A pathway for men into growth, connection and purpose.
Building a community of men outdoors to provide belonging and direction for the next generations.
What is Ember Path?
Ember Path is a space for young men to find belonging, confidence and direction.
Through practical outdoor skills, shared challenge and therapeutic guidance, we help people reconnect with themselves, with others and with a sense of purpose.
Our work combines the natural challenge of the outdoors with purposeful learning and empathetic guidance to provide a pathway to becoming whole and grounded human beings.
Who We Support
Ember Path primarily supports teens and young men who are searching for belonging, confidence and direction — especially those who feel disconnected, lacking in guidance, or are stuck between childhood and adulthood.
Young Men
(13–18)
Teens navigating identity, belonging, emotions and the transition to adulthood.
Young Adults (18–30)
Men searching for direction, purpose or a supportive community.
Professionals & Referrers
Schools, families and services supporting people with SEMH needs.
What We Offer
Ember Path creates experiences that help people step into belonging, confidence and purpose – from social campfire gatherings through to therapeutic interventions and rites of passage.
Seasonal Fire Gatherings
Small, welcoming circles for men to connect, reflect and build belonging around the fire.
Online Men’s Group (Coming Soon)
A guided online space offering guidance, support and shared challenge — launching in 2026.
Therapeutic Programmes
Nature-based programmes to help teens and young men grow through nurture, challenge and reflection.
Why This Works
Ember Path blends the teaching of practical skills with therapeutic guidance
We create spaces where people feel safe, understood and challenged in healthy ways. Through learning, conversation and guidance, our sessions help people grow their self-esteem and emotional intelligence, to reach their full potential.
Based in Bushcraft
Learning practical outdoor skills and knowledge supports self-esteem, regulation and wellbeing.
Therapeutically Designed
Sessions are carefully structured to provide a Brave Space where people feel safe, heard and supported.
Belonging Through Action
We don’t just talk we take action shoulder-to-shoulder to improve our own lives and those around us.
For Schools, Referrers & Familes
Ember Path provides safe, structured and therapeutically informed experiences for a range of young people including those with SEMH needs, school-based challenges or emotional barriers.
Our work is grounded in clear safeguarding practices, trauma-informed facilitation and experience supporting a range of young people in both public and school settings. We collaborate closely with staff and families to ensure each individual is understood, valued and supported.
Qualified & Experienced Facilitation
Led by Bracken Van Ryssen — a trained therapeutic outdoor practitioner with experience supporting a wide range of ages, needs and abilities through nature-based programmes.
Clear Safeguarding & Policies
We work with transparent safeguarding processes, risk assessments, supervision and policies aligned with professional therapeutic and outdoor standards.
Communication & Collaboration
We work closely with schools, families and services to ensure that the people we work with are looked after.
About The Team
Bracken Van Ryssen
Founder and Lead Instructor
I’m Bracken — an outdoor practitioner with over a decade of experience in Forest School and bushcraft and currently working towards the completion of my Advanced Wilderness Therapeutic qualification.
My work centres on helping people reconnect with themselves, others and the natural world through teaching traditional and practical outdoor skills.
I combine therapeutic training, outdoor education and years of work with home-educated teens, SEMH students and outdoor practitioners. Ember Path is the space where all of that comes together — a place for growth, belonging and purpose.
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