THE MAGIC OF THE FOREST

Prior to the event, we hosted an informal dinner, allowing participants to socialize and enjoy pizza, snacks, and wine in a casual setting. While serving food and alcohol is not a requirement it does enhance the experience and can serve as a social lubricant.

Phones were also collected before the introduction and left outside of the gathering space in order to limit distractions and keep participants present.

We commenced the gathering with a heartfelt welcome from the main moderator, where he level set the intention behind the gathering, shared the desired outcomes, and walked through the agenda.

Next, we moved onto an ice breaker where participants took turns responding to unique questions out of a bowl. This light-hearted exercise helps encourage everyone to feel at ease and opens dialogue up early on.

Moving to a more reflective phase, a participant then guided us through a breathing exercise using a crystal singing bowl. This helped transition into the first activity.

How was it conducted?

Transitioning to a more reflective phase, we pondered three pre-posed questions to give participants the space to shift inward, as it relates to the group purpose. The questions encompassed past, present, and future aspects and served as the foundation for the remainder of the gathering.

Journal Prompts

• What is a core memory from the forest you will never forget? (past)

• When do you feel most loved and in touch with your friends? (present)

• How can we create more shared experiences beyond our time in the forest? (future)

Why a journaling exercise?

This activity solidifies participants' voices, preparing them for breakout rooms and enhancing group discussions. Allowing participants to work individually initially prepares them to share their ideas effectively in the group stage.

How was it conducted?

Building off of the Journal Exercise, each breakout group shared their responses with one another.

This guided reflection enabled the group to discover meaning, establish connections, and distill the collective insights.

These insights were documented and then brought back to the larger space for the final discussion.

Why breakout groups?

While speaking as a large group has advantages, it can also involve extended listening and waiting times, making some uncomfortable with public speaking. It limits intimate conversations and back-and-forth dialogues. Breakout groups address these limitations, enabling interactions with less familiar individuals and fostering a space for sharing diverse stories and perspectives.

How was it conducted?

Coming back from the breakout groups we were now ready for the final group stage. During this open dialogue, each group shared their key takeaways while a moderator facilitated the discussion and helped engage new voices. Below are some of the key themes:

Group Takeaways

• Try to bring your authentic self into each interaction

• Creating intentional spaces, such as this gathering, are so critical

• Appreciate each moment with friends, whether its just a minute or an entire weekend

Why bring it all back together?

The breakouts unlocked a lot of insight, but bringing everyone back to the main room at the end strengthened our friend group's sense of community. Each breakout group had unique experiences, however the feeling of belonging was reminded by bringing everyone back together.

After some closing remarks and expression of gratitude from me and the other leaders, participants began to depart at their own pace, while some stayed, reminiscing through the trip’s photo album.

A lingering sense of community remained as attendees gradually exited the gathering space. What a beautiful moment it was.