Discovery

(for Men)

This planet is around 4,600,000,000 years old. Man has been here for 160,000 years or .000034% of the total time the earth has been in physical existence.

There was a time before the industrial revolution when around 16,000 generations of men worked with and were supported by other men ie their fathers, brothers, cousins, neighbours, friends and other men. When there were time honoured rites of passage into manhood and somebody to mentor you through your toughest times regardless of how old you were. A time when courage, wisdom, respect, compassion and responsibility were traits keenly sought after by men.

The industrial revolution started some 200 years ago. Since then many men have been locked away in one type of factory or another working in isolation with little or no meaningful communication with other men. In the process man became disconnected from the brotherhood of men and our planet. Of greater concern is that many men find that not only is their partner the love of their life but also their best friend. This effectively doubles the impact of any relationship breakup/loss and can lead to depression and in some instances even suicide. 

The Experience

This is a three day and two night experiential masterpiece that will help bring many aspects of your life together. On Discovery you will:

• Enjoy a 800km round trip into a spectacular wilderness centre that you will experience first hand by 4WD, camping and easy bush walking (with a small day pack).

• Experience true male camaraderie and be more at ease in the presence of other men.

• Better understand some of the inherited traits that you have that if not understood can make your life a misery and result in living a "recurring nightmare".

• Better understand how your feelings are just as important as what you think and how ignoring your feelings can lead to unease or disease in your life.

• Better understand anger, depression, shame, guilt, relationship break up and death including suicide.

• Pick up some tools that you can use to have a happier, more fulfilled life.

• Experience that absolute wonder of a very special part of the planet.

• Join the DOME - Discovery's ongoing men's support network.

When: Every second month. Call 0414 707 876 for details Cost: $399 + GST (cash or cheque is preferred) Inclusions: Activity, tent accommodation, park fees, transfers and all (7) bush meals Where: Sydney/Gosford and points north Contact: orion@hikeforlife.com

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Summit

OK - you have a team of people who you work with. Ask yourself the following:

• Does your team communicate effectively

• Does the team have high morale

• Is it a happy work environment

• How good is the team at getting the job done

• Is stress and stress management an issue

OK - so things could always be better!

So what is Summit al about? It is a two night/two day team building experiential masterpiece. we are going bush into the high country wilderness of the Barrington Tops - 3 hours north of Sydney, home of Wedge tail Eagles, Glossy Black Cockatoos, Wombats, Koalas, Echidnas, Lyrebirds and Eastern Grey Kangaroos.

This spectacular journey is about spending a profound 48 hours together, where we learn more about ourselves, each other, out team and how to better cope with our challenges. It is spent on adventure with an accent on fun, humour and achievement with the by product of developing a better understanding of our wonderful Australian bush.

Friday afternoon - at around 3pm you will be picked up by the bus coach and met by the HFL staff who will accompany you on the journey north. Friday night is spent in heritage accommodation at a traditional Australian country hotel at Dungog (dinner is not included).

Saturday morning, following an early breakfast (included), we head out to Lagoon Pinch and start our ascent up to Carey's Peak. We commence our steady bush track climb (carrying just your day pack) and make our way through an ancient rainforest, keeping an eye out for Koalas on the way. It is then onto the Enchanted Forest - the most magnificent Antarctic Beech Forest. Next we are into the sub alpine areas of the Tops, then over Aeroplane Hill onto Junction Pools for the night, where we camp next to the Barrington River. We enjoy a candle light bush dinner and a great fire.

Sunday morning it is up early for bacon and eggs and it is time to head across Edwards Swamp and make our way to Carey's Peak for the spectacular 100km view. We then head back down to Wombat Creek, through the Enchanted Forest once more and own to our start point. We transfer back to our coach and its onto Wollombi for celebration drinks before being dropped back to your company office around 7pm.

Andrew, your Hike Master and team building facilitator, is a former Combat Engineer Officer in the Australian Army. He has worked in Human Resources at Coopers and Lybrand and has a background in Jungian Psychology. Andrew has more the thirty years bush experience and has spent time with indigenous cultures including the Pitjantjatjara in the Australian Desert and the Ute and Lakota in the Rocky and San Juan Mountains of America.

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