My 12 year old son survived "Man Camp"

“Rough. Tough. Enough.” Those were the three words that Carter used to describe the experience after we’d all hiked back.

Last summer, Carter and two of his teenage cousins hiked deep into Idaho’s backcountry weighed down by full packs. They had no tent, minimal food and ten survival tools they selected from a list of options they’d been given days before.

They scaled up and over two ridges before arriving at a high altitude glacial lake. They set up camp. They caught fish for dinner. They built a shelter to hold up against overnight temperatures dipping into the thirties.

And after the week ended, they didn’t just endure the experience. They owned it.

The night before we left, the boys cooked dinner for their moms. It was a symbolic role reversal. Boys get taken care of. Men take care of others.

Around the table during the “separation dinner” we told stories of traditional rites of passage: the Spartan Agoge, the Maasai lion hunt, the baptism and wilderness of Jesus. We talked about what it has meant across cultures and centuries for a boy to become a man. We gave symbolic gifts and we prayed blessings over them. The moms affirmed them and handed them over to their fathers.

And we laid out what the weekend was really about: three shifts that mark the move from boyhood to manhood.

From ease to effort

From self to others

From the immediate to the eternal

Back at camp, each morning started with a simple breakfast around the fire and a devotional that introduced one of the three shifts to manhood. Every evening ended around the fire with stories of real men, biblical and modern, who lived out those three shifts. The days were filled with physical, mental and emotional challenges.

Our goal was to create something truly memorable and genuinely challenging without being completely overwhelming. Months of planning went into this. And to be completely honest. It didn’t go perfectly.

There were moments of frustration, and not everything went according to plan. One boy felt pretty sick after the first day. Another cut his hand pretty deep with a knife. There were stretches of silence, and the boys didn’t love every minute of it. But it was meaningful, memorable, and the boys left knowing that they accomplished something that few boys their age can claim.

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When you ask a man when he became a man, there’s never a simple answer. It’s more about a process than a moment.

Man Camp isn't about turning boys into men over the course of a single week. It's about starting a process that’s been lost in modern culture. Our dads didn’t do this for us and we’re figuring this out as we go.

We’re casting a vision for the type of men that we hope our sons become. It’s less about specific accomplishments and more about values and character. As dads, we’re focused first on being that man, albeit imperfectly. Then we’re trying to create the type of environment and experiences to instill those values.

Man Camp was a milestone moment: a one-time opportunity to make memories together and teach a few ideas through peak experiences. Some milestone moments are planned and intentionally executed. There are opportunities to elevate certain milestones like a first shave, getting a driver’s license, or high school graduation.

But it’s not just about peak experiences. It’s about the daily and weekly rhythms. It’s about getting back together with other sons and fathers to continue the journey. This past weekend we all had dinner together, looked through pictures and shared memories. We discussed ideas for what we might experience next together.

I created Man Camp after reading stories of other fathers who are going far and above what I’m doing for my sons. At first I was overwhelmed. But then I was inspired to brainstorm, pull in some other dads and eventually have a lot of fun doing our version of something.

A milestone moment doesn't have to be a backcountry hike. It can be a formal dinner at a restaurant where you speak words of affirmation, a weekend trip filled with intentional conversation, a birthday where you gather the men in his life to speak over him, or a challenge you set together and then see through.

The bar is a lot lower than you think. And the impact is a lot higher. Forward this email to a like-minded father. Brainstorm some ideas together.

Leading your family is a responsibility that can feel overwhelming at times. But after taking a few small steps, you'll discover that it's actually the most rewarding and enjoyable work you'll ever do.

I'd love to share more details and help you create milestone moments for your sons and daughters. Reach out to me directly, anytime.

-Andrew | andrew@fam-lead.com | 208-880-8285

P.S.

This is all part of Step 6 of the Family Leadership System: Develop Your People.

Milestone Moments are one of the most powerful tools in that step. They're not the whole thing, but they create core memories that you and your kids will never forget.

If you want the full picture of how all six steps fit together, the Family Leadership Blueprint is the place to start. It's about an hour's read and lays out the complete system, including what Developing Your People actually looks like in practice.

This is all meant to be built out alongside other men who are doing the same work. That's what the 30-Day Sprint is for. I'm launching the next Sprint at the end of April, 2026. I have a few slots remaining. If you're on the fence, let me know and I'll work with you to figure out if it's a fit.