Reconnecting Fathers and Sons in the Australian Bush
Two-day bushcraft camps that bring fathers and sons back together - away from screens, schedules, and distractions.
The Problem
Fathers and Sons Are Losing Each Other
Modern life hasn't just made father-son connection harder - it's systematically dismantled the natural opportunities where bonds were once forged.The workshops where boys learned alongside their fathers, the fields they worked together, the weekend projects that filled a Saturday - these have largely disappeared.In their place: the illusion of presence, where Dad is physically home but mentally elsewhere.Fathers want deeper bonds. They just lack the tools - and the context.
Our Solution
The Antidote to Digital Distraction
When you remove the screens and place fathers and sons in nature where they must work together, real connection isn't just possible - it's inevitable.Trailmates takes fathers and sons into the bush for two-day overnight camps. Together, they learn practical skills: fire lighting, shelter building, navigation, bush cooking, knife skills.But the skills are just the vehicle. The real work happens around the campfire, under the tarp, in the quiet moments when fathers and sons remember how to talk to each other.Most fathers don't have bushcraft skills. That's exactly the point. When father and son learn together as equals, that's when the magic happens.
Our Approach
Challenge by Choice
Connection by Design
| No Judgement | Natural Conversation | Lasting Community |
|---|---|---|
| We meet every father and son where they are. No competition. Just the right level of challenge to build confidence together. | Bushcraft creates space for dialogue. While building shelter or making fire, discussions about life flow without forcing. | The experience doesn't end when you leave. Ongoing connection provides the peer group many men are missing. |
Age Groups
Tailored For Every Stage
Each Trailmates experience is designed for a specific age bracket, focusing on the challenges boys face at that developmental stage.
Pathfinders
11-14 yrs old
Beginning adolescence. Starting secondary school. Forming identity.
Navigators
14-16 yrs old
Increased pressure. Growing independence. Early life decisions.
Wayfarers
16-18 yrs old
Transition to adulthood. Career choices. Emerging independence.
Accessibility
Open to All Families
Our tiered fee structure ensures financial circumstances don't prevent families from participating.Bursary places are available for veteran families, single-income households, and families referred by schools and welfare agencies.If cost is a barrier, get in touch. We'll find a way.
Who We Are
Founded by Practitioners, Not Theorists
Adam O'Donnell
Veteran of British & Australian Special Forces (18 years). Chief Survival Instructor for Scouts Victoria. Father of two boys.
Andrea de Carteret
Masters in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy . Psychology Honours (Monash). Mother of two boys and one girl.
Support
Become a Founding Supporter
We're establishing Trailmates as a registered not-for-profit and seeking founding supporters to help us launch.Your contribution funds bursary places for families who couldn't otherwise participate - veteran families, single-income households and families referred by schools and welfare agencies.
Find out more