greetings from Monte Há Mar. I’ll be hosting the second teenage Bootcamp here at Monte Há mar from July 9th to 13th for boys from 13 to 16 years old.

This is not a summer camp, it is a vacation camp with a purpose. Teenagers are traditionally bombarded with hormones, body changes and mood swings. Modern societies have lost touch with teenagers real needs. Technology has brought progress in many areas of life yet teenagers are the ones suffering the most by losing touch and connection with their bodies, families and nature. The average time spent on social media for male teens is 4.4 hours a day. Many of their social interactions are made through the phone, sometimes even with parents and relatives.

Our proposal is to bring back young men to their bodies and senses by immersing them in Nature. To create a space where they can get in touch and express their feelings and emotions freely, with no judgment or imposition yet with integrity and self regulation. Nature Walks, Beach time and Surfing, Yoga, Meditation, Breathwork, Ecstatic Dance, Sound healing, Sacred combat amongst others are some of the practices they will cultivate here.

Basic life skills

General self care, organization and planing, cooking skills, building skills, nature survival, observation and understanding, conflict resolution, energetic self management, team work etc are basic yet forgotten life skills that many adults don’t have. Humanity is governed by immature adults, who did not go through rites of passage that once were fundamental in so many cultures for young adults to understand change and responsibility. Society is moving at warp speed and the future is very uncertain. No one knows where it is heading. The happiest and most prepared humans are those who develop and cultivate their ability to adapt. Young men have a big responsibility to navigate life with confidence and purpose in a dissociated world.

Where?

Monte “Há Mar”

Located between Vila Nova de Milfontes and Porto Covo at the heart of the Natural Reserve, 3km  close to Aivados beach. Monte Há Mar is a 2.3 acres property reforested using Agroforestry and Permaculture principles. The main house is built with straw bales and lime plaster. The property is off the grid. Teenagers will camp at the property.

Activities

The group will start the day early with meditation and noble silence. 7:30 they will practice traditional Ashtanga Yoga @oficinadaescola followed by breakfast. The day will be planed based on the weather, tides and how the group (leaders included) is feeling. Surfing, physical training, group and individual dynamics, meal preparations, camp cleaning are going to occupy most of the day schedule. The group will have a limited time per day for mobile phone usage.

What to bring

Tent, sleeping bag, flashlight, beach towel and necessaire. Hat and zink based (ecological) sun lotion. Training shoes and flip-flops. Personal Journal and pen. Surfing equipment if you have some experience. Warm clothes for the evening, board shorts etc.

How get here

Ideally teenagers should arrive by bus to Vila Nova de Milfontes. If not parents can deliver them in person at Monte Há Mar.

Teenagers must fill up a form in order to participate. We are limiting this experience to 10 young men only.

For more information, free enquirer call, please contact me +351914094330