Nature connection for businesses

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LOCATION:  Not fixed, can be super local to business such as company garden, local park or even carpark ha! that's the beauty of nature that it is all around. Alternatively you can use our Veluwe campsite for a wilder experience.

GROUP SIZE: 4-35

AGE: 16 +

DATES: On demand

COSTS: Dependant on group size, choice of course 1 or 2 and location. Contact us to arrange a specific deal for your company team building or team outing experience.  All prices discussed involve food for the duration of the course. Excludes transport 

Our evolution as a species was forged not in urban environments but for 99% of our history in natural surroundings. People have talked around fires for thousands of years – making connections, solving problems and creating plans. As such, even in the face of our disconnect from nature, we are still bound by drives and principles that are triggered when we are in nature. 

On a personal level scientific studies have proven beyond doubt that nature acts to reduce stress through a reduction in cortisol levels, heart rates and blood pressure, while at the same time stimulating our bodies to produces hormones such as Serotonin and Oxytocin that release feelings of joy and bonding. Just being around pine trees for instance bolsters the production of NK immune cells that have been found to kill cancer cells. Nature is good for us and we need it!!.

On a business level there is much to be gained from opening your company up to the positive effects that nature can bring not only to your workforce but also to productivity, systems management, leadership skills, creativity and communication. 

• We offer 2 courses to fit into busy schedules that aim to get you and your employees beyond the screens, phones and urgent requests that constitute working life and into natural surroundings that allow time to connect, think and open honest discussion. 

During both courses we uniquely take a two system approach. Splitting the course into personal development and also a business systems approach. By incorporating these two strands we hope to have a more holistic coverage of your business as an ecosystem in itself.

COURSE 1:    SEEDLING   - 1 day course (Flexibly can be 4 - 8 hours session)

-The SEEDLING course is split into morning and afternoon sessions.

-Morning: Focus on both individual and community within the work place. Using nature to tailor specific lessons and activities that enhance connection, self esteem, creativity and reduce stress, anxiety and conflict.

-Lunch: - We light a fire and cook lunch together around an open fire

-Afternoon: Focus on business as ecosystem. Understanding the binding principles of ecological networks and how they can be used to improve efficiency, collaboration and growth. This is done via a walking tour of a natural setting. 

COURSE 2:    OAK TREE   - 2 day Team Building course (choose between an overnight sleep-out session or 2 days split over a month) 

-The Oak tree course offers a full immersion into the ways that nature can positively impact upon your employees and your business functions. Flexibly it comprises of a 2 day course either with a camping sleep-out around a fire or 2 days split over the course of a month. The extended time of this course allows for deeper connection and understanding to occur on a personal level, it also allows for for the collective experience to be enhanced with activities and workshops centred around the benefits of natural engagement. It is the perfect combination of Team and business building.  

-DAY 1: Focus on both individual and community within the work place. Using nature to tailor specific lessons and activities that enhance connection, self esteem, creativity and reduce stress, anxiety and conflict. 

-Activities include Wild edible plant harvesting and communal cooking, nature literacy workshops, introduction to situational awareness, natural navigation exercises, solo sit spots in the forest, creative walking sessions.

-DAY 2: Focus on business as ecosystem. Understanding the binding principles of ecological networks and how they can be used to improve efficiency, adaptation, collaboration and your idea of growth. This is done via a walking tour of a natural setting. Afterwards we use the binding element of an open fire to discuss your specific business application and to review and challenge what we have learnt over the 2 days. 

-IMMEDIATE BENEFITS OF NATURE CONNECTION FOR BUSINESSES

• For employees time spent in nature decreases cortisol by 12%, heart rate by 6% and blood pressure by 1.5%. This results in improved productivity and workplace satisfaction

• Walking in nature increases divergent creativity, the type of thinking associated with brainstorming by up to 50%

• Developing situational awareness in business is critical in evaluating trends and personnel, there is no better teacher than studying and tuning into natures baseline. 

• Learn from complex natural networks on your doorstep that have been one billion years in the making. They directly point to ways that businesses can improve efficiency, adaptability, resilience, collaboration and growth. 

• Nature shows us the importance of niches in economic market places

• Natural green settings have been proven to make us act more generously in the workplace and reduce aggression.

To discuss further and tailor a SEEDLING or OAK TREE course for your company please contact: europeanwalkingsafari@gmail.com 

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