FOR YOUNG MEN - HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM
FORGE
A rites of passage journey into manhood.
Every culture that has ever thrived has had a way of initiating its young men — a deliberate, communal process that says: you are no longer a boy, and we need you to become a man. Modern culture has lost this almost entirely.
Forge is a structured rites of passage experience for young men in high school — designed to build the inner foundations that healthy, conscious manhood is actually built on. Not performance. Not toughness. Presence, purpose, and brotherhood.
Why Forge exists.
Boys are absorbing definitions of manhood from social media, gaming culture, and peer groups — many of them hollow, harmful, or simply confused. Forge offers something different: a real initiation, held by real men, in real community.
01 Purpose & personal code
"Boys who are never initiated into manhood spend their lives unconsciously seeking that initiation — often in ways that hurt themselves or others."
— Richard Rohr
Research consistently shows that girls who are guided through adolescence with structure, mentorship, and community connection develop stronger mental health, clearer identity, and greater resilience throughout their lives.
What do I stand for? Forge helps young men develop their own values — not borrowed from influencers, but forged from within.
02 Healthy masculinity
Strength, vulnerability, courage, and care — explored as complementary, not contradictory.
03 Physical challenge & resilience
Structured challenge that builds confidence through doing — not recklessness, but intentional stretching of limits.
04 Brotherhood & accountability
What it means to have your brother's back — and to let others have yours. Trust, loyalty, and honest relationships.
05 Elder wisdom & ceremony
Conversations with elder men and a closing ceremony that marks the threshold — witnessed, deliberate, and meaningful.
What the program looks like
Forge is delivered in partnership with schools and tailored to your year group. Every element is trauma-informed, age-appropriate, and facilitated by experienced men who have done their own deep work.
FORMAT
In-school & outdoor
Core sessions at school with optional overnight bush experience
DURATION
Full or half day
Flexible to fit your school calendar
YEAR GROUP
Years 7 - 10
Tailored by age and developmental stage
GROUP SIZE
Up to 30
Small enough for depth, large enough for brotherhood
Opening circle & the warrior's agreement
Setting the container — what it means to be here, what will be expected, and what will be possible.
Physical challenge & resilience trials
Structured outdoor challenges that push comfort zones and reveal character — not in spite of difficulty, but through it
Story, reflection & the map of a man
Guided journaling and discussion — who were the men who shaped you? Who do you want to become?
Elder council
A facilitated conversation with elder men — passing down real wisdom, real stories, and real encouragement.
Brotherhood exercises
Trust-building practices that create genuine bonds — the kind that don't dissolve when school is over.
Closing ceremony
A meaningful threshold ritual — witnessed by community, marking the young man's step forward.
Is Forge right for your school?
Forge works best in schools that want to go beyond compliance-based behaviour programs and offer something that actually changes how young men see themselves.
This program is for schools where...
Young men are searching for identity and direction. Where there is a gap between who they are and what they have the potential to become. Where staff sense something is missing — and are ready to offer it.
And for young men who...
Feel the pressure of who they're supposed to be — and want permission to figure out who they actually are. Boys who are ready to be challenged and supported in equal measure.
Parents can expect...
A son who has been seen and challenged by men who care. Many parents report shifts in confidence, openness, and a new sense of seriousness about life after Forge
Schools can expect...
A program that complements wellbeing and PDHPE frameworks — structured, professionally facilitated, and immediately impactful. Full facilitator notes and integration support included.
Common questions
Is Forge physically demanding or risky?
Physical challenge is built into Forge, but all activities are age-appropriate, risk-assessed, and facilitated by experienced practitioners. The emphasis is on intentional challenge, not recklessness — and all participants can engage at their own level.
Who facilitates the program?
Forge is facilitated by trained Human Rites practitioners — men with backgrounds in psychology, somatic practice, youth work, and rites of passage facilitation. All facilitators hold current Working With Children checks.
Is it faith-based or spiritually affiliated?
No. Forge draws on universal initiation wisdom and is entirely secular. It is inclusive of all backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs.
How do we get started?
Register your interest below and a member of our team will reach out within 48 hours to discuss your school's needs, answer questions, and walk you through next steps.
Bring Forge to your school.
Register your interest and we'll be in touch within 48 hours to talk through how Forge can work in your school's context.