Each of these Quests has delicious sounding names like the Cave of Secret Carvings, Black Barrow, Dancing with Horses, Mud Bathing or Walking the Labyrinth. So far we have created 20 plus Quests where the journey to healing involves gaining self insights and personalised techniques for dealing with debilitating symptoms.
The Quests weave together Wilderness Theory with Mindfulness and blend them with sensory based creative therapies to create a heady and change orientated unique mix. Everyone who has been part of the Forces for Nature programme have enjoyed their experiences and looked forward to each session.
Over the past weeks we have been at our centre in Portugal - Contender - looking at how we can build on the UK Quests in this stunning mountain wilderness setting. We now have Quests such as Rock Art where we visit a Neolithic cave and Sun Rise welcoming the dawn before the heat of the day. The River and Waterfall Quests involve water as a symbol of emotion yet provide the physical exercise and being outdoors in the present moment that is facilitates sleep and a soothing of the monkey brain mind.
We creating Contender as a separate not for profit organisation and are looking forward to hosting ex members of the Armed Forces in May 2015. I never regret doing an Expedition Leaders Award with the British Sport Council and will be looking at how we can fund more people into the future to do this qualification and be part of the Forces of Nature Programme.