“Jonathon’s facilitated session with our youth baseball team (14- and 15-year-olds) helped us open an important conversation within our team about how perceived expectations about what it means to be a man can cause harm and limit us, including on the baseball diamond. He did a terrific job getting all the kids engaged and talking, and the conversation helped us advance our goal of creating an inclusive team culture.”
— Alex Mazer, West Toronto Baseball Club
Read More“I loved this trip, it can easily take the title of best time of my life, it made me hopeful, proud, and made me care, not just about nature, but the people around me. It showed me that I can develop these relationships, to take action and improve the lives of others.”
— Past expedition participant
Read MoreSession 1
October 2023
Using the Man Box framework, this session identifies the unique pressures facing masculine-identifying youth and the particular contexts where harmful attitudes and behaviours are reinforced at school. What does it look like when boys seek to prove themselves through the tenets of ‘toxic masculinity’? What can we do to shift boys’ culture?
Read MoreSession 2
November 2023
This session challenges myths about boys' academic disengagement, emotional insensitivity and relational indifference, and examine the significance of connection between educators and masculine-identifying students. How do we develop school practices for impactful learning relationships? How do we reach unreachable boys?
Read MoreSession 3
December 2023
This session proposes that educators should be aware of anti-feminist influences surrounding boys, and be ready and willing to explore them alongside boys themselves. What do educators need to know about voices like Andrew Tate? How do we use an affirming, strengths-based approach to respond to tough boys while still maintaining the safety of our classroom?
Read MoreSession 4
January 2024
This session uncovers how cultural narratives of masculinity can lead to relational disconnection, emotional illiteracy, increased risk and decreased help-seeking behaviours as boys grow up—and what educators can do to make a difference. How can mental health supports in schools more effectively reach masculine-identifying students?
Read MoreSession 5
February 2024
This session focuses on the reasons why consent education often isn’t as relevant, resonant or realistic as it should be for boys and young men. How do we teach consent in a way that reflects the complexity of real relationships? How do we equip boys with skills that remain largely invisible in traditional representations of manhood?
Read MoreSession 6
March 2024
This session explores one of the most important frameworks being practiced by schools who are leading the way on gender justice and positive masculinity: restorative justice in education. How can we better respond when boys cross the line? How can we engage them as allies while also holding them accountable for harm?
Read More“One thing that stands out for me was how confident our son felt about his experience, even though he definitely was tired and had times that were very challenging on the trip. He is keen to go again. He was resistant to go for months and to me this spoke to how he rose to the challenge and grew in a supportive and super fun environment.”
— Parent of a past expedition participant
Read More“I’d like to thank Next Gen Men for this great opportunity to explore parts of the world that I haven’t seen before with an amazing community. This experience will be part of me forever.”
— Past expedition participant
Read More“Our son commented about how he really liked being independent on this adventure, and…‘even though Jonathon and Ansel are adults, they weren’t my parents and it felt good.’ I would say that this trip is worth sending your child to if they are ready to be challenged and stretched physically and emotionally by the adventure, and to enjoy the thill of pushing yourself within a group of friends/soon to be friends!”
— Parent of a past expedition participant
Read More“I liked spending time with the people I had never seen but became such good friends with.”
— Past expedition participant
Read More“Something that resonated with me was how the group fostered a culture of support and non-judgement. When our son told me about a boy who left early he explained why and had no hint of criticism but rather empathy and support of him. I was so encouraged to see how NGM leaders fostered this awareness and attitude in 12-14 year old boys as that is not the vibe of our broader society.”
— Parent of a past expedition participant
Read More“All the guys are amazing and made me feel like I was me for the first time in a while.”
— Past expedition participant
Read More“[Our son] wanted to go, and it sounded like a good opportunity to go on an adventure with an organization that we trust.”
— Parent of a past expedition participant
Read More“My favourite part was the talks we had and how so much people put their thoughts. I will never forget being able to share my feelings with a group of people I trust.”
— Past Future of Masculinity Summit participant
Read More“Something I learned from the summit is that we need to talk more about stereotypes and what they could make people feel because it could harm their mental health.”
— Past Future of Masculinity Summit participant
Read More“What I loved the most about the summit were the topics it covered and how open it was. The people in the sessions were all very kind and open to all comments and opinions. The topics were very interesting too…I learned a lot and I’m grateful that I got the chance to attend something like this.”
— Past Future of Masculinity participant
Read More“One takeaway that I have from the summit is there are people in this world that will actually understand me. There are always people who will listen to me. Sometimes when we have things we don't want to tell our families, there will always be others there for us. For that, I am really glad.”
— Past Future of Masculinity Summit participant
Read More“The space feels safe and yet not corny. That’s a hard thing to do and maintain. Kudos for making this unique opportunity to connect a reality.”
— NGM Circle Attendee
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