Rite of Passage: 6th grade graduation ceremony

Rite of Passage Outline

6th Grade
Objectives: create and experience a ritual based ceremony, over the course of three days,
using traditional elements of rituals for adolescents moving from their childhood into an
adult based community.
Goals: students will culminate their elementary experience with a sense of closure, as
they reflect on their school experiences and their personal growth this year. They will
recognize their accomplishments this year and take ownership for their new role as young
adults by setting intentions for their future development.
Location (South Orange County Options):
ONeill Regional
Caspers Regional
La Jolla Indian Reservation Campground
Preliminary Programming:
September: What kind of young adult do I want to be? ( Visual Art Project: Who I am,
Who I want to Be)
January: What leadership trait(s) do I want to develop? (Leadership reflection, strengthstests, leadership essay.)
May:
1) Discuss what rites our culture has for young people. What are the outward symbols
of those rites? What qualities does society hope that you develop in order to receive these
rites?
*Writing: have students write down 3 humanistic traits they feel they possess, 3 talents or
areas of strength, and one area in which they think their talents and traits could contribute
to society.
2) Conference with small groups (boys/girls). What are rites of passages for each gender
and what qualities may differ in those rites? What does becoming a young man/woman
mean? How has that role changed through history? What are the remaining biases,
judgements, or prejudices that we have about gender roles in modern day society? How
do we honor males and females without stereotyping them?
3) Tell students that they are going to individually develop a project. The project should
serve to help students explore what they are good at, what kinds of talents and traits they
embody, and how they will become self-actualized contributors in society. The project
will be presented during the 3 day event. Conference with individual students to guide
their project development.

Overnight program: (Wednesday-Saturday)

Traditional rites of passage involve basic framework of:
Separation
Transition
Reintroduction
Rituals themselves also follow a basic framework:
Opening/Welcome
Happening (the doing)
Blessing
Gift
Closing
Celebration
1) 3 nights / 4 days: Wednesday-Saturday
2) Goals: create a sense of initiation to adolescent students as they leave elementary
school, allow students the opportunity to reflect on their education and personal
development thus far and to set goals for their future, and bring conscious selfawareness to students about their new role and responsibility as young adults.
3) Objectives: students will participate in several forms of rituals and rites designed
to illustrate separation, personal trial, and re-initiation into adult society. They
will engage in physical challenge (hiking) mental challenge (isolation, boredom
and being alone) and personal challenge (skill demonstration). They will discuss
traits of male and female adults and leaders and how the genders each provide
complimentary qualities to society. Students will journal and write personal
reflections, read letters from prior teachers and their family, and work in groups to
achieve common goals (cooking a meal, building a fire, etc.)
4) Programming:
Day 1 (Wednesday) Objectives: Group reflections and putting closure to the
elementary experience (What has been my role? What have I learned?)
2:00pm arrival at campsite
2:30-4:00pm Set up camp / Camp rules, regulations, and campsite boundaries
6:00pm Dinner and Campfire
8:00 Ritual: Stick dedication ceremony (each person will dedicate a stick to the fire,
representing a memory, quality, or experience that was formative or significant in
their elementary school years)
Day 2 (Thursday) Objectives: Gender Specific and Individual Reflection (Who am I?
Who do I want to be? What traits or qualities are parts of me and which ones do I
want to emphasize or develop further? What motivates me and why? What are the
traits of females and males in society and how do the traits of each work in
complement within society? What biases do we have about ourselves, in terms of our
gender? What biases do we have about the opposite gender?)

8:00-Breakfast
9:00-Boy and Girl Groups separate. Each takes a separate day hike. Both groups
plan for 1-2 hours mid-day of solo time where students spend time alone in
reflection, journaling, or just being. During this time leaders will meet with
individual students to guide their reflections and give the opportunity to discuss
thoughts one-on-one. Students will also have this time to read the letters written from
teachers, peers, and family members. Students will also compose during this time
their personal statement, summarizing who they are now, and their personal goals
for the future.

4:00pm Boys and Girls set up their camps (separate for the night)
6:00pm Dinner and Campfire*
Ritual / Rite: Boys=starting a fire* (emphasis on traits of self-sufficiency, ability,
perseverance, chivalry, and gentle strengthas in you cant start a fire by force )
Girls: Joanna Macy activity, Mirror Walk (integrity, intelligence, compassion, selfworth, capability, and composure)
Day 3 (Friday) Objectives: Re-introduction and Initiation to society (new beginning
as a young adult)
8:00 Breakfast and camp clean up.
9:30 Groups hike to hilltop (boy / girl groups lead themselves and carry a phone in
case of emergency???) and rejoin with leaders. (Invite other teachers, directors, etc.
to be at hilltop to greet students. Sort of like a panel that they will present to)
Rite: Leaders sit in a circle to hear the students present. As each finishes, they are
invited to the circle, which widens with each added student.
Each student receives something symbolic to represent their initiation into the adult
circle.
12:00 Lunch on the hill
1:30 Return to group camp and set up together
Recreation and games!
6:00 Dinner and Campfire
8:00 Rite: Recognition and Burning of Bracelets Ceremony

Students are individually recognized and receive a bracelet made of parachute cord
(the ends must be melted together, thus the burning) to represent the cyclical nature
of life.
Day 4 (Saturday)
8:00 Camp clean up and breakfast preparation
9:00 Families invited for breakfast and celebration with the students. Parent pick up
at the park by 11:00am.
11:00 / 12:00 Depart camp