Our combination online and off-grid Leadership Through Uncertainty journey.
Join a group of like-minded hand-selected adventurers guaranteed to expand your mind. Together you’ll set goals, head into a challenging wilderness environment, then, upon return to civilization, reflect on what the experience means for your path forward.
THE ONLY WAY TO DO HARD THINGS IS TO DO OTHER HARD THINGS
Gamestorming Group is partnering with NOLS, the global gold standard in wilderness leadership, to bring you this unique online + off-grid Expedition.
Leadership courses either never leave the classroom or they don’t work with you to hone your entry focus nor work your reflections, insights and experience back into your every day life.
This Expedition gives you both the out-of-classroom experience plus the creative and reflective tools to make the most of it.
Along the way, you’ll learn cutting-edge & science-backed techniques to extend your mind, grow your creativity and think laterally. You’ll be joined by global experts on creativity and leadership all while visiting a mind-bogglingly beautiful place from a perspective most of the world will never have the chance to access.
YOUR JOURNEY
“Two weeks to flatten the curve…”
…turned into two years of Zoom meetings. You’ve been living digitally for two years, yearning to get out. You're social by nature - you need experiences with others to build trust, to get to know one another, and to fulfill evolutionary needs!
Heed the call
Join our crew and make a break from the everyday.
Your Expedition begins with 1:1 and group meetings to set our focus and goals, both individually and as a group.
We head into the wild
You leave the known, online world and journey to the canyons of Utah for an unforgettable off-grid adventure that both challenges and inspires you.
Bring it home
The memories of this trip will stay with you forever. Once home, we’ll connect 1:1 and as a group to reflect on the experience and create plans to incorporate these learnings into our personal and professional lives.
Your Everyday will never be the same.
YOUR JOURNEY UNFOLDS IN THREE STAGES
PREPARATION
A growing body of research suggests we learn faster, solve problems faster, bear less cognitive load, reduce stress and increase working memory if we can tap into our extended mind and manipulate objects instead of thinking through things in our head. We’ll use these techniques to set the stage for our expedition and explore our goals through a combination of 1:1 and group meetings.
EXPLORATION
You arrive in Utah via SLC airport. Our group assembles, debriefs and heads into the wilderness for seven days of canyoneering. Some days you’ll spend hiking through canyon bottoms. Other days will involve scouting for safe passage into canyons, lowering packs off of rock slabs, wading through chilly water, and squeezing through narrow slots. At night, you’ll set up camp in tents, cook meals on a camp stove, and live in a small, tight-knit community.
BRING IT BACK HOME
Once home, we’ll again meet 1:1 and then as a group to reflect on your canyoneering experience and put in place an action plan that moves you down your development path.
ON WEATHER
The canyons are known for their dramatic temperature swings and weather conditions. Though warm, mild weather is typical in the fall, participants should expect anything from monsoon rains and extreme heat to snow, wind, and subfreezing temperatures. Sometimes, these weather changes occur in a matter of minutes; other times, storms or cold temperatures can last for days. Rain, though infrequent, can cause flash-flooding. Freezing temperatures are possible, especially at night.
THIS EXPEDITION IS NOT FOR EVERYONE
from the NOLS course description:
ON TERRAIN
All areas in which you will travel are characterized by deeply incised canyons, steep slopes, rocky terrain, and sheer cliffs. Travel in the backcountry can at times be exclusively off-trail, requiring constant attention to route finding. The rock can be loose and easily breakable, adding to the challenge of hiking. Water is often scarce in the canyons; you will need to scout for it and “dry camp” when it’s not available. At other times, you may need to wade or swim through very cold water in the bottom of slot canyons. While in the backcountry, you will be far from roads and telephones.
ON REMOTENESS
For the duration of your course, you’ll be miles from the amenities of civilization. Telephones, ambulances, and hospitals may be days away. All NOLS instructors maintain wilderness medicine certifications and are equipped with well-stocked first aid kits to provide care in the event of an emergency.
ON WILDLIFE
The desert is home to potentially harmful insects, reptiles, and mammals. Various species of cactus and other plants with sharp spines can make it a challenge to move around at times. An important part of the curriculum is learning to be aware of your surroundings and being able to identify these hazards in order to reduce the chance of injury.
ON GROUP DYNAMICS
You will be living and working in a small and diverse community around the clock and in sometimes difficult conditions. This will require cooperation, patience, and humility. The success of the expedition is dependent on the ability of its members to support one another in trying circumstances. Working together towards a common vision can be one of the most rewarding and memorable aspects of any NOLS course.
BUT YOU’RE STILL READING
Maybe that stuff turns you on? You might consider joining us if…
You know the only way to grow is to get uncomfortable and expand your boundaries
You want to recharge your entrepreneurial spirit
You like to challenge yourself
You love being out in nature
You’re looking for ways to help yourself, your team or your clients predict & prepare for uncertainties ahead
You’d like to put into practice protocols for expedition leadership and safe & enjoyable extended outdoor living and travel
You love learning from others
Others will learn from you
Networking with a global community and gaining new perspective inspires you
You’re curious about different ways of collaborating online, or wondering if it can be done at all
You like getting shit done and have fun doing it
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The 25% downpayment is non-refundable.
For cancellation of engagement not caused by NOLS nor Gamestorming Group the remaining 75% tuition will be reimbursed as follows:
• Cancellation more than 75 days from the start of the trip tuition is reimbursed 100%
• Cancellation between 75-30 days from the start of the trip tuition is reimbursed 50%
• Cancellation within 30 days of the start of the trip, tuition is not reimbursed.