Event Toolkit

Brotherhood Bonfire: Stories in the Flame

Theme & Purpose

Brotherhood Bonfire: Stories in the Flame brings young men together with caring adults to share stories of struggle, hope, and resilience in the warmth of a fire. Fire has always been a place of gathering, honesty, and transformation. Just like flames, our voices can give light, bring warmth, and help release what we carry inside.

This event begins with the #MillionMaskMovement, where participants reflect on their outside self (the positive qualities they show the world) and their inside self (the truths, pressures, or emotions they usually don’t let others see). With those reflections in mind, the bonfire becomes more than a gathering — it is a circle of brotherhood where young men share their stories, let go of what weighs them down, and find strength in connection.

Benefits for Young Men

  1. Brave Storytelling – Build the courage to share personal truths in a safe space.

  2. Deep Connection – Experience brotherhood through listening, presence, and support.

  3. Renewal & Release – Let go of pressures and leave with hope, intention, and clarity.

Materials

  • Fire pit or safe indoor flame substitute (candle or LED light)

  • Mask Cards: millionmask.org or digital millionmask.org/drawboard

  • Box or envelope for mask shuffle

  • Paper & pens for “release notes” or reflection

  • Blankets or chairs arranged in a circle

  • Optional: s’mores or snacks

Group Size

6–20 participants (plus audience if open to the public)..

Time Needed

60–90 minutes

STEP-BY-STEP Program

Brotherhood Bonfire: Stories in the Flame

1. Welcome & Purpose (5 minutes)

Host Script:
“Welcome to Brotherhood Bonfire. For generations, fire has been a place to tell stories, release burdens, and honor truth. Tonight, this fire will be our center — a reminder that your story matters and has the power to bring warmth and light.”

2. Create a Mask (10 minutes)

  • Hand out mask cards.

  • Invite participants to write/draw:

    • Front (outside): the positive qualities they usually show the world (e.g., hardworking, funny, confident, athletic).

    • Back (inside): the “real stuff” they usually don’t let others see (e.g., fear of failure, stress, sadness, family pressure).

  • Collect masks

  • Reflection: “Fire reveals what’s hidden in the dark. Tonight, our masks remind us that while we all show strengths on the outside, the inside truths connect us even more.”

3. Story Circle (30–40 minutes)

  1. Each participant is invited to share a short story:

    • A struggle they’ve faced.

    • A lesson they’ve learned.

    • A hope they carry.

  2. Guidelines: speak honestly, listen without judgment, no advice unless asked.

  3. Encourage “I” statements and presence.

4. Release Ritual (10 minutes)

  1. Each person writes down one thing they want to let go of, or one intention they want to carry forward.

  2. Outdoor setting: safely burn slips in the fire.

  3. Indoor setting: place slips in a sealed jar/box as a symbolic release.
    Host Script:
    “Let the fire carry away what you no longer need, and let the light remind you of what you want to grow.”

5. Closing & Support (10 minutes)

Participants pair up with a “brother check-in” partner who agrees to text/call within the week.
Host Script:
“Tonight you showed courage and truth. Leave here knowing that you don’t carry it alone — you have brothers walking with you.”

6. SHARE MASKS POST EVENT (10 minutes)

Take pictures of each mask and email them to millionmask@everforwardclub.org to join our #MillionMaskMovement and help us reach 100,000 people by this November!

Optional Add-Ons

  • S’mores & Snacks: Sharing food deepens the bond and adds comfort.

  • Music Moment: Play or sing a song around the fire to close.

  • Guest Mentor: Invite a coach, teacher, or elder to share their own story.

  • Bonfire Journal: Keep a group notebook where participants write quotes, stories, or lessons to revisit later.

  • Follow-Up Gathering: Reunite in a month to reflect on progress with intentions.

 

For any questions, please contact millionmask@everforwardclub.org

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