“My daughter participated in Roots Camp in Asheville. We traveled all the way from Kentucky for this camp because we had heard how wonderful it was (even though it is offered in Louisville as well!), as we wanted to appreciate the unique beauty of the mountains of North Carolina. The facilitation team was fantastic. Immediately upon meeting Lena, her warmth and good nature come across. She takes the time to greet each child, making each child feel safe and special. She also does a great job of ensuring their safety during camp days. My daughter learned new skills, made new friends, and began to deepen her connection with the earth. Also, the setting at Sacred Mountain Sanctuary is beautiful and secluded, yet easily accessible to Asheville. This was a wonderful experience and we hope to do it again next year!”

“At our closing ceremony I was moved to tears by what the girls said about what they got out the experience, their honesty about what was hard, and the love and appreciation they showed to Lena and Nico. I was amazed by the circle that they ran for the parents, and to hear about the women’s circle they hosted for the community”

“Thank you for the wonderful gifts you shared with Emily and the other girls. What a lovely opportunity to learn about themselves as emerging young women. I am grateful Emily was able to spend time with each of you.”

“Q: Do you notice any changes (in your daughter) after Growing Goddess?

A: Definitely - Amina has been very loving and more willing to talk about feelings with me and to connect in a meaningful way. She seems more mature - more willing to listen to what I say rather than just reacting to me. ”

“Q: What did you like most about Growing Goddess?

A: I loved that it created a safe and fun place for her to explore her feelings and her changing body away from me, her mother, and with her peers. She has not been so open to those kinds of explorations with me, and I am so very happy that she has had the opportunity to do this necessary work in a loving, supportive and positive environment. I also loved that she was so immersed in nature for all those days!”

“Q: What are some of the benefits you see in Growing Goddess: Rites of Passage for young women?

A: It provides the container for a rite of passage that our culture does not provide, and that it is almost impossible for the family to provide.”

“I couldn’t have asked for more loving and kind Rites of Passage guides! Kudos for creating such a rich, meaningful and fun program!”

“I just want to take a moment so tell you again how grateful I am for your powerful, joyous, and peaceful presence. You have such a raw light about you that is inspiring. I am so very happy that Trinity found her strength and powered through. I am loving the light in her eyes and the confidence she has after this week at growing goddess. I am in love with the connections she made with her sisters, her elders, and the natural world. She has voiced that she feels forever changed by this week, and there are not enough thank you’s for such things.

It warmed my heart to see and hear the girls creative show, and to witness the bonds they had created. It made me cry to hear Trinity’s song, expressing that very moment on her vision quest where “she felt weak, and if she had not accepted the challenge, where would she be?””

“For a mentor with such a wide array of skills and experience to meticulously lay her offerings out for others to learn from is an immense gift. Lena weaves the big ideas of the medicine wheel, earth-based spirituality and permaculture with tangible practices and activities that have been a perfect fit for the direction I am headed as a mentor. From the start of our year-long journey, I have been able to integrate meaningful practices from the Rites of Passage Guide Training into my own life and my work with students. I feel more grounded, resourced and inspired. I have been able to seamlessly weave into my teaching practice many methods covered in the training, such as council, sit spot, ceremony, songs, games and life skills. Perhaps the greatest treasure of this mentorship has been my own empowerment to step into my gifts more fully and share them with the youth who are fed by them. The way Lena shows up in full authenticity as a mentor has empowered me to do the same, whereas in the past I was holding back my whole self. I am astounded at the quantity and quality of her offerings for the price, from the detailed video instruction to our intimate monthly gatherings to reflect and share. I said yes to this journey willing to pay for this immense gift, but just as many other facets of life have aligned for me since stepping into this work, I was delighted to discover I could fund most of this training as professional development through my employer! Embarking on the Rites of Passage Guide journey was just the spark I needed to enliven my teaching practices. Thank you Lena!”