Guiding Change Intensive
Part 1: Transformational Leadership
Limited spots available!
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The superficial changes
So do things profound
Your way of thinking changes
So does everything in this world…
Mercedes Sosa (Todo Cambia)
Unlock your Potential as a Guide of Change.
This intensive is designed for professionals who want to deepen their understanding of the change process and develop the skills to guide individuals and groups through transformation. Whether you’re an experienced leader or new to transformational work, this course will provide you with the tools to create lasting, meaningful change in your community, clients, and yourself.
What You’ll Learn:
Principles of Change: Understand the fundamental process of change and how to lead others through it.
Your Relationship with Change: Discover how your own biases and assumptions shape your approach as a guide.
Nature as a Tool for Transformation: Learn to structure programs that incorporate wilderness and nature as powerful tools in the change process.
Mindfulness in Change: Incorporate mindfulness and reflection to help others navigate transitions.
Developmental Dilemmas: Explore the tensions and challenges that arise during growth and change.
Cycles of Change: Guide individuals through the natural cycles of change and transition, using eco-psychology and developmental psychology as tools.
Safety, Trauma, and Transformation: Develop curriculum and make decisions that consider safety and trauma while facilitating deep personal transformation.
Preparing for Change: Equip others with the resources and mindset to face change with confidence and resilience.
Program Overview:
This immersive experience will guide you through a personal and professional journey of growth. You’ll assess your strengths, identify areas for development, and create a tailored pathway to improve your abilities as a guide. Our approach blends theory and practice, with online resources and training sessions providing technical knowledge and practice using and applying those tools and techniques during the live intensive.
Each day of the live intensive offers a balance of solo activities, community-driven experiences, and physical challenges that deepen your understanding of the transformative process. You’ll also have the opportunity to bring real-world case studies, exploring them in a supportive environment.
By the end of the program, you’ll walk away with practical skills, a deeper understanding of your role as a guide, and a clear pathway for continuing your development.
Live Intensive Schedule:
Day 1: Exploring the Foundations of Change
Focus: Discover your path as a guide, reflect on your purpose, and explore core principles of change.
Activities: Open Circles, case study discussions, introduction to developmental psychology, and cycles of change.
Day 2a: Physical Challenge and Bias Exploration
Focus: Examine your biases as a guide and design nature-based programs.
Activities: Hike and mindfulness practices in nature, group discussions, and structured reflections.
Day 2b: Facilitating Breakthroughs
Focus: Identify your developmental dilemma and use fasting and nature as tools for transformation.
Activities: Prepare for a solo fast, reflect on your role as a guide, and engage in group storytelling.
Day 3: Solo Time in Nature
Focus: Gain clarity in your development journey and harness group dynamics for collective transformation.
Activities: Day-long solo in nature, followed by group storytelling and reflective techniques.
Day 4: Integrating Change
Focus: Refine your development pathway and learn how to incorporate nature for long-lasting transformation.
Activities: Coaching sessions, individual work, and final reflections to complete your journey.
Program Highlights:
Strength Assessment: Identify your strengths and areas for growth as a guide.
Transformational Spaces: Learn to cultivate environments that nurture individual and group transformation.
Program Design: Utilize Open Circle’s models to design nature-based, change-driven programs.
Feedback Integration: Embrace collective wisdom in your planning and facilitation processes.
Inclusive Collaboration: Lead transformational work across diverse perspectives and cultural contexts.
This program is ideal for professionals looking to develop a more nuanced and effective approach to guiding others through change. You will leave empowered with the confidence, tools, and knowledge to navigate the complexities of change and inspire transformation in those you guide.
Program Timeline
Online curriculum available:
February 9th.
Recorded online training sessions live on:
February 11th: Introduction: your developmental focus and case study
February 25th: Open Circle Models of Change
March 11th: Your tools as a Guide
March 25th: Trauma, Nervous System and Safety
In-person Training Retreat:
Arrive by 4 PM Wednesday April 2nd
Workshop ends: 3pm Sunday April 6th
9739 Ojai Santa Paula Rd
Ojai, CA 93023
Accommodation:
Glamping is available at $100 per night for shared room with 2
Camping is available at $50 per night
Toilets and showers available.
You may also choose offsite accommodation in one of the many hotels and retreats in Ojai California
Bookings for camping and for more information about local accomodation, email: [email protected]
Food:
Catering available at extra cost. Local food options available on registration.
Transport:
Closest Airport: LAX, Santa Barbara and Burbank. are all 60- 90 minutes away. Transport from and to airport not provided. Self-arranged carpooling list for will be made available upon registration.
Driving directions available on registration. On site parking included.
Online Course Curriculum Overview
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Welcome to the course!
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Chapter 1: Principles of Change
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Chapter 2: Your Relationship with Change
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Chapter 3: Nature of a Tool for Transformation
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Chapter 4: Mindfulness in Change
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Chapter 5: Developmental Dilemmas
At a glance...
- Comprehensive online curriculum incl. videos, podcasts, books and lessons
- 6 day practicum with Open Circle Founders on the beautiful wild Feather River
- Invaluable Tools and Skills for Immediate Application Within Your Work
What Do People Say About Working With Open Circle?
“As a leadership consultant and master coach with 30+ years of experience working all over the world and facilitating groups, teams, and circles, I had some trepidation about going into this training as a participant. Would the workshop challenge me? Would it hone my understanding of power relations in facilitation? Would I learn something about myself? Would I develop new and useful skills? Would it embody a truly experiential, dialogical, improvisational and exploratory ethos? Would I find the workshop leaders mature, stimulating and inspiring? The answer to each of these questions was a resounding 'YES!' Miriam and Adam held the space and danced between their different roles with clarity and grace. I found them to be honest, kind, insightful leaders who brought finesse and depth to each moment of the work. I look forward to continuing the journey together.”
Sara 'Zora' Boas, MCC, MA, RDMP, Founding Director, Boas Partners
“I would recommend Open Circle's training because one can learn a creative way of providing a space with care to enter a dialogue that connects participants/trainers in personal ways of finding human commonalities that form conscious ways of challenging beliefs.”
Carolynne Abdullah, Racial Equity and Inclusion Consultant
“Going into this trip, I was hoping for a life-changing experience, but I didn't know the depths of that change and what would be required to elicit it. The guides "lead without leading" and steered me up the mountain. In only 6 days, I came out with a renewed belief in myself and my capabilities. This trip definitely changed my life, and I am now putting in the work to ensure others receive value from the work that was done up there. ”
Antonio DeAscanis, Founder and CEO BlkOps Fitness
“The highly skilled team members at Open Circle have a range of listening and facilitation skills that span from formal to informal, inviting to challenging, easy to highly advanced. They are clearly on a mission to humanize the workplace.”
Don Lubach, UC Santa Barbara Ombudsman
“This in-person nature experience for leaders and facilitators led us to a collective environment where we were challenged to grow in ways I thought were not possible. It was an amazing experience. I describe their work as both mystical and practical, simultaneously and at once both beyond this world and functional preparation for navigating and being in it!”
Mark Funkhouser, Consultant – Coach – Trainer – Facilitator
Meet Your Guides
Adam Rumack
Open Circle Co-Founder and CEO
Adam brings a wealth of experience in driving organizational and individual transformation across diverse sectors, including corporations, large-scale non-profits, and the education and criminal justice systems.
His profound passion for the outdoors serves as a catalyst, offering insights into the interconnectedness of humanity and the wild, shaping his approach to human-driven systems.
In his pursuit of knowledge, Adam has delved into various disciplines, studying under spiritual and religious mentors and exploring the intricacies of economics, human behavior, and performance sciences.
A practitioner of holistic stewardship, Adam applies his insights on his land in Coastal Oregon, USA, where he also oversees a nature-based preschool.
His multifaceted background uniquely positions him to bridge the realms of organizational transformation, ecological mindfulness, and holistic education.
Miriam Jones
Open Circle Co-Founder and COO
Miriam is an experienced entrepreneur and thought leader in the area of transformational education, cultural change, and leadership. She has founded and led several successful organizations, from not-for-profits to corporations and co-operatives.
After developing an interest in business, culture and education, Miriam began designing and delivering leadership programs and cultural change efforts for organizations across the globe.
In search of new perspectives for her organizational work amid rapid global change, Miriam turned her focus to learning forms influenced by indigenous nature-based cultures and societies including circle listening and healing practices, circle governance, rite of passage, and nature-based rituals. Embracing these, she gained an ecological understanding of human systems.
Drawing inspiration from nature's systems, she now guides leaders and organizations beyond office walls, helping them discover answers within their organizational frameworks.
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