This roaring weekend will include whitewater rafting, a ropes course, eye opening conversations, mouth watering food, camping, and an incredible opportunity for fathers, step-fathers, male guardians, or mentors to get away for a weekend with their son's or young men and experience an adventure of a life time!
NO EXPERIENCE IS NEEDED!!!
"That was an amazing event, with many levels of benefit for me and for Henry. I appreciate what it takes to put that together and to execute as well as you guys did. Thanks for the consistency and the perfect blend of fun and growth, of light-heartedness and seriousness, of challenge and of relaxation. These are difficult parameters to blend well but you have done so expertly."
- David Dwyer (Father) Athens, GA
The Most Important Relationship...
The father/son relationship is the most important relationship in every young man’s life. Many fathers go to great lengths to be involved in their son’s lives, attending sporting events, concerts, club events, hobbies, and activities from many other facets of life. All of these acts of encouragement are greatly appreciated. I have had the great fortune of appreciating over 25 years of sacrifice and encouragement from my Dad.
However, if I think back, the most memorable experiences are those where it was just my Dad and me. I don’t mean the two of us in a car riding to or from practice, or the occasional trip to The Varsity. I mean the trips where my Dad took the time for the two of us to get away and experience life. For me many of these trips were spent camping in the North Georgia mountains, hiking what seemed like an eternity, and eating supper cooked over a hardwood fire that WE made. There were many other excursions through the years; however, two camping trips stand out more than any other memory.
It was on those two trips that we camped by the confluence of two large creeks. We ate, told stories, laughed, and watched in amazement as trout lit up the top of the water like fireworks as they fed on insect hatchlings. It was as if, on those two trips, my Dad gave me unspoken permission to become a man and to be the unique person that I was created to be.
I wish everyone could experience the adventure and friendship of those two weekends between me and my Dad.
That is why we have decided to create Becoming A Man Adventures (B.A.M.). B.A.M. is an opportunity for fathers and sons to get away from the normal pace and routine of every day. It is an opportunity for fathers and sons to experience a sense of adventure and permission to release the wild that all young men yearn to feel. B.A.M. is designed to create healthy discussion, mutual support, and positive strategies to build physically, emotionally, and mentally healthy young men! Plus, strengthen your friendship through fellowship, adventure, and fun with other father/son pairs of similar age.
All of the activities will revolve around the three principles for B.A.M.:
Strengthen the bond between the father and son
Empower the son
Adventure!
We hope that you will join us for a weekend of lifelong memories…
and of course an ADVENTURE!
Sincerely,
Drew Brantley
B.A.M.
Co-Founder
What to Expect...
We will leave Athens, GA on a charter bus for a weekend of R&R (Rivers and Ropes) in the “valley of the noon day sun”, full of adventure, fellowship, and experiencing “thin places.” We will be camping at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC), located in Wesser, NC. We will be experiencing adventurous river rafting, a challenging alpine tower, thought-provoking discussions, and energizing and hysterical activities that are sure to make this an adventure you and your son will not soon forget.
Who Can Attend?
Fathers, Step-Fathers, Male Guardians, or Male Mentors and a son in Rising 7th- Rising 11th Grades (2008-2009 school year). The ONLY requirement… you must be male.
“The experience was great. My son and I didn’t want to leave. We can’t wait to come back.”
- Bob Wylie, Greensboro, GA
Activities There is NO experience required for any activities during the weekend. Participants should be prepared for an active weekend.
Activities will include BUT will not be limited to:
White Water Rafting
Alpine Tower
Competitive Activities
Warm Fire
Great Food
Team Building Activities
A Surprise Project
The other testosterone-driven things your mom doesn’t want you to do
And the rest we will have to save for later, or it wouldn’t be an Adventure!
A list of what to bring will be sent once you have reserved a place in an upcoming B.A.M. Adventure.
The first 3 father/son pairs will be provided a canvas tent with beds (you will need to provide a sleeping bag or bedding). Subsequent father/son pairs will be required to bring a tent.
"The conversations were exactly the right ones. I say to myself, these are the things I’ll discuss with my son when I get home, but busy lives often get in the way of following through on those intentions. This weekend has provided that forum for a deeper, more delicate discussion path without the normal distractions of life at home. Thank you!”
Great Discussions
One enriching part of the weekend will be a series of discussions that will build the bond between father and son, strengthen the father support network, and empower the young men.
Private one-on-one discussions between father and son will create the environment for positive affirmation and support. Plus, it will provide a healthy structure for both the son and father to discuss what they need from each other.
All of these are designed to create healthy discussion, mutual support, and positive strategies to build physically, emotionally, and mentally healthy young men!
“The B.A.M. Adventure was structured in such a way that dad and son opened up to each other.
Where and When
NOC - Nantahala Outdoor Center - Nantahala, NC
We will be leaving Athens, GA via motor coach Friday, August 1st at 5 p.m. and returning from the Nantahala River Valley Sunday, August 3rd between 4-6 p.m. You will receive the full details of the weekend in a “Welcome Packet” once you have reserved your spot!
“I leave this weekend wanting more!”
Upcoming BAM Adventures August 1-3, 2008 - Rising 7th - 11th Grade - ONLY 20 Father/Son Spaces Available
If you have more than one son that you would like to attend with, please call (706) 424-2724 and ask to speak with Drew for more details.
Reservations
The great thing about B.A.M. Adventure is that your investment is for both the Father and Son. Because of the great support of our Partners in the community we have been able to make the weekends even more affordable.
Enrollment for this incredible event is only 2 monthly installments of $399.
There are a LIMITED NUMBER of spaces available and they are expected to fill up fast! Remember the first 3 father/son pairs to reserve their space will be provided with a canvas tent and a bed! Be sure you are one of the first 3 by completing the enclosed registration form today!
Spaces are available on a first-come first-serve basis. To reserve your space for the above weekend click "Register" below!
The B.A.M. Leaders
Drew Brantley
Drew Brantley has over 15 years of outdoor adventure experience and over 4 years of leading and directing outdoor adventure with young men and women. Drew also brings 7 years of firefighting, rescue, and medical experience. He is professional speaker and has also been the host of the Performance Solution Webinar Series has co-authored numerous leadership, coaching, and team building resources including High Octane Teamwork and The One Thing You Missed As A Leader.
John Brantley
John Brantley is the father of 3 sons and has over 20 years of successful business experience. John also brings 15 years of Pastoral Ministry prior to starting his own business. John is a professional speaker and is the author of Performance Coaching: Skills Based Strategies to Develop Self Propelled People. John has co-authored numerous leadership, coaching, and team building resources including High Octane Teamwork and The One Thing You Missed As A Leader.
Tyler Brantley
Tyler Brantley has over 12 years of outdoor adventure experience. He has taught students internationally and worked as an assistant of a large youth ministry in FL. Tyler is currently working on his Bachelor of Science at Sewanee: The University of the South. He is actively involved at Sewanee as a leader and rising senior on the Sewanee Football Team, he is the Chair of the Honor Council, and actively involved in many additional aspects of the community and campus life.
We look forward to having you join us for an upcoming B.A.M. Adventure!
We would like to extend a special thanks to our Gold Community Partners
Visit The People's Bank at locations in Winder, GA and their NEW location on the Atlanta HWY in Athens, GA.
View Pictures from a previous B.A.M. Adventure and see what participants had to say.
February 13-16, 2009 (President Day Weekend All Clarke/Oconee Schools are out of school)
What This adventure filled weekend will include incredible scenery, great lodging, challenging activities, and great conversations. Stay tuned for more information on this incredible event in the coming months.
Who
Father's, Step-fathers, male guardians, mentors and son's/young men - Grades TBA
Where
TBA
How Many Can Participate?
TBA
What Is Included
The registration for 2 people (1 father, step-father, guardian, or mentor, and 1 son/young man) includes the following:
TBA
Plus More...
View Pictures from a previous B.A.M. Adventure and see what participants had to say.
