Wayfound Outdoors
Wayfound Outdoors – Full Organization Description
Wayfound Outdoors is a faith-rooted outdoor leadership organization that creates transformative experiences in nature to help youth and communities rediscover purpose, identity, and belonging. Through mentorship, adventure, and reflection, we guide young men—especially those from underserved or overlooked backgrounds—toward healing, resilience, and leadership.
At our core, we believe that the outdoors is more than a destination—it’s a classroom for the soul. Every fishing trip, hike, or campfire circle becomes a space where participants can slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with who they were created to be. We design immersive programs that blend outdoor skill-building, emotional growth, and spiritual reflection, cultivating transformation from the inside out.
Our Mission
We create transformative outdoor experiences that reawaken purpose, forge lasting community, and ignite pathways to healing and hope.
Our Vision
To cultivate a world where healing, leadership, and resilience are restored through nature—one adventure at a time.
What We Do
Wayfound Outdoors partners with schools, churches, and community organizations to deliver mentorship-based outdoor programs that integrate personal growth, faith formation, and leadership development. Our experiences are designed to meet people where they are—whether they’re picking up a fishing rod for the first time, climbing their first mountain, or reflecting beside a quiet lake.
We offer three core program tracks, each rooted in experiential learning and guided reflection:
Fishing Experiences
From half-day “First Cast” sessions to full-day “Deep Water Connections,” our fishing programs teach patience, focus, and perseverance. Participants learn technical skills—casting, knot-tying, fish handling—while engaging in meaningful dialogue about life, resilience, and faith. Each cast becomes a metaphor for trust, hope, and renewal.
Hiking & Wilderness Experiences
Our hiking and nature-based programs—like the “Wilderness Mirror Walk” and “Vision Quest Hike”—use physical challenge and natural reflection to foster emotional healing and spiritual clarity. These hikes combine mindfulness practices, journaling, and group discussions to build brotherhood and inner strength.
Camping & Retreats
Our overnight retreats, including the signature “Wayfinder Retreat”, offer multi-day immersion into mentorship, outdoor skill mastery, and personal transformation. Youth and adults alike experience a blend of adventure, devotion, and community-building—culminating in reflective fire circles, rites of passage, and moments of breakthrough.
Program Impact
Wayfound Outdoors isn’t just about teaching outdoor skills—it’s about equipping people to live differently. Our programs are designed around four pillars of transformation:
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Spiritual Growth – Participants develop faith and moral grounding through devotionals, scripture reflection, and time in creation.
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Emotional Healing – Nature becomes a safe place to process emotions, build self-awareness, and learn healthy coping tools.
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Leadership Development – Youth discover their voice and purpose through mentorship, teamwork, and community service projects.
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Outdoor Competency – Participants gain hands-on confidence through fishing, hiking, survival, and stewardship skills.
Every activity—whether journaling by the water or hiking a steep trail—is intentionally designed to reinforce these outcomes.
Our Approach
Wayfound Outdoors operates with a blend of structure and soul.
Each session follows a tested rhythm of challenge, reflection, and connection, guided by trained mentors who model servant leadership. Our facilitators don’t just teach skills—they build relationships, listen deeply, and walk alongside participants as they navigate life’s deeper questions.
Our curriculum, including the Pathfinder Year and Wayfound Leadership Cohorts, offers a yearlong progression of growth. Participants move through themes like Identity, Brotherhood, Courage, Purpose, Emotional Strength, and Leadership, applying what they learn in real-world contexts through community service and family engagement.
Who We Serve
Wayfound Outdoors primarily partners with:
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Schools seeking SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) and leadership enrichment.
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Churches looking to deepen youth discipleship and faith formation.
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Nonprofits and community groups working with underserved or at-risk youth.
Our programs meet each partner’s unique goals, offering customized options that align with their values and desired outcomes. We serve young men and women across Rochester, NY, and surrounding regions, with a focus on mentorship, accessibility, and inclusion.
How We Deliver Excellence
Behind every powerful outdoor moment is a robust operational backbone.
Wayfound Outdoors maintains detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for every aspect of our work—from day trip planning and transportation coordination to parent communication, safety, and post-event debriefs. These ensure that all experiences are safe, structured, and mission-aligned.
Our trained mentors, certified guides, and dedicated program leaders follow a trauma-informed, relational model that prioritizes safety, belonging, and dignity for every participant.
Our Why
We do this because we’ve lived it.
Wayfound Outdoors was born out of a deep conviction that young men—especially those navigating adversity—deserve spaces where they are seen, supported, and reminded of their worth. Founder Jared Jones’ own journey of healing through nature and faith inspired the creation of this movement.
“Fishing and time in nature gave me more than peace—they gave me purpose. Wayfound exists to offer that same gift to others: a chance to find their true identity, build resilience, and become the leaders they were created to be.”
Legacy of Transformation
Through every program, trip, and partnership, Wayfound Outdoors is cultivating a ripple effect of leadership and restoration. Our alumni go on to mentor others, strengthen families, and lead within their schools and communities.
We believe that when you change one life—you begin to change generations.