Ben's Story
The following is a scenario that may occur when a new student arrives at Aspen Achievement Academy:
Ben, a new student, arrives in Loa with two other new students. A clinical decision that he will be in Team I has been made prior to Ben's arrival. The other two new students will go to different groups. While Ben is preparing to enter the field, Team I has been made aware that a new student will soon be arriving. Team I becomes busy with activity as they build a ceremonial site and a separates site. The ceremonial site may be as simple as a circle made with pine cones, sticks, and/or rocks. The separates site may also be made with similar materials. The students of Team I begin to think about what kind of gift they would like to give to the new student during his separates time.
As Ben arrives to his new group, he is met by two staff members and possibly students who hold the position of Eagle. Staff and/or Eagle students explain to Ben that he is being taken to the ceremonial site to be initiated into his new group. Ben is respectfully asked to remain silent upon his arrival and for the duration of the ceremony. As Ben walks in silence to the ceremony site, he goes through the empty camp where he sees the smoldering fire pit, the shelters, and gear laying about. He goes just beyond the camp, walking among the Junipers, sage brush, and rabbit brush, and he sees a group of people sifting around a circle of rocks and sticks.
Ben is greeted by a staff member who has been designated as the Master of Ceremony. The Master of Ceremony asks Ben to sit down cross-legged, and to listen attentively to what he will hear, for it will be essential to his survival in the program. Ben then has a student approach him and place an empty leather necklace around his neck, explaining that the plain necklace represents his inner spirit that must empty itself in order to gain new knowledge and wisdom. Ben is told by the Master of Ceremony that he has been named a "Mouse". Students begin to tell Ben their names, their current totem animal (e.g., coyote, buffalo, eagle), what Mouse meant to them, and how they progressed to Coyote. The Master of Ceremony tells Ben that, as a Mouse, he will soon be taken to his prepared site from which he will watch in silence and learn from observing others. Ben may also be read the Tecumseh story focusing on how Ben can use the following time to find himself and his purpose at Aspen. All members approach Ben individually and offer Ben a short statement of encouragement (e.g., "Good luck and I can't wait to get to know you when you reach Coyote") and then leave the Ceremony site.
Ben is then taken to his separates site where one staff member shows him how to build a shelter and how to optimally stay warm at night. He is shown his caran where he is told he can leave notes if he has needs. Finally, he is told that the group will be taking care of his needs, including food, and to use this time to find for himself what lessons he can learn from Aspen. Ben is then left alone, but is soon brought a cup of food for the night by one of the Eagle students. The following two days Ben shadows the group but is not approached or talked to by any of the students in the group. Ben is told on the second day that he must choose a staff person to be his guide that will lead him into Coyote. Ben eventually chooses the staff person, Dave, who, Ben feels, is a nice person. Dave gives Ben the introductory curriculum packet and tells him he must begin to study the material carefully in order to transition. Dave also begins to talk with Ben about what it will take to become a Coyote, which includes being able to state one goal in the program.
On the morning of the fourth day, Ben is approached by his guide, Dave, and told the time has come for his transition to Coyote. The group, with the exception of Ben and Dave, prepare the ceremony site. Dave blindfolds Ben, explaining that the blindfold allows Ben to listen to the sounds and smells around him and listen attentively to the words that will be said to him. Ben is guided by Dave along a path where they make several stops, and members of the group speak about the meaning of Coyote. Ben, still blindfolded, eventually reaches the ceremonial site and is addressed by the Master of Ceremony. Ben is then asked to share why he thinks he is worthy of being a Coyote and what it is he can offer the group. When Ben is done speaking, the group then raises their right hand to signify their approval that Ben is ready to be a Coyote. (If there is any dissension, then the group will walk a short distance away and begin to process their feelings about Ben.) Ben gets the group approval and is told so by the Master of Ceremony. Then Ben is asked directly if he is willing to make the commitment to Coyote, whereupon Ben responds positively. Ben then is told by Dave that he is placing a bead made of bone on Ben's necklace to represent the great challenge that Ben is taking on. As Ben sits blindfolded, he is approached individually by all group members and given congratulations. Ben then takes off the blindfold and shares how he feels. One Eagle student had a poem he wanted to read, while a staff member read a story. Each member of the group offers Ben a gift, perhaps a carved wooden spoon to eat with, or a necklace, or bow drill fire materials The ceremony is ended with a "group hug" and Ben leaves the ceremony site as a Coyote.