
Wayfinders.
An initiatory program for teenage boys.
We’d like to invite your son to be part of something special.
This July during School Term 3, 2025 we’re launching Wayfinders, an innovative 8-week online program for boys in Years 7-9 (typically aged 13-15). This pilot initiative is a response to a growing need: boys today are navigating an increasingly complex world - mental health challenges, social pressures, the online environment, and a lack of meaningful guidance about what it means to be a man.
Our program offers structured, age-appropriate mentorship that supports your son’s social and emotional education, confidence-building, and connection to himself and others. With deep roots in contemporary men’s work dating back over 40 years, Wayfinders is facilitated by experienced educators and men's work practitioners.
Welcome.
About the facilitators.
Mikey Ellis is a registered teacher and IFS-informed youth mentor with over 15 years experience in men’s work and education.
Asher Packman is a depth teacher, writer and storyteller. He has been recognised as a leader in men’s health by the Australian Men’s Health Forum.
What to expect.
Weekly Live Sessions: Facilitated one-hour Zoom calls with up to 8 boys (with optional 30-minute challenge/reflection).
Practical Challenges: Weekly activities to apply learnings in the real world.
Peer Support: A dedicated online space for connection and resources.
Ongoing Guidance: Continuous assessments to track personal growth throughout.
Program outline.
Week 1: Belonging & Brotherhood.
Week 2: What Does It Mean to Be a Man?
Week 3: Turning Inward – Emotions & Emotional Intelligence.
Week 4: Wisdom of the Body – Stress, Anxiety & Regulation.
Week 5: Relationships, Respect & Social Skills.
Week 6: The Online World – Identity, Social Media & Integrity.
Week 7: Strength, Responsibility & Self-Leadership.
Week 8: Integration & Understanding Initiation/Rite of Passage.
Program details.
Start Date: July 23, 2025.
End Date: September 10, 2025.
Time Commitment: ~1.5 hours/week.
Cost: $300 for pilot program (50% off regular cost) + $30/month community membership per parent (optional).
Location: Online via Zoom, WhatsApp and Skool.
Session Times: Wednesdays 4:30pm-5:30pm AEST.
Information session – You’re invited!
We’re hosting two live Q&A sessions via Zoom for parents and interested boys to meet the team and learn more.
To register, simply email us at info@thefifthdirection.com.
🗓 Dates: Wed June 25 and Wed July 9, 2025
🕖 Time: 7:00-8:00pm AEST
📍Location: Zoom (link provided upon registration)
Next steps.
✅ Have a conversation with your son to gauge his interest.
✅ Join the info sessions.
✅ Contact us (details below) if you have any questions.
We’re creating a brave and supportive space for young men to learn and grow. Your son’s voice matters. His story matters. We’d be honoured to walk beside him during this vitally important stage of his life.
Regards,
Mikey and Asher
Questions?
Contact Mikey
☎️ 0438 137 613
📩 hello@mikeyellis.com or info@thefifthdirection.com
In case you missed it, here’s the link to apply.
Frequently asked questions.
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“The journey from boy to manhood is never a straight line. It is a winding, uncertain path strewn with valleys of confusion, dense thickets of feeling, and peaks that disappear into cloud. To move through this terrain, a boy must learn to orient not only to the external world, but to the deeper map within. The Wayfinder is not merely a navigator of geography - but of soul. He learns to read both the visible terrain and the invisible currents that shape a life. Just as a seasoned tracker does not rely solely on the map, but listens to the land itself, so too must a boy be taught to attend to the symbols, stories, and stirrings within his own heart.
“Wayfinders see with more than the eye; they triangulate meaning from the seen and the unseen, from elder teachings, inner promptings, and the murmurs of the world around them. They do not fix their gaze solely on distant goals, but learn also to dwell in relationship with what is close at hand. What we are charting here is not a path to success, but a path to soul so that boys may learn the ancient art of wayfinding, not to be told who they are, but to remember - the deeper story of their own becoming.” – Asher Packman
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Wayfinders is an 8-week online program for boys in Years 7–9. It’s designed to support emotional intelligence, confidence, social connection, and healthy masculine identity. It’s not school, therapy, or a youth group—it’s a brave, supportive space where boys connect, reflect, and grow together. What makes it unique is its blend of modern mentoring, ancient wisdom, and developmentally appropriate tools, led by experienced facilitators who care deeply about this work.
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Wayfinders is ideal for boys typically aged 13–15 (Years 7–9).
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This program supports boys who may be:
—Emotionally sensitive or inward by nature.
—Facing stress, social pressure, or self-doubt.
—Curious, struggling, or seeking more meaning in life.
—Lacking positive male role models or elder mentors.
—Any boy willing to explore who he is and who he’s becoming. -
By the end of the 8 weeks, boys will:
—Feel more connected to themselves and others.
—Build emotional literacy and confidence.
—Strengthen identity and self-awareness.
—Learn practical tools for stress, relationships, and self-expression.
—Learn how to regulate his nervous system under pressure.
—Know when to speak up—and how to say what’s true without losing connection.
—Practice setting boundaries in real life and online.
—Build real friendships based on respect, not just convenience.
—Experience a closing rite of passage that marks his growth and contribution. -
Boys today face more pressure and fewer safe spaces to talk honestly. This program offers meaningful conversations, guidance, and peer connection—all in a way that’s relevant to the realities of teenage life.
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We use grounding practices, shared storytelling, honest conversation, and practical challenges. This isn’t just theory—it’s woven into every session, creating a space where boys feel safe to open up, explore, and grow. The program is inspired by:
—Mythopoetic men’s work
—Rites of Passage
—Narrative identity
—Social-emotional learning
—Polyvagal theory
—Circle culture -
Identity – Who am I? Where do I belong?
Challenge – What struggles am I facing?
Expression – How do I show up? What do I hide?
Leadership – What do I give back? Who do I serve? -
That’s okay. While regular attendance is encouraged for connection, we understand things happen. There are ways to stay involved between sessions via our online community.
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Each group co-creates clear agreements around respect, listening, and confidentiality. The group structure includes:
— Predictable routines (check-in/check-out).
—Grounding and somatic tools.
—Gentle but firm facilitation, not forced sharing.
—Small group size (max 8 boys).
—Sessions are not recorded. -
That’s absolutely okay—and very common. There’s no pressure to speak before he’s ready. Showing up and listening is enough. Many quiet boys end up becoming very engaged by the end.
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Wayfinders isn’t therapy or coaching, though it can be therapeutic. It’s more intentional than a youth group. Think of it as a modern rite of passage (often lacking for boys): a space for honest reflection, connection, and growth.
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No. Sessions are for the boys to build peer trust and ownership of the space. That said, we stay in close contact with parents and invite you into the broader journey in other ways.
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Yes. Each week, we’ll send you:
—A summary of each session theme.
—Optional conversation prompts to support connection at home.
—Weekly summary emails with links to relevant resources.
—A final integration session. -
You’ll be invited to complete a pre-program survey, and we’ll send a post-program reflection to share feedback and progress. If anything concerning or noteworthy arises, we’ll be in touch directly.
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Yes. We’re available for check-ins by phone or email at any time before, during, or after the program.
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Start gently. Here’s a suggestion:
“I found this group for young men—it’s not school or therapy, just a space where boys your age talk about things that matter to them.”
You can also mention:
—It’s a small group, not a big class.
—The facilitators are very experienced, down-to-earth and approachable.
—It’s about being real, not performing.
—It’s about learning who you are, and the man you are becoming. -
Sessions take place via Zoom, and between sessions we use Skool, a private, secure community platform where the boys can connect and share.
You will need as laptop/desktop with camera, microphone, and internet access. We can support you if any setup help is required. -
—8 live sessions
—Weekly integration challenges
—Ongoing community access
—Weekly parent updates
—Pre and post assessments
—Personal growth tracking
—Ongoing support -
Yes. Please get in touch to discuss options—we want to make the program accessible for all families.
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Yes. We take confidentiality very seriously. Boys agree to group guidelines around respect and privacy. Nothing shared leaves the group unless there’s a risk to safety.
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Yes. All participants must have parent or guardian permission to join.
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If a participant shares anything that suggests harm or risk (to themselves or others), facilitators will contact parents and follow appropriate safeguarding protocols.
References.
https://www.aihw.gov.au/mental-health/overview/prevalence-and-impact-of-mental-illness
https://prosperhealthcollective.com.au/adolescent-mental-health-statistics/
https://youngmindsmatter.thekids.org.au/our-research/prevalence-of-mental-disorders/
https://www.vic.gov.au/common-mental-health-concerns-young-people
Wayfinders is an initiative of The Fifth Direction, a community dedicated to personal and collective transformation.