On Road Trips & Tribal Medicine

“Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family, whatever you call it, you need one.” Jane Howard

This past week it was my great priviledge to lead a Go Wild Retreat amidst the tropical rainforest of Costa Rica. 7 days discovering the beauty of Costa Rica while exploring the 5 priniples of wilderness survival to both business and life. The retreat,  based on my Audio Book, "Go Wild: Survival Skills for  Business and Life:, published by Park University explored each principle of business and life survival with multi-sensory learning in nature's classroom.

Our Tribe traveled from San Jose, Costa Rica to Arenal Volcano, which not only showed us her peak as the clouds cleared  but nature’s incredible power,  with a rare, rumbling, lava flow. We learned “Adaptability” and "Team Communication” by facing the Rapids of White Water Rafting and slept with Howler Monkeys in an Exotic Tent Camp. We were free of cell phones and emails and thereby experienced the freedom to focus on the “Big Picture”. We were out of our natural element and in so doing, perhaps found our true natures. 

One of many fond memories on this learning adventure was: Listening not to the Howlers, “considered the loudest mammal in the jungle,” but to the contagious laughter in that tent camp as one of our participants, a perfectly, pressed executive woman with a killer southern accent, yelled from her shower…. “Rosemary, you have no idea how far out of my element I am right now .To think, I could be at a Spa Right Now—What was I thinking?”

You know, I remember hearing advice that “if you want to get close to your family, take them camping. If you live through the weekend you’ll be forever bonded from that experience”. That advice was dead on!

During this Go Wild Learning Adventure, each participant began with their own needs and goals for personal and professional growth but emerged with much more than a Personal  MAP (Mission Action Plan).  This group is now part of a  Tribal Community. And while members of that tribe are now off into their own wilderness, they are forever connected from the experience, forever bonded by nature, and forever stronger from the strength of their tribal membership.

So gather up your clan and head for the Wilderness---the magical synergy of a camp fire awaits you!

To: Proud Mary, Medicine Man, Wagon Tongue, Scarlet Howler, Jungle Boy , Wedding Dancer and Dr. Know: A Tribal Community that represents a True Force of Nature.