rite passage.
Currently in development.
rite passage is a transformative, evidence-based, gamified experience for adolescents that promotes the support and celebration of their intrinsic character development as they learn how to healthily engage with social technologies and cultivate real-world social connections.
The Problem
Secular western culture is largely void of rites of passage or meaningful celebrations of youth’s intrinsic character development.
A Solution Designed
For Youth, By Youth
Student Engagement Activities
Physical Game
Mystery Box + Card Collection
3-4 weeks
Flexible Structure
Cohort Setting
Youth Organizations
& Peer Groups
Promotes Agency
Cultivates Motivation
rite passage is a transformative journey designed as an engaging board game and mystery box.
Players use tokens to unlock levels, each offering choices of new challenges to attempt and cards to collect. The game is built around key categories such as self-reflection, agency, and resilience, and aims to guide adolescents through their personal growth journey.
Through playful exploration, participants discover the joy of self-expression, the importance of setting boundaries in physical and digital life, and the skills for healthy media habits.
With an emphasis on social wellbeing, belonging, and celebrating character development, rite passage offers a fun and meaningful experience of self-discovery and growth.
The internet is here to stay.
Let’s make sure our youth are equipped with the transferrable skills necessary to navigate this changing world.
Self Reflection
Boundaries
Self Expression
Healthy Media Habits
Resilience + Regulation
Self Determination + Agency
Commitment + Follow Through
Social Wellbeing + Belonging
Celebration + Joy
Student Engagement Activities
Our Unique Approach
Designed For Youth, By Youth
Our team of Youth Ambassadors have largely contributed to the game design and activity design of rite passage. They told us what they wanted and we made it happen.
Flexible Structure
Choose your own adventure! We utilize agency and emphasize choice so that participants find personal empowerment and motivation along their journey.
Cohorts
Small groups of 4-5. These cohorts can be created (1) by youth and their peers or (2) within youth organizations. Existing friendships strengthen and new friendships form.
Peer-to-Peer Influence
Participants from each cohort can become mentors, design activities, or create art that fuels the next generation of the rite passage experience and creates a self-sustaining movement and ensures continued relevance.
A Culture of Joy, Celebration, & Meaning
These values are largely absent in the conversation around the dangers and harms of social technologies. These values cultivate youth belonging and well-being so they may thrive in a world full of “bad news.”
Youth Ambassadors collaborate together to refine their activity design ideas in our “Play Testing” phase of development.
Spanning over a period of 3-4 weeks within a supportive cohort setting, participants engage in a structured journey mirroring traditional rites of passage, consisting of three key stages:
I. Independence
Historically, rites of passage involved a phase of independence, separating from one's family or community to embark on a solitary journey or to join a group of peers undergoing the same rite.
While adolescents might not separate from their families - rite passage promotes the following valuable skills:
Self Reflection, Values Discovery + Action, Sense of Agency, Healthy Media Habits, and Self Expression
II. Transition & Challenge
Historically, rites of passage involved a challenge, such as jumping from a tall wooden platforms or spending months alone in the woods.
While youth these days might not need to conquer their fear of heights or become survivalists, navigating relationships, social technologies, and media consumption is a massive transition and challenge for modern youth.
rite passage is here to support them on their journey.
III. Celebration & Integration
Historically, rites of passage ended in a community celebration, where young people could share about their experience while affirming their transition from one life stage to another within the community. These rituals or celebrations blend communal bonding with joyous festivity, food, music, dance, and storytelling, to recognize and honor their rite of passage.
^ This part, definitely still relevant.