Tom Anderson is a husband, father of two, and successful business man whose mission is to be a voice for purpose in the world.  A life-long camper, hiker, and lover of the outdoors, he first quested in 2006 with Rites of Passage and has since received additional guide training.  His personal experience inspired him to create new avenues to bring the concepts of the vision quest to an even wider audience.  He now works with business and non-profit organizations using the vision quest model to uncover purpose and meaning in individuals and groups. Tom's role is to help those who are beginning to feel the call of their soul to understand its meaning and message and then to guide them to a place where they can begin to live a life that is purposeful and passionate.  Tom believes that in living our deepest purpose, we not only serve ourselves, but we serve the world as well.

Michael Bodkin, M.S. has been the Executive Director of Rites of Passage since 1987. His first Vision Quest was with Steven and Meredith Foster, then the co-directors of Rites of Passage, in March 1980. Trained by the Fosters and certified as a Vision Quest Guide in 1982, he shortly thereafter led his first program for the organization. His leadership of Rites of Passage includes directing a training program for guide-trainees. Michael has been a California licensed Marriage and Family Therapist since 1978 and has over 30 years experience working with youth, couples and families in counseling and wilderness programs. A strong interest in men's work has led to his guiding a number of men's Vision Quests. He's also served on the Advisory Council of the Wilderness Guides Council.  In 1991 Michael moved to an intentional community in Northern California, where he practices his passions of organic gardening and bluegrass music, and continues to learn about the third part of the rite of passage, returning to your people.   

Alison DeLong received her Master of Arts in Eco-psychology, a field of psychology that acknowledges one's relationship with nature as an integral component to well-being. During her studies she apprenticed with Anne Stine of Wilderness Rites and began leading quests in 2002. A native of Yosemite National Park, Alison has spent the past 14 years sharing with youth, adult and family groups the challenge, healing and joy evoked by the wilderness. She brings a passionate and joyous approach to wilderness rites of passage, weaving in diverse strands of her professional history in environmental education, communication, psychology, yoga and massage therapy. Alison is especially passionate in assisting teens and their families to succeed in healthy transitions to adulthood.  

Vanessa Eyen has an M.A. in Outdoor Education and Community Counseling, a B.A. in Psychology, and yoga teacher certification. Passionate about the natural world, she worked as an outdoor environmental educator, program director and trainer for eight years. Specializing in nature based counseling she has been a teaching assistant for undergraduate classes in Ecopsychology and Dreams, Myths and Symbols. She is currently involved in several projects including co-founding the Earth Camp Collective, a program designed to teach sustainable living skills to children on a CSA organic farm; directing the Sebastopol Community Center Day Camp; and working as a trainer for Outward Bound Wilderness instructors. Trained as a Vision Quest guide Rites of Passage, she has led programs from one day to nine days long, for youth and adults.  She loves bringing people together in community for positive change, dancing and playing music. Her dream is to create a family with her partner and live in a sustainable land based community, while continuing her healing work in nature.

Bob Palmer, who completed a two year  training program with Rites of Passage, has extensive experience with addiction and recovery issues. Married and the father of a college age daughter, Bob was instrumental in helping Rites of Passage develop a program for the Summerfield Waldorf School.  For the past several years Bob has been a student of indigenous healing ways, and this year he completed his apprenticeship.  He brings a gift for ceremony and a love of heart-felt song to the program.     

Farion Pearce is a wife, mother, yoga teacher, carrier of Council, vision quest guide, and past Wilderness Guides Council Netkeeper.  Farion brings to her guiding work a life-long love affair with nature and a desire to serve the One Spirit in us all.  For nine years, she has been taking primarily women 'on the mountain' and helping to create a community to hold the space for their on-going incorporation.  She is honored to support people undertaking the journey to find their own wellspring of truth and love.     
 

Kent Pearce, who describes himself as a Ph E (Parent, husband, Educator), is a member of a leaderless men's group that meets weekly.  He has led men's vision quests each year for the past eleven years with men ranging in age from 17 to 81.  He considers it an honor and a privilege to hold a safe space in which courageous men can look into the mirror of nature and share what they see.

Linda Sartor holds a Ph.D. in Integral Studies and an M.S. in environmental education, and is a faculty member at two graduate institutions.  She has been leading wilderness trips for more than 15 years and has led Vision Quest programs for 10 years, having trained with Rites of Passage and the School of Lost Borders. When she is not in the wilderness, Linda is teaching research methods and supervises thesis/dissertation work. Linda has also been spending about half of her time in Sri Lanka as part of the Nonviolent Peace Force, a group of 18 internationals chosen to provide a protective presence to support civil society and to establish and maintain peace and justice. With a passion for collaboration, Linda works toward facilitating groups with the intention that each individual member bring forth his/her own contribution in service of the group's purpose as well as having the group support its individuals in their unique purposes.  



Munro Sickafoose is a husband, father, whitewater river guide, and ceremonial leader. He has been deeply involved with indigenous earth–based ceremonies for many years. He trained as a vision quest guide at the School of Lost Borders, and has been leading groups and individuals in the wild since 1996. He has also trained at the Ojai Foundation as a facilitator in the Way of Council. He is one of the founders of a men’s community in Portland, Oregon, and is currently Netkeeper of the Wilderness Guides Council. With his wife, Susanna Maida, he teaches couples to use Council for sacred relationship communication. 

Deb Siverson spent nearly 20-years inside Corporate 500 organizations before founding X2ponents (www.xponents.com) in 2003.  Xponents helps companies engage team members by developing leaders who are able to connect individual's values and goals with the values and goals of the organization.  It is Deb's belief that exponential results are achieved by establishing working relationships that are founded on trust, transparency, and authenticity.   In 2005 she started a youth leadership program to support young people in identifying their unique voice in the world.  The youth program harnessed the wild beauty of the Colorado Mountains as a backdrop for personal growth.  Deb completed her vision quest with Rites of Passage in 2007.  That experience taught her a lesson on the paradox of significance and insignificance, one that she still reflects on today.  She lives in Colorado with her husband and grandson where they like to spend their free time camping, hiking, and skiing.  Deb continues to learn about living in harmony with the earth. Her goal is to live a sustainable lifestyle that honors nature.



Renee Sweezey first vision quested with Steven Foster and Meredith Little in 1982 when they were still the co-directors of Rites of Passage.  She found the experience life altering and profoundly affirming.  Since then, she has been an advocate and supporter of the work, by serving both as a staff person and board member with Rites of Passage for over 20 years. Renee honors and holds with deep regard those who feel called to this journey, leaving what is familiar to go into the sacred wilderness of the world and of oneself.  She sees herself as lovingly assisting the work, and it is in this capacity that she brings her gifts of open heart, quiet courage and gentle presence to serve both participants and guides in helping create unique and vibrant community in the field. Married to Mike Bodkin, the Executive Director of Rites of Passage, Renee lives in a rural intentional community in Northern California.

Scout Tomyris (aka Kathy) has been guiding vision quests since 1998, and been on our staff since 2001. An apprentice for 3 years with Anne Stine of Wilderness Rites, her training also included intensive programs with Animas Valley Institute and the School of Lost Borders, as well as training in shamanic practices. Prior to becoming a guide, Scout backpacked and hiked extensively. We each have our moment in the sun, and Scout's was near the end of 2001 when, as she describes it, her brain blew up. The bizarre experience of ICU somehow translated to vision quest and she sought solace and healing by enacting some of the rituals that we practice in the field. Death touched her and then spit her back out: Scout has more work to do on this plane. Now she listens and watches very carefully to the ever-present guidance that emanates from nature and spirit. A lover of nature since childhood, Scout has become a skilled naturalist over the years. Her curiosity about all that surrounds us is nearly as engaging as her quick wit and eagerness to laugh. Her focus as a guide is on working with adults on both women-only and coed trips. Her active involvement with the Wilderness Guides Council, the North American association for vision quest and rites of passage guides, led to her being selected as the Netkeeper in 2005. Currently the only paid administrator for them and as such is in regular contact with guides all over the world, she is one of five volunteers on the organizing committee for the 4th Intercontinental Wilderness Guides Gathering to be held in April 2009. Although Scout lives in Santa Rosa with her beloved tabby cat Inyo, her heart is with the plants, animals, stones and sky of the desert.