Evolve

The Art of Group Facilitation & Transformational Leadership

Evolve

The Art of Facilitation

Evolve

The Art of Facilitation


Are you in the midst of a transition, looking to cultivate your inner leader and build a sustainable community inspired by collaboration?
stand up paddling - taking a break for a swim

Many seek a new way of leading, a leadership model that gently dismantles the leader-follower hierarchy while rebuilding a community of empowered people who support and learn from one another while joyfully sharing in responsibility.

Evolve introduces leaders of all kinds to a transformational toolbox, whether they are leaders in their families and communities, coaches, teachers, facilitators, or leading teams in different modalities, and sectors. Facilitation skills and processes within the toolbox will help deepen one’s leadership ability through shared leadership practices. Shared leadership supports the knowing that no one person has all the answers, evolving the leader-follower model into a co-leadership model where all can support and learn from each other.

algonquin park moose in the river eating lilies canoe trip

Experience Transformational Leadership:

It’s all experiential – Together we will actively:

  • Create safe, inclusive space and strong sense of community.
  • Move our heart-fueled passions out into action and service to the world.
  • Lead from a place of presence, intuition and authenticity. 
  • Gain insight on our personal & collective journeys by tuning into how nature can inform us.
  • Build resilience through self-care, honouring our personal boundaries.
  • Lead with more joy and energy; and less stress and resistance. 
  • Build a support system with other leaders and allies.
  • Engage the hidden talents, creativity, and abilities of our communities.
  • Practice heart-centered communication and active listening.
  • Embrace “planned spontaneity,” flexible programming to take advantage of special opportunities that may arise.
  • Experience how rituals and ceremonies can initiate and anchor our learnings.
  • Debrief experiences, considering “What happened?”, “Why it matters,” and “What next?”, taking the learning one step further.

waterfall rapids and people at algonquin park near north tea lake

This program is co-facilitated by members of Edge’s core facilitation team with some special guests. Most importantly, your own gifts, needs, insights, and wisdom will co-create the group program experience as it unfolds.

Martha Lucier  co-founder northern edge algonquin

Martha Lucier

Co-Founder, Retreat Facilitator, Way of the Circle Centre Founder

Martha has always felt a deep connection with nature and has long been an initiator of circles, connecting people to themselves, each other, and the earth. Her personal calling is to help herself and others heal personal, ancestral, & collective trauma. Sound healing, qigong, yoga, and circle work are all tools that she uses to restore connection, find peace, and inspire us to live our lives fully in the present moment.

Todd Lucier; co-founder Northern Edge Algonquin

Todd Lucier

Co-Founder, Retreat Designer, IGNITE Facilitator

Todd designs retreats and experiences at the Edge and beyond.  He tells stories, informs and enlightens and inspires people to live a life with passion and purpose. He feels most alive wearing his rubber boots and being on the land or water.


Deposits & Cancellations

In short: Spaces are limited.  When you book a retreat with us, a non-refundable deposit (50% of your overall balance) reserves your space and allows us to plan accordingly. Remaining balances are due 15 days before arrival.

Deposits protect our group-based experiences by acting as a commitment from our guests. If you need to cancel your visit, the timing of your cancellation will determine the level of flexibility we can offer in rescheduling your visit or holding your deposit as a credit to be used in the future. Please refer to our full deposit and cancellation policy for more information on our policies, timelines, and the commitments we make based on your registration.

Meals & Dietary Needs

Edge guests are well nourished and experience mealtime itself as a program element, with storytelling to introduce the seasonal flavours of the region and the relationships with the folk who grew and raised the ingredients close to home. Cooking at the Edge focuses on balancing globally far-flung tastes with provincially produced foods. Meals are served buffet style and are guests often enjoy lakeside dining outdoors when the weather allows it.

Over the years we have met many diverse dietary needs. Guests are invited to identify their dietary needs & preferences as a part of the registration process, and those with restrictions love the options we provide.

Itinerary & Program Timings

We offer unique, tailored experiences that flow as our facilitators respond to the interests of our guests, seasonal conditions, and special opportunities that may arise.

Each retreat at the Edge features healthy doses of dreamtime, adventure, community, creativity, time spent in nature, and a dash of surprise. Guests always have the choice to take solo or rest time in lieu of planned experiences.

While a detailed itinerary is not available, you can count on and prepare for the activities used to describe the flavour of this retreat. Meals are generally served at 8:30, 12:30, and 6pm. When appropriate, optional early-morning or late-night experiences may be offered.

Arrival Time & Directions

Arrival time is between 2 – 3 pm with programming beginning at 3:30.  We encourage our guests to arrive on time and stay to experience the full retreat, which generally ends after brunch on the final day. Please let us know if you expect to arrive after 3.

You can find us easily on Google or Apple maps, or view detailed directions here.

What to Bring

We’ll be spending time both indoors and out in nature, and we invite you to dress appropriately for the season to stay comfortable, warm, and dry. There’s no dress code and most guests wear their “retreat-casual”.

We encourage guests to bring a surprise to share with others – this might take the form of a game or activity, an instrument/song/poem, or a tasty treat.

transformational leadership training

All-Inclusive Pricing from

$ 1634 +HST

Click the button above to receive updates about future dates.

What’s Included

  • Your choice of shared or private cozy cabin accommodation.
  • Transformational leadership program infused with personal and professional development in the Way of the Circle.
  • Equipment & materials included*
  • Nourishing, nutritious meals and snacks from Day 1 Dinner to Day 4 Lunch (locally sourced and catered to your dietary needs)
  • Meet new allies and establish relationships with people who are going to help you evolve your leadership through follow-up zoom calls and continuing online community.

What’s Not Included

  • 13% Harmonized Sales Tax
  • Gratuities for the hospitality team, facilitators & guides.
  • Wi-fi access and cellular signal are not available for this unplugged experience.

Explore Accommodation Options

cabin in algonquin park

Habitat Cabin

Cozy, rustic habitat cabins are located just a short walk away from main programming spaces and amenities such as washrooms and showers. Each offers a loft double bed above 2 single beds, making them ideal for sharing with friends or other participants.

$ 1634 (Shared)
Cavas Cabin

Canopy Cabin

Our simple, clear-roofed cabins bring participants closer to nature, just a short walk away from main programming spaces and amenities such as showers and flush toilets. Each canopy cabin features a double bed, ideal for solo travellers or couples.

$ 1734 (Private)
Studio Cabin accommodations Algonquin Park

Studio Cabin

Comfortable & spacious eco-friendly studio rooms are located just a minute’s walk away from main programming spaces and showers. These feature a small en-suite bathroom with an incinerating toilet. Both a double bed and a single bed make them ideal for couples or friends.

$ 1734 (Shared)
$ 1934 (Private)
Studio Cabin Accommodations Algonquin Park

Log Cabin Bedroom

The luxurious and comfortable log cabin is located a bit further from main programming spaces for optimal rest, and features en-suite bathrooms with showers. Each room’s Queen bed can convert into two twin beds, providing flexibility for solo travellers, couples, or friends.

$ 1934 (Shared)
$ 2154 (Private)

testimonials

What an amazing weekend of connection, insights, and learning. It is so much fun to co-create alongside other facilitators and to practice shared leadership through the elements of dreamtime, adventure, nature, creativity, and community. This weekend provided the opportunity for facilitators to explore new ways of guiding transformational experiences and to shine in their unique leadership qualities. So many ‘aha’ moments and takeaways through important discussions, group experiences, and one on one conversations.

Leadership Summit Attendee,  

I attended a 3 day Leadership Summit (Evolve Pilot Program) that was rooted in teaching meaningful leadership skills. I walked away from the weekend with information that can be applied right way to creating meaningful retreats that will leave people feeling transformed, as I did after my time at Northern Edge Algonquin.

Leadership Summit Attendee,  

 “As always, Northern Edge Algonquin managed to access the medicine of the land and the inherent power of the participants to create a transformational experience borne out of power from within and power with. I walked away more ‘fully me’ than I have felt before. Thanks Edge!”

Allie Chisholm-Smith  

We were invited to participate in the role of facilitator and participant and encouraged to adapt a growth mindset for the weekend and beyond. We had the opportunity to reflect, dream, expand and drop in deeply to the experience. It was both enjoyable and transformative and I’m so grateful I got to be a part of it.

Evolve Pilot Program Participant

I accepted an invitation to further develop my leadership skills at the Leadership Summit 2022 (Evolve Pilot Program). The retreat was warm and welcoming, we each had an opportunity to grow our skill set through active co-creation and planning. Our days were filled with brilliant experiences shared with talented and inspiring people developing new ideas to bring out the best in guest experiences as a collective community and individual empowerment.

-Amanda Farrell,

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