The Retreats That Work Intensive

In this, our most advanced facilitation training program, participants spend five days in a residential setting, working together not only to learn the fundamentals of retreat design and facilitation, but also to create retreat content segments themselves.

Often called the “boot camp” of facilitation training, this program gives students the confidence – tested by constant in-the-moment practice and feedback – to design and lead their own Retreats That Work.

On the opening night, each person is assigned to a small Learning Group, which will provide support, coaching, and feedback throughout the coming week. The Learning Group will work together to design and test exercises and facilitation strategies, and to practice with each other. Participants have told us that their Learning Groups have become peer networks that they rely on long after they finish the Intensive.

On Days One and Two participants explore the principles of effective retreat design and facilitation, focusing particularly on how to work with difficult participants, how to help groups make decisions, and plan for action, and how to design Retreats That Work. In the evenings, working with their Learning Groups, they develop facilitation strategies to use when faced with challenges in class the next day.

Participants are up in the front of the room repeatedly, practicing and fine-tuning their skills, both in ideal and difficult situations.

Day Three begins the Design Challenge. Working with real clients and their goals, each Learning Group will interview and then design a complete mini-retreat – opening, content, action planning and close. They have one day to complete this assignment, with plenty of coaching and consultation along the way.

On Days Four and Five, participants facilitate their mini-retreats, try out new techniques and receive feedback on both design and facilitation skills. The final session, at the end of Day Five, allows participants to write their own strategies for continuing their Intensive experience.

People who complete the five-day Intensive receive a Retreats That Work certificate of achievement.

Note: Because of the concentrated nature of this program, it’s essential that participants plan to leave their day-to-day work assignments back at the office. There will be very little free time to do other work.

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