Wildtender would be honored to work with you to co-create a personalized wilderness experience for yourself, your family or group. Custom programs can take many forms, but below you will find a few examples that we frequently run. Big Sur is our region of deepest expertise and connection, but our roots run through much of California’s wild landscape. We can accommodate all levels of wilderness, hiking, and backpacking experience.
CUSTOM PROGRAM IDEAS
Guided Backcountry Journeys & Pilgrimages – Intentional, multi-day, backpacking journeys into the wild– customized to the timeline, interests, intentions, locations and destinations of a group or individual. More about pilgrimage here.
Wilderness Rites of Passage – Supporting personalized, pan-ancestral rites of passage in the wilderness for enlivenment, psycho-spiritual enrichment, and to ceremonially mark times of transition or change. More about rites of passage here.
Land-Based Mentorship Sessions – 1-on-1, personalized mentorship to uncover meaning, connection and build relationship with the wild.
Day Hiking & Camping Retreats – Customized series of day hikes, with or without camping, for individuals or groups to explore and connect with front-country trails and campgrounds.
Wildcrafting & Creative Workshops – Creatively connect with the wild, build skills and have fun! Natural dyes and inks, herbal medicine, nature drawing & writing, and more...
Co-Creating
Every private & custom program is a unique co-creation with you and Wildtender which begins with a conversation about your intentions, personal orientation, and level of experience. Terms like “mentorship” or “rite of passage” have different meanings for different people; our definitions are elastic and can take on the shape that best suits a particular client relationship. The intention here is to meet you where you are – to be of service helping you find those personal moments of meaning, beauty, and aliveness in the wild!
If you are curious about scheduling a custom program, please fill out the form below our Testimonials section. If you’d like to set up an exploratory phone call, please utilize the calendar at the bottom of the page. We look forward to hearing from you!
Testimonials from Custom Program Clients
“I wanted to deepen my connection with the land, and build my confidence and wilderness skills. Fletcher (Wildtender co-founder) was the perfect guide and mentor. We co-created a program that fit my needs wonderfully... My experiences in nature are now much more joyful and connected. In addition to giving me lifelong tools and practices, our adventures have been awe-inspiring and just plain fun.”
“With a demanding job and young family, I had been worn down by the stresses of modern life. While my intention with Wildtender was to disconnect, my experience was the exact opposite. Through a custom guided trek in the Big Sur backcountry, Wildtender guides Bryan and Fletcher helped me connect in harmony with my surroundings... I returned to my family refreshed, full of life, optimism, and clarity.”
“[Wildtender guide] Fletcher has helped me deepen my relationship with the wild in a profound way. His open heart and ridiculously encyclopedic knowledge of the natural world have been meaningful gifts to me in my continued exploration... I’m so grateful for his mentorship.”
“I set out to learn about foraging plants that could be used for natural dyes. I learned that, and so much more, during my two days hiking and wildcrafting with Wildtender. I was immersed in the natural world, learning about the animal tracks at my feet, the condors flying overhead, the plants and natural medicine all around us. More importantly, I was reminded of the longing within myself to know and reconnect with these experiences.”