Vermont Vision Quest

Fran Weinbaum

Fran Weinbaum has been guiding vision quests since 1995, originally offering Spirit Root for women with Gillian Kapteyn Comstock. She has continued to offer quests each year and has been committed to questing on land close to home and in the embrace of community.

Fran is committed to continuously deepening her own spiritual practice and guiding through enacting annual solo fasts and participation in personal and professional development opportunities. She has trained with The School of Lost Borders, Animas Valley Institute, The Institute for Spiritual Development, and Earth Island Expeditions (now MettaEarth Institute.) She holds current certification in Wilderness First Aid and CPR and is a New York State Wilderness Guide. Fran is a member of the Wilderness Guides Council and is currently serving on the Advisory Council.

A mother and grandmother, Fran lives in East Montpelier with her husband Peter balancing the tending of goats, garden and hearth and working as a consultant through Stillpoint Associates, as spiritual life coach, and a Reiki practitioner.

Nils Whittelsey

Nils has been active in coordinating men's support groups and weekend retreats for the past twelve years. Connecting with the woods and the land has been a passion and necessity since childhood. He continues to spend many days in the woods in the company of trees, deer, bear, and any other creatures who venture into his camp. Nils brings beauty into the world through his hands— woodworking, weaving, and creating ceremonial space. He has recently done several vision quests under Fran's guidence, and is now studying with her as an apprentice.

Nils and his wife Ryah live in the forest in Monkton, Vermont, where he makes his living as a self-employed carpenter and artist. They are the devoted parents of their adult daughter Mary Kate and newly acquired son (in-law).

tarin chaplin

tarin chaplin (1941- 2009) had many connections with Vermont Vision Quest.  tarin enacted a vision quest several years ago and attended Return Circles.  She held the Return Ceremony ceremony in 2007 and lent her gifts as a ritual creator and sacred space keeper to Vermont Vision Quests many times.  She was as a member of the Raccoon Lodge, a group who collaboratively explores ways and forms of contemporary rites of passage as they deepen their own spiritual journey.  tarin and Fran co-taught a course at Johnson State College in rites of passage and had plans for many more heart and Earth projects.   Her vision of sacred ceremony continues to inspire and lead us. We are deeply saddened by her death in May from cancer and offer a few words and images to celebrate her life. Visit here to read Fran's words.