| Dates: | Autumn 2018 |
| Cost: | to be confirmed |
| Location: | to be confirmed |
| Booking: | Coming soon, meanwhile register your interest |
Overview
This retreat offers a deep transformational experience of nature. It has been running for over seven years and forms the bedrock of our programme for individuals.
Over five days and six nights you will undertake a series of activities and practices that offer a unique opportunity to reflect, refresh and reconnect with nature.
You are gently held throughout by our exceptional team of facilitators in one of the most beautiful places in the world. At all times you are given the time, space and support to follow your heart.
Most of the time will be spent outdoors with some sessions indoors, if the weather insists. The retreat is residential with accommodation and catering included. A maximum of 12 people work with three facilitators ensuring a exceptional quality of experience.
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 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. It is especially effective at helping you build the confidence and capacity to spend more time outdoors, in a variety of environments and conditions.
There are no prerequisites for joining although you need to be over 18 years old.
Programme
Arrival Day: We meet at 4.00pm on the arrival day for a round of introductions and an overview of the retreat before having dinner together.
Day One: Mapping the terrain: A series of activities and practices to slow down, unwind and meet the group and place.
Day Two: Finding direction: A unique and gentle process to gather ourselves before the “solo”. At the end of the day we prepare for the solo itself.
Day Three: Dawn until dusk solo. The highlight and heart of the Natural Change process and an unrivalled opportunity to tap into the transformative power of nature.
Day Four: Stories and reflections. We gather for breakfast together 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. In the evening we have a celebratory dinner.
Day Five: Making meaning and making sense. Processes to explore what our experiences of nature might mean and how we can take them back to our everyday lives.
Departure Day: We depart after breakfast on day six.
Details
What’s included
Accommodation, catering, group equipment, facilitation and liability insurance are included. You will need to bring your own personal outdoor clothes and equipment (see below).
Arrival
The retreat starts at 4.00pm on the arrival day. Please arrive by 3.00pm so that you have time to settle in to your accommodation before starting on time.
Departure
The retreat finishes after breakfast on the sixth day, departure by 10.00am.
Preparation
Once you have booked and your place on the retreat is confirmed, further information is sent to you about equipment, travel, accommodation and other preparations.
Personal fitness
This retreat is not a test of endurance, it is a gentle introduction to nature. 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 four hours in a natural environment, sometimes without formed paths. However, for participants who would find this difficult for any reason, we are happy to adapt routes, terrain and activities. If this is the case, please contact us as soon as possible before booking to discuss your needs.
Accommodation & catering
Accommodation is usually on a twin-share basis with shared facilities. Single rooms are sometimes available by negotiation with the rest of the group. Bedding and towels are provided.
All meals, snacks and drinks are provided throughout, prepared fresh every day by our in-house 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?
Register your interest and we will let you know when the dates and location are finalised. You will be among the first to know when booking opens.
Which retreat?
This retreat, Natural Change Week, and 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 the 48 Hours is more accessible and offers a special opportunity to engage deeply with nature in our busy lives.
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.