A morning in nature for fathers

A Morning in Nature for Fathers
Saturday 7 November, 9.30am to 1.30pm (meet at 9.15am)
Westley Farm, Stroud (near the glider café)

A half day outdoors for a small group of fathers, limited to 12 places. Time to connect with nature and with other fathers who want something more than banter.

Where this came from

Over the past few months I've sat down with 12 local fathers, one at a time, just to listen. Time for themselves is usually the first thing to go, beyond a few who exercise. Connection with other fathers is often there but tends to stay at the level of banter and fun. Good, but several wanted something more open and honest too. Some felt part of a wider community but wanted a stronger place in it. And for some, particularly once their children reached school age, a question about purpose crept in at work and beyond family.

They wanted other fathers to connect with but didn't want to expend time on people who weren't great human beings. Their time is precious.

What to expect

This taster is a response to the above. A small group of fathers interested in self-development for their own wellbeing, their families and their wider purpose. Half a day outdoors to take time for themselves, connect with nature and other like-minded fathers, savouring the simplicities in life.

The theme will be ‘letting go’, noticing what it is we want to let go of, much like the trees let go of their leaves in Autumn. This is apt as we enter the season of more darkness, referred to as Samhain in the Celtic tradition.

We'll be outside under covered space for most of the morning, so dress for the weather and bring shoes suitable for woodland. There'll be a mix of hands-on outdoor activity, quiet solo time and some conversation, with a hearty lunch together to finish. Nothing here requires experience. Just an open mind and an interest in connecting.

The morning

9.15-  Meet at the meeting point and walk down into the woods
9.30 - Gather, tea/coffee, welcome and grounding meditation
10.00 - Outdoor practical activity and solo reflection
11.30 - Group conversation and reflection
12.30 - Lunch together by the fire
13.30 - Close

Your facilitators

Ruth Farenga is a leadership coach who works with people outdoors, online and from her coaching cabin in Stroud. She's spent the last decade helping leaders and leadership teams (primarily in tech) step back from day-to-day noise to think more clearly and make skilful decisions in work and wider life. She is the author of Next Level Leadership: nine lessons from conscious leaders and a TEDx speaker.

Matt Meadows facilitates immersive outdoor experiences rooted in a lifelong love of the natural world, with a background in Zoology and Conservation Biology and over a decade in education. A father of four himself, Matt trained as a Forest School Leader and, after noticing how little time most adults spend outdoors, has been creating spaces for reflection and reconnection ever since.

What's next

If this works well I plan to run retreat days from January to March (Wintering Well, Imbolc and Ostara). Dates to follow.

Questions before booking? Email ruth@consciousleaders.org.uk