For People Who Offer Nature-based Retreats
This comprehensive, in-person training program will grow your skills in leading retreats that focus on our connection to the natural world.
The training covers the many facets of running a successful Retreat Leader business, including the unique considerations and skills associated with leading retreats that emphasize Nature as a key component of the retreat experience.
As a special “Add-On Option” to the October 2018 Women’s Retreat Leaders Training, you have the option to add the additional training and designation of Nature Retreat Leader.
The schedule and format for the program is as follows:
Travel from Manitou Springs 70 miles to beautiful Beulah, Colorado on Thursday morning, Oct 14th. You will spend the day in session upon arrival until 4:30 pm.
Thursday includes a comprehensive day in the field working with Naturalist and Master Nature Educator, Dave Van Manen.
You spend the night in Beulah on Thursday evening and we will have a half day of of training Friday morning. This will allow you to travel back to the airport for an afternoon flight home.
You will also receive 3 training classes by phone (Zoom) with fieldwork to complete – (reading and study of environmental ethics, philosophy, wise use practices and more) to achieve your completed Nature Retreat Leader Certification.
You are responsible for your transportation to Beulah and return to airport plus your lodging and meals for Thursday and Friday.
Lodging Options:
Accommodations at the Horseshoe Lodge include comfortable private overnight rooms. Book A Room
There are quite a few affordable Airbnb’s in Beulah see here
Or Pueblo Colorado is 26 miles away and there are hotels there including nearby Microtel Inn
Topics covered in this Certification Course include:
- The nuts & bolts of running a retreat business: marketing, how to name & price a program, insurance, finding your niche, writing descriptive copy, cancellation policies, managing group dynamics and how to be profitable
- Developing yourself as a Leader
- Creating dynamic Nature retreats based on your passions, locations and expertise.
- Environmental ethics and “Leave No Trace”
- Fundamentals of selected outdoor skills e.g. animal tracking, plant / tree identification, map/compass skills, basic birding
- Creating and using a Nature journal to enhance our connection to Nature
- Identifying community resources to enhance your program e.g. rafting, rock-climbing, challenge/ropes courses
- Risk Management / Safety
- Overview of literature and authors pertinent to being a Nature Retreat Leader
- The need to connect children to Nature-Creating inter-generational experiences for groups
- Nature games and activities
- Developing and nurturing your own connection to Nature
- The Art of Walking / Sauntering / Hiking
- Tools and supplies to enhance your retreat leader skills
Bring your camera! Colorado has blue skies over 300 days a year.
The program will be based out of the Pueblo Mountain Park located in Beulah, Colorado.
The park is a 611-acre ideal outdoor classroom located in Colorado’s Wet Mountains, 70 miles from Colorado Springs. The park, which borders a 17,000-acre roadless area in the San Isabel National Forest, has several miles of hiking trails through conifer forests rich in native flora and fauna. Participants should be prepared to be outside in all sorts of weather, as many classes will take place out in Nature.
The Certified Nature Retreat Leader Designation is awarded by the premier training company Retreat Coaches, which began in 2003.
Up until 2014, the certification program was exclusively designed for women and over 400 women have received certification to date. Retreat Coaches is now proud to offer this comprehensive training for both women and men that combines business with Nature leadership training, all based on the coaching competencies as outlined by the International Coaching Federation.
This competency-based training provides Retreat Leaders a strong skill-set as a foundation for leading Nature Retreats. It includes gaining confidence in how to bring coaching conversations and facilitating group process into your leading style. Upon completion of the in-person training, you will be designated as a Certified Nature Retreat Leader, which can be used in your marketing and advertising.
Training begins upon arrival on day one with welcoming and orientation and continues after dinner with a two-hour class; days two and three consist of full days of intensive learning, much of it outdoors, plus two evening class sessions. Day four concludes the training with a final class session after breakfast for completion and wrap-up of learning modules (in coordination with shuttle departure to airport).
Co-led by two respect and experienced leaders in the field of environmental education and leadership training:
Helene Van Manen is the Founder and Director of Training at www.RetreatCoaches.com and holds a Master Certified Coach degree from the International Coaching Federation. On the faculty at Coach University, Helene is a seasoned teacher that designs and trains leaders to create retreats that are successful and profitable. Specializing in mentoring new coaches, Helene Van Manen has trained hundreds of students to lead retreats, workshops, trainings and other programs. Drawing upon her expertise as a Business Coach, Helene will give you direct support through coaching on developing your strengths in both your business and leadership during class time. Coach Helene leads retreats for leaders, professional women, self care retreats, staff and organization retreats. Helene brings her love of music and poetry to her work and leading style and empowers others to listen deeply to their creative selves. CoachHelene
Dave Van Manen (Ranger Dave) is the Founder of the not-for-profit Mountain Park Environmental Center, which he began in 1998, and served as its Executive Director through 2013. Dave is currently the Special Project’s Coordinator. His service to MPEC includes facilitating specific programs (Nature Toddlers, Full Moon Hikes) developing special projects and programs, writing for various publications, and public speaking. Ranger Dave has been working in the field of education, with both children and adults, for nearly forty years. His background includes being a nationally known children’s musician, performer, and recording artist with a specialty in environmental music and storytelling. He is the author of Plants of Pueblo Mountain Park, a field guide to the flora of the park and surrounding areas. Dave is a recipient of the Enos Mills Lifetime Achievement Award from the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education. Dave has been a resident of the town of Beulah for 35+ years, where he and his wife Helene raised their two children and now spend much time with their grandchildren. He is an avid hiker and can often be found hiking the trails of Pueblo Mountain Park and beyond. Through Mountain Consulting, Dave consults for not-for-profits and those working on special projects.
You also receive these bonuses:
- Access to private Nature Retreat Leader on-line library with downloadable resources and activities you can use immediately with your groups. The library will be updated with new resources as they become available and will be a valuable support for your leading.
- Course reading list to prepare for the training and to extend the learning
- Logo to put at your website showing your professional status (Certified Nature Retreat Leader)
- Listing at online “Find A Retreat Coach Directory” which gives you a strong internet presence.
“I love nature and grew up outside knowing a lot about the wildlife, trees and the natural places around me. Now I am excited to lead retreats and introduce people to the outdoors through my retreat business.
The Nature Retreat Leader Training put it all together for me; both with the business framework and environmental activities.
I am ready to go back home and make it happen. The training met all my expectations plus the take home resources were fabulous!” ~Daniel Watson – Rugged Hearts Retreats, Texas
