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Mifne BaMidbar: Therapeutic Expeditions

Dates: June 17, 2021
-July 26, 2021
Cost: $11,400
Location: Colorado
Course Type:

Course Details

Mifne means turning point. Mifne BaMidbar is an immersive, 40-day program for emerging adults (18-28) looking to find direction and chart a new path forward. Get un-stuck and find yourself through 40 days in the wilderness.

BaMidbar uses wilderness and adventure-based experiences as a vehicle to promote self-reflection and community connection, while helping participants build a toolkit to face life’s challenges. BaMidbar’s program is crafted to simultaneously support and challenge each individual student, allowing them to discover who they are, who they want to be, where they want to go, and how they’re going to get there. Individual therapy, group therapy, and regular processing debriefs are woven into the program structure to give space for intentional reflection, learning, and growth.

Who It’s For

This program is open to Jewish-identifying young adults (ages 18-28) who may or may not have a history of mental health challenges, but who are struggling to find their way forward. Life challenges may include:

  • A “failure to launch”
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Identity exploration
  • Negative life patterns
  • Mild substance use or abuse
  • Academic or employment challenges

Location

Mifne students spend Sunday-Thursday of each week exploring the Colorado wilderness, and returns home to basecamp for Shabbat. Past masa (backcountry excursion) locations have included Rocky Mountain National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Lost Creek Wilderness, State Forest State Park, and more.

BASECAMP

BaMidbar’s Therapeutic Expeditions return weekly to our basecamp for Shabbat. Located 90 minutes from Denver at an elevation of 8,000 feet, the basecamp is surrounded by magnificent towering mountain peaks with on-site natural climbing walls, and has three mountain-fed streams running through its center. BaMidbar’s accommodations are primitive with no electricity or running water. Students and staff sleep in a canvas platform tent, built solidly to withstand the elements. The group has access to bathrooms and showers. All meals are cooked outside either over a fire or using a propane stove.

While BaMidbar operates on a secluded corner of the Ramah in the Rockies ranch, our program operates as a closed system. BaMidbar staff and students do not have any interaction or overlap with the Ramah in the Rockies community.

BACKCOUNTRY EXCURSIONS

BaMidbar takes advantage of the public lands available across the state of Colorado, including local wilderness areas, and State and National Parks. Typically, two masaot stay closer to basecamp, while the other two masaot require some travel to arrive at the trailhead. When groups are in the backcountry, students establish camp on a nightly basis. Each student is responsible for setting up their own sleeping tarp, and they work together to dig latrines and secure a group shelter in anticipation of inclement weather. Students use drip filters and Aquamira to purify water, and rely on fire and camp stoves to cook group meals.

Registration Details

Begin your application TODAY.

Inquiry: Our process typically begins with a conversation between the student or the student’s family and our admissions team. Please call (720) 835-2937 x0 to speak with an admissions staff member.

Application: Please download our application and send completed copies to admissions@bamidbartherapy.org.

Interview: BaMidbar’s admission team will be in touch within two business days (excluding Jewish holidays) of receiving the application and personal history to schedule a phone interview between the prospective student and BaMidbar’s Clinical Director. This is an opportunity for the student and Clinician to get to know one another and work together to determine whether BaMidbar will be able to meet the student’s needs and goals.

Acceptance: BaMidbar will review all information gathered in the admissions documents and clinical interview to ensure that BaMidbar will be an appropriate placement for the prospective student.

Enrollment: After acceptance into the program, BaMidbar will work with families to ensure that all forms and payments are completed and submitted before the student arrives.

Financial Aid: Once accepted into the program, all students are welcome to apply for financial aid. In order to make a formal request, we require families to submit a letter detailing your financial need along with:

  • A copy of the first two pages of your latest tax return
  • Copies of schedules A, B, C, & D, if applicable

BaMidbar recognizes that due to the pandemic and its effects, a family’s level of need may not be adequately captured by last year’s tax returns. In the letter, please include any pertinent changes to the applicant’s or applicant’s family’s financial situation as a result of COVID-19. BaMidbar is also open to working with families to create a Payment Plan to ease the impact of the full cost of the program. Plans are designed to span between the time a student is accepted into the program and June 1, 2021.

Please note: applicants must provide a password along with password protected files. Failing to do so may cause applications to be delayed or declined. This information should be emailed to Ramah in the Rockies COO, Matt Levitt, at matt@ramahoutdoors.org. The Financial Aid Committee meets monthly and follows up with individuals and families after convening. All requests for financial aid are treated with the highest degree of confidentiality.

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