SAGE EXPERIENCE: SCOTLAND

A GUIDED JOURNEY OF THE MASCULINE SOUl for men ages 35-59

February 5-13, 2027

ALL MEN MUST RECKON WITH MIDLIFE

The time comes for every man where he realizes the morning of his life will soon turn towards afternoon. There is just as much behind as there is ahead, and the passage into a new season is about to begin. But many men have little sense of what this new season could or should entail, and we struggle knowing how to navigate it. We lack a vision for what it means to become a godly "Sage."

This journey has been designed for men aged 35-59 who are at the doorstep of or just settling into the second season of their lives.

Are you 60 years old or older? No worries - click here for an incredible Sage Experience that has been tailored just for you.

Submit Your Online Trip Application

Once in a Lifetime Trip

10 day guided experience through the fierce and stunning country of Scotland
Pilgrimage with Purpose

Engage the core narratives of your life in order to enter your second half with clarity, purpose, and resolve.
What's Included

All accommodations, most meals, entrance fees, in-country transportation, facilitated discussions and 1 on 1 storywork

The manhood journey is cyclical rather than linear, and the further along we travel, we find ourselves once again at the beginning. To truly become a Sage, we must go deeper and in reverse to recover those parts of us we exiled, forgot, lost, or never fully knew. Men who successfully navigate midlife emerge with a vision for who God originally made them to be.

But men who go on living their lives without an awareness of their own deep need for this intentional work simply grow old, believing their best years are behind them rather than ahead. To become a Sage is the highest calling of God on men. It is the pinnacle of manhood, and yet the vast majority of men settle for a too-small story as they pass the midlife mark. This passage into the second half is God's invitation to His bigger story.

"If the task of the first passage is to find the man within the boy and call him forth, the task of the second passage is to find the boy within the man and bring him home."
-Chris Bruno, Sage: A Man’s Guide into his Second Passage

THIS EXPERIENCE IS FOR YOU IF…

You are a man aged 35 - 59 years.
You are a follower of Jesus.
You have already done some personal work on your own story.
You recognize the tremors of midlife starting in your soul.
You want to engage the next season of your life as a man and navigate midlife with purpose.
You are not currently in crisis-mode. This is not therapy.
[If applicable] You have spoken with your wife and she agrees to send you on this journey.
You love to travel off the beaten path in small groups, not large buses or on tours.
You aren't looking for sightseeing (though we will visit amazing places), but rather an exploration of your heart.
You are ready for a different kind of trip.

Submit Your Online Trip Application

ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive in Edinburgh

Arrive in Edinburgh - one of Europe’s most storybook cities - for our Welcome & Orientation Dinner. We will gather over a hearty Scottish meal, get to know one another, and prepare for the soul journey ahead. A mixture of European city, ancient history, political fire, and thick accents, Edinburgh is a place of paradox and beauty.
Day 2: Travel West

Today we head toward the Highlands, stopping along the way to consider one of the most iconic sites in Scottish history. We continue our journey further into the Highlands to take in the spectacular vistas and the vast openness. The landscape mirrors the interior landscape of a midlife man, and invites us to consider the paths both behind and ahead.
Day 3-7: The highlands and inner Hebrides

Challenged and inspired by Scotland's most fierce landscapes, we explore the narratives of our lives with thoughtful reflection and facilitated conversation. Along the way we encounter some of the most breathtaking and fierce spaces on earth. As this is not a site-seeing tour, but rather an expansive invitation to the landscape of your own heart, we have curated a spacious yet adventurous experience where you can engage the past, present, and future of your own story. Specific details are intentionally kept quiet to allow you to lean in and focus on your self.
Days 8-9: The Best of Scotland

After a week full of reflection, wrestling, and pursuit, we return to Edinburgh for joy and hearty Scottish-ness. We feast together, visit important and impactful sites around Edinburgh. Our final evening together will be marked with words of gratitude for all that has taken place and words of blessing over all that is yet to be.
Day 10: Departure

Having come to this spacious island to explore our stories, find our hearts, connect with God and each other, and move with intention into the second passage of our lives, we say goodbye to one adventure and embark on an even greater one: we return as different men as we come home to ourselves.

“It was transformaTIONal on every level — heart, soul, mind and strength. A highlight experience of a lifetime.”

-2023 Participant

MEET YOUR SAGE GUIDES

CHRIS BRUNO

Restoration Project Co-Founder & Chief Bard

Chris is an author, speaker, and licensed professional counselor recognized for his expertise in Storywork, Christian Counseling, and guiding men of all ages into deeper wholeness. He is the founder of ReStory Counseling and the co-founder of Restoration Project, a nationwide movement of Christian men dedicated to the restoration of the masculine soul.

JEREMY WILLIAMSON

Restoration Project Church Partnership Director

Jeremy joins us to help facilitate and host the Sage Experience. As a Storywork Counselor with ReStory Counseling, his mind and heart are always attuned to the deeper stories at work. Jeremy offers his bold presence and disruptive kindness to create an environment that is is both welcoming and challenging.

DREW LOFTIN

Drew offers his deep gift of kind presence as the Restoration Project Grove Chaplain and Strategist. His primary role is to walk with men into their stories, helping guide them toward healing and into the Grove community. He has extensive training in storywork, and has intentionally navigated the rough terrain of his own life. Drew's bold gentleness will be both disruptive and inviting for every participant.

Restoration Project Grove Chaplain

PRICING

$5,800

$500 deposit required once application is approved.
Cost includes all accommodations, most meals, entrance fees, in-country transportation, facilitated discussions and 1-on-1 storywork. The price does NOT include airfare to/from Scotland, most lunches, and alcoholic beverages.

Space is limited to 15 men.
Last year the trip filled in days. Apply NOW

Submit Your Online Trip Application

FAQs

-All in-country transit and transportation
-All accommodations (based on double occupancy)
-All breakfasts and dinners (lunches are on your own)
-Tours and activities
-Small group conversations and large group sharing
-Lots of space to reflect and explore the landscape of your own heart
-Signed copy of Sage: A Man's Guide Into His Second Passage, by Chris Bruno
-Daily personal reflection prompts and small group guides
-Facilitated small group discussions and one-on-one Storywork
You’ll need to arrive in Edinburgh, Scotland at the designated hotel for a Welcome Dinner on Friday evening, February 5, 2027.
You’ll Depart from Edinburgh, Scotland on the morning of February 13, 2027.
You’re responsible for travel to and from Edinburgh.
Deposits are non-refundable once your application has been approved.
Cancellations initiated by the participant received in writing to Restoration Project before November 1, 2026 will receive a 100% refund of their payment minus deposit (i.e. if $2,900 is paid, $2,400 will be refunded).
Cancellations initiated by the participant received in writing to Restoration Project between November 2nd and December 6, 2026 will receive a 50% refund of their payment minus deposit (i.e. if $2,900 is paid, $1,200 will be refunded).
No refunds will be offered after December 7, 2026.
Trip cancellation insurance is available for purchase from a third-party during the registration process.
We’d love to chat more with you if you have any questions. Please email Michael at michael@restorationproject.net