and second year participants.
First Year
In the first year, we focus on group bonding, basic communication skills, foundational crafts such as whittling, shelter building, and fire making, and establishing trusting and vibrant mentor and peer relationships.
The goal for each first year participant is that they establish a meaningful sense of belonging and trust within their cohort.
Second Year
In the second year, the B’naiture experience goes deeper, engaging in more advanced fire-making skills, and receiving mentorship that prepare your child for a year-end wilderness solo.
Each second year participant embarks on an inward journey, readying themselves emotionally and spiritually to tend a fire all night on their own. This opportunity is not just about the skills needed to keep a fire going; it is equally about the inner resilience, fortitude, and compassion needed to engage with this challenge.
Parent Program
Cultivating family community and involving parents in the experience is essential to B’naiture. The parent track teaches basic earth-based Jewish concepts,values and approaches to support your child during this rite-of-passage time.
Mentoring Approach
Mentoring Approach
Experienced adult and teen mentors guide each group with a maximum 4:1 student to mentor ratio.
Our first-year cohort is limited to 20 kids.
Our four worlds holistic mentoring curriculum is guided toward nourishing the body, mind, heart, and spirit of each child.
You can see our list of mentors and their bios here.
B’naiture Four Worlds
B’naiture is designed to meet the needs and support the growth of all dimensions of your child. As you will read below, we create a balanced program that nurtures a child’s body, emotions, mind, and spirit. We believe humans learn best when experience happens on all of these levels and strive to create a learning environment that honors this.
Assiyah (Physical)
- Adventuring into the wilderness
- Connecting to nature through games and other exploration activities
- Learning hand crafts such as cordage, carving, basketry, and more
- Making hand-crafted Judaica such as mezuzot, shofarot, matzah and more
- Developing survival skills such as fire and shelter building
- Identifying, harvesting, and preparing wild, edible, and medicinal plants for food and medicine
Yetzirah (Emotional)
- Engaging core Jewish values as opportunities for authentic connection
- Cultivating self-awareness through sharing circles, journaling, and self-reflection
- Building group and peer connection through games, adventures, and more
- Facing age-appropriate challenges that build confidence and foster growth
- Unplugging and creating vibrant community
- Sharing opportunities to give and receive support with peers all encountering this profound life transition
Briyah (Intellectual)
- Learning and experiencing the Jewish calendar through the seasons
- Exploring Jewish holidays, weekly Torah portions, and core Jewish stories from around the world
- Singing and practicing Jewish songs and basic Jewish prayers and blessings
- Learning about local plants, animals, and ecology
- Reflecting on society-level issues such as climate change, democracy, and justice in a facilitated way
Atzilut (Spiritual)
- Learning fundamentals of Jewish spirituality
- Experiencing Hitbodedut — sitting alone in nature
- Practicing sensory awareness activities
- Connecting and fostering personal relationships with Jewish spirituality
- Working towards a final overnight solo and tending one’s own fire
Teachings
Explore the B’naiture Philosophy & Approach with these teachings and stories from B’naiture staff, mentors, and participants.
by Zelig Golden and Steven Green
How parents and B’naiture students collaborate to complete the B’naiture mentorship experience.
by Marina Sherman, B’naiture 2014 graduate and B’hootz Teen Mentor 2014 to present
We all have a lot to learn from Marina’s exploration of Torah portion Shelach Lecha and her perspective on peer pressure, mentoring, and speaking our truth.
by Sarai Shapiro
An article that talks about the developmental journey of a child into a teen as compared to the Garden of Eden story.
by Zelig Golden
Wilderness Torah’s core philosophy of the importance of reconnecting Judaism to nature.
by Zelig Golden
Zelig explores the ancient Jewish relationship to fire and the importance of reawakening this relationship. In B’naiture, your child will spend much time with fire.
by Rowan Gould-Bayba
Read Rowan Gould-Bayba, B’naiture 2011–13 grad’s amazing Bar Mitzvah drash–featuring lessons learned during B’naiture.
by Sarai Shapiro
The basic understanding of the cardinal directions and how they mirror the cycle of the ecological and spiritual Jewish year. This understanding of the calendar is taught to our B’naiture children.
