THE BREAKS EXPEDITION - June 2027

A ManMade Mentors Annual Men's River Expedition

Upper Missouri River Breaks, Montana | Join the Waitlist

The First Annual Breaks Expedition — June 2026

This is more than a river trip…

The Breaks Expedition is an outdoor adventure designed to go deep with direct, challenging self-examination. We’ll turn those insights into clear, actionable steps to move forward. It’s not talk therapy - it’s real, honest work done together in the wild - facilitated by Shawn Helvey, LCPC and Chris Berman, LCPC and guided by Breakwater Expeditions.

Five days paddling one of the most remote stretches of river in North America — 47 miles through the White Cliffs of the Missouri Breaks. Slot canyon hikes, campfire meals, wildlife, and skies you'll remember.

Shawn and Chris from ManMade Mentors will be on the river with you, facilitating conversations around connection, manhood, meaning, and purpose, balanced with time for exploration and competition. This trip will touch on every part of what it is to be a man.

Who: Active men who want to challenge themselves

Location: Coal Banks to Judith Landing, Upper Missouri Breaks National Monument, MT

Included: All gear, canoes, meals, river guides, facilitated sessions & transportation from Bozeman to Great Falls

Investment: Early bird $2,500 per person through February 2027, $500 non-refundable deposit to reserve your spot

Your Guides

Shawn Helvey, LCPC

About Shawn

Chris Berman, LCPC

About Chris

FAQ

No. It's a facilitated adventure experience. Shawn and Chris are licensed therapists but their role here is as facilitators of a group experience centered around personal growth, physical challenge, and competition.
Men who want both the adventure and the inner work. The group size is limited to 12 men maximum.
No — all abilities welcome. River guides provide instruction.
Moderate fitness — you should be comfortable being active outdoors for several hours a day.
Mornings start slow and intentional — coffee, movement, and time to get grounded before pushing off.
Days are spent on the water — paddling, floating, hiking into side canyons, and taking in the scale and quiet of the landscape.
Evenings bring us back together — shared meals, fires, conversations, and connection through competition.
The cost is $3,000 per participant. This covers all gear, canoes, camp-cooked meals, river guides, facilitated sessions, and transportation from Bozeman to Great Falls and back.
Save the Date for June 2027. Specific dates to be announced in January. Join the waitlist to be notified first.

Before the trip, I was feeling stuck in my own head, guarded, and the non-stop daily grind had become too much. I was constantly distracted, short on patience, and running on empty. Spending five days on the river gave me the chance to unplug completely, have real conversations with good men, and remember what it feels like to just be present. The combination of the physical challenge, the beauty of the river, and the brotherhood created space I didn’t even know I needed. I came home feeling lighter, clear-headed, and more grounded than I’ve felt in a long time. I’m planning on attending the next trip and will sign up as soon as the dates are announced. If you’re on the fence, go, you won’t regret it.

- 2026 Participant
The Breaks Expedition had a profound impact on me. At the time I was having a really hard time in my life. I had lost many of the things that had defined who I was over the last twenty years and was really stuck mentally on how I would ever be able to move forward. Getting out canoeing, camping, and sharing my struggles with empathetic men while leaving the distractions of modern life behind was something I needed more than I ever realized. Being able to slow down and take in the beautiful scenery and serenity of the Missouri River while having meaningful, honest conversations was very healing. The balance between canoeing, hiking, games, and group sessions was handled excellently, giving enough time to get the most out of each of the experiences. Through sincere group engagement and thoughtful leadership by organizers I was able to gain some clarity on my emotional state and learned tools to help me move forward. Being out in the wilderness with other men doing fun stuff and being open about our emotions in a safe space provided the community and support that I was needing. Having a professional river guide and camp host also made the experience relaxing and allowed me to focus on the task at hand, healing. I would strongly encourage anyone looking to form deep connections with other men while also experiencing the beauty Montana has to offer to participate in this trip. I came away with a greater sense of myself and formed meaningful relationships with other men that I sorely needed.

- 2026 Participant
Before this adventure, I was feeling disconnected with people and my viewpoint of societal ideas. Spending those five days on the river, bonding and learning much about myself was an experience I will treasure forever. I remember when we first started on the trip we were all like dogs sniffing each other out. After a day I was getting very real and deep with about every man on the trip. I had a couple breakthroughs of intention and realization throughout the adventure. On top of that the experience in the nature was amazing and I am so glad I got to share it with these men. I grew very tight friendships and bonds with these men only over the span of 5 days. Its amazing how much progress can be made when we are not slaves to our devices or the daily grind, and when we set intentions for our lives, be it immediate or longtime intentions. Coming back to everyday life, I have tried to keep the perspective I brought out of the trip, to love fully and appreciate the people around me, appreciate the nature around me, and most of all, appreciate and love myself. I also gained a ton of confidence!

- 2026 Participant

THE BREAKS EXPEDITION - June 2027

A ManMade Mentors Annual Men's River Expedition