Becoming Senior Mentors

One hallmark of our Council Fires is the Journey Ceremony, when we honor those who have spent extended time on the lands and among the community of Green River Preserve. Campers and staff with four summers at GRP receive a special walking stick, and subsequent summers earn them medallions representing the four Woodcraft Laws: Truth, Beauty, Love, and Fortitude. Expeditions and the Leadership in Training Program also receive medallions.

During the first Council Fire of the 2024 Summer, we had a special element of our Journey Ceremony, recognizing two new Senior Mentors: Courtney Bellissimo and Danny Taber. They were gifted decorated turkey feathers in honor of their contributions to our community.

Like many handcrafted parts of GRP, the GRP walking sticks are grown by Senior Mentor Hawk Hurst on his homestead, and are handcrafted by GRP staff. In this ceremony, the decorated turkey feathers were made by our Arts Coordinator Rhonda Wilson-Williams.

Senior Mentors at Green River Preserve are esteemed individuals with extensive knowledge of the environment and our community. They possess unique skills in areas like ecology, primitive living skills, and technical abilities, and they excel in teaching others, including campers and staff. As we say in the ceremony, Senior Mentors are “members of our community who have walked these lands for many years, seeking the joy through truth, beauty, fortitude, and love. They have become teachers of teachers and mentors of mentors.”

Congratulations to Courtney and Danny for joining this distinguished group. May you continue to walk and inspire others in the Green River Valley for many years to come.

Story by Chris Paul with photos by Brandon S. Marshall & Samantha Keebler