NEW: Two days and two nights in beautiful woodland experiencing the transformative potential of nature through a series of activities and practices that offer a unique opportunity to reflect, refresh yourself and reconnect with nature.
Less than two hours from the central belt of Scotland, you’ll find a hidden gem of woodland, an idyllic location to get away from everyday concerns, slow down and focus on what really matters. We will spend most of our time outside or, if the weather insists, around a wood stove under canvas.
The retreat is residential; we will be sleeping in tents (provided) and, if the weather is kind, some may choose to sleep under the stars. All meals are provided and freshly made. A maximum of twelve people work with two facilitators ensuring a exceptional quality of experience.
The whole process is gently and expertly facilitated and supported.
| Dates: | Spring 2018 |
| Cost: | to be confirmed - in the region of £300 |
| Location: | Scotland |
| Booking: | Coming soon, meanwhile register your interest |
Is it for me?
If you need some time-out to re-energise and gain new insights then this is the retreat for you. It offers a safe, gentle, yet powerful experience of nature in a highly supported group context.
It is a perfect introduction to the Natural Change approach that will leave you with a range of practical tools and personal skills to get the most out of your own experiences of nature after the retreat.
There are no prerequisites for joining although you need to be over 18 years old.
Programme
Friday - Arrival Day:
We gather at 4.00pm on arrival day for a welcome to our camp, introductions and guidance on the practicalities of living under canvas. There will be an overview of the programme before having dinner together, followed by conversation around the fire.
Saturday - Day One:
After breakfast, we head out for a series of gentle outdoor activities. These help us to slow down, unwind and connect with the others in the group and the place.
After lunch there’s a chance to explore more deeply what it is you are hoping to get from the retreat.
Following a break we gather to prepare for the “solo”. This forms the heart of the Natural Change process. We head out alone for up to four hours. As darkness falls, we return for supper and sleep.
Sunday - Day Two:
On the second day, we gather for breakfast before having some time alone to decide what we each might like to share with the group about our solo experience. This leads into an extraordinary, gentle, beautiful and often profoundly powerful story-telling circle.
After lunch we explore the process of applying what we have experienced in our everyday lives.
We depart at 4.00 pm.
Details
What’s included
Tented accommodation, catering, group equipment, facilitation and liability insurance are included. You will need to bring your own personal outdoor clothes and equipment (see below).
Getting here
The retreat is based in rural Scotland within two hours’ drive of both Edinburgh and Glasgow. We can arrange to pick participants up from the nearest bus or train station if required. We encourage car sharing.
Arrival
The retreat starts at 4.30pm on arrival day - Friday. Please arrive by 4.00pm so that we can start on time.
Departure
The retreat finishes at 4.00pm on the second day - Sunday.
Preparation
Once you have booked and your place on the retreat is confirmed, further information is sent to you about the location, travel and other preparations.
Personal fitness & mobility
This retreat is centred on an area of woodland no more than a couple of miles across. Most of the activities involve some gentle walking along the woodland floor, grassy paths or unmade up tracks. They also often involve sitting at ground level - either outside or in the tent.
We are committed to making Natural Change an experience accessible to a wide range of abilities. Our pace is set to that which can be comfortably managed by all group members and we design the programme to meet the needs of everyone in the group.
As a guideline – you will need to be able to carry a day pack containing your personal equipment (waterproofs, spare jacket/jumper, lunch, flask, etc.) for periods of up to one hour, and be able to sit on the ground. If you this is difficult for you, you are welcome to bring a folding stool or chair. However, for participants who would find this difficult for any reason, we are happy to adapt routes and activities. If this is the case, please contact us as soon as possible before booking to discuss your needs.
Accommodation & catering
Camping in close contact with nature is an integral part of the retreat. It’s not glamping, it’s supported wild camping where you will discover how comfortable one can be with simple necessities, careful preparation and a supportive team.
Sleeping accommodation is in tents, shared with between two to six people. A separate communal tent is provided for group activities and meals. Composting toilet provided - for the uninitiated these are clean and fresh, and a hundred times more pleasant than ‘portaloos’. If you want ‘single’ accommodation, you are welcome to bring your own small tent. Please let us know when booking.
All meals, snacks and drinks are provided throughout, prepared fresh every day by our camp cook.
Safety & Insurance
We have over 20 years experience delivering outdoor-based programmes world-wide. Risk assessments are completed for every location where we work. These are reviewed each time an activity is delivered.
Natural Change facilitators complete a specialist two-year programme of training. They each hold an outdoor first aid certificate and undertake regular CPD training. They also receive ongoing supervision support whenever they are leading a programme. All outdoor elements are led by facilitators with National Governing Body qualifications in outdoor leadership for the activities undertaken.
Natural Change facilitators hold professional, public and product liability insurance covering all the outdoor activities involved in Natural Change.
What to bring
View the personal equipment list >>
interested…
…in this or future 48 Hour retreats? Enter your details below and we’ll get in touch.
Which retreat?
The Natural Change Week and this retreat, Natural Change 48 Hours, both offer the potential of powerful transformative experiences. The Week offers more time and space to reflect, refresh and reconnect, while 48 Hours, being shorter, provides a very special opportunity to take time out of our busy lives to engage deeply with nature.
Not sure or need more information?
If your not sure if this retreat is right for you, then please do get in touch. We can either respond to your questions by email or set up a time for a chat on the phone or by Skype.