Event Toolkit

Brotherhood Hike: Steps Toward Strength

Theme & Purpose

The Brotherhood Hike combines movement, nature, and reflection. Before stepping onto the trail, participants take part in the #MillionMaskMovement — reflecting on their “outside self” (positive qualities they show the world, like strength or humor) and their “inside self” (the fears, pressures, or hopes they usually don’t let others see).

The hike then becomes a journey: as they walk, pause, and share, young men experience how resilience, struggle, and growth mirror the path of the trail.

Benefits for Young Men

  1. Resilience & Reflection – Connect personal challenges to physical endurance.

  2. Brotherhood in Motion – Build trust while walking side by side.

  3. Nature as Teacher – Use the outdoors to explore growth, strength, and peace.

Materials

  • Comfortable walking route (trail, park, or safe neighborhood path)

  • Bottles of water

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

  • Box or envelope for mask shuffle

  • Water and snacks (optional)

Group Size

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

Time Needed

60–90 minutes total.

 

STEP-BY-STEP Program

Skill Jam: A Brotherhood Exchange

1. Welcome & Purpose (5 minutes)

Host Script:
““Welcome to the Brotherhood Hike. Just like a trail has ups and downs, so does life. Before we walk, we’ll start with the #MillionMaskMovement to reflect on the difference between what we show the world and what we usually don’t let others see. This honesty will guide our journey today.”

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, shuffle, and redistribute.

  • Reflection: “The outside is what people admire. The inside is what we often carry alone. Tonight, as you share your skills, remember both matter — because who we are makes our talents meaningful.”

3. Begin the Hike & Paired Walk (20 minutes)

Pair participants to walk together.

  • Prompts while walking:

    • “What’s one challenge you’re working through right now?”

    • “How do you keep going when things feel hard?”

4. Group Pause & Sharing (15 minutes)

Gather the group at a scenic or quiet spot. Invite a few volunteers to share reflections on:

  • How the mask activity felt.

  • What the trail symbolizes about life’s challenges.

5. Continue Hike (20 minutes)

Switch walking partners. New prompts:

  • “What goal are you working toward?”

  • “Who helps you keep moving forward?”

6. Closing & Positive Action (5–10 minutes)

Host Script:
“Today we walked side by side, but we also carried each other’s truths. The masks reminded us that everyone has struggles, and the hike showed us we’re stronger together.”

7. 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

  • Recipe Swap: Share recipes digitally or as handouts.

  • Mini Cooking Demo: Teach a quick step from your dish.

  • Food + Mask Collage: Create a display with photos of dishes alongside completed masks.

For any questions, please contact millionmask@everforwardclub.org

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