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RETREAT
Retreat
For Teams Ready to Rise to a New Level of Service — Together
Clear what’s in the way of your team’s potential —
Two immersive days during which we’ll move from individual awareness to team alignment to actionable momentum.
Together, we’ll regulate the nervous system, explore personality dynamics, address unspoken conflict, surface the hard stuff (stress, avoidance), and lock in shared goals. We’ll go deep but we’ll also laugh, move, breathe, and reconnect with what matters most.
Because when your people are connected, courageous, and clear — your entire organization thrives.
What other leaders are saying
“Through this work, I’ve built habits that keep me connected to my core and allow me to move through climate action from a place of trust, ease, and personal agency.”
— Kendra Health, Climate Leader
“We’ve shifted from debate to collaboration—and created a truly safe space. With tools like speaking from the heart and listening without judgment, we’ve deepened our culture.”
— Larry Pardee, Town Manager, Eagle, CO.
Some of the organizations & communities we’ve worked with:
Most dysfunction isn’t about politics—it’s about people and patterns. Old stories. Unclear roles. Chronic stress. Silence. Lack of trust. The Civic Courage Retreat gets underneath it all.
Whole-person well-being. Real teamwork. Aligned goals.
And everything in between.
We'll guide your team through grounded, science-backed, trauma-informed processes that rewire limiting patterns—and create the emotional safety that makes real change stick.
Human
Nervous system 101: fight/flight/freeze/fawn explained
Mental health as connection, safety, and power
Fear-setting and mindfulness reset
Visioning and values
Resilience through Whole Human Leadership
Team
Personality awareness through the Enneagram
Reflective listening and conscious conflict resolution
Clarifying roles and building healthy boundaries
Shared agreements and expectations
Tools for long-term collaboration and trust
Goals
Aligned goal setting (Capture > Clarify > Consensus)
Reality-checking for capacity and resourcing
Tiered prioritization
Mapping next steps with clear owners and timelines
Final commitments and celebration
This is for you if
Your team is committed to doing meaningful work, but burnout is real.
You want to reconnect with purpose — and each other.
You’re tired of surface-level training that doesn’t address what’s underneath.
You want aligned, focused, human-first leadership.
You’re ready for transformation, not just information.
Length: 2-day in-person retreat + virtual 1:1 pre- sessions
Format: In-person, at your location or third-party venue
Who it’s for: Councils, boards, executive teams, nonprofit orgs, community organizing groups, cross-department leaders
Max Participants: ~30
Includes: Pre-retreat assessment, leadership prep, physical tools & worksheets, post-retreat resource pack (slides, tools, podcast)
“When I first saw Skippy speak at Mountain Towns 2030, I was stunned—he was up there talking about something I’d never even considered: the mental health of elected officials. It blew me away. I’ve been to countless council retreats over the years, and not once had we talked about our well-being. But during that retreat, people opened up—some who I never imagined would. It shifted something in our organization. A year later, 15 of our team members showed up again—not for new policies or tech, but to keep learning how to take care of themselves. That says everything.”
— Scott Turnipseed, Mayor of Eagle, CO
THE DATA
In 2023 & 2024, we ran an annual cohort program with commissioners, councilpersons, state reps, senators, and staff members, from various size districts. We asked leaders how this work had impacted their lives.
94%
said that
“What I’ve learned will make me a better leader & better human”
reported a significant improvement of the symptoms of mental health challenges.
90%
reported a significant improvement in their relationship with their staff as well as the public.
72.5%
Over the course of a year, leaders experienced a 9.67% increase in external stressors*
With coaching, leaders were able to turn rising external stressors into opportunities for growth, significantly reducing their mental and emotional health challenges.
Public hate, Issues with press, Issues with social media, Issues with colleagues, Issues with family, Issue with friends, Threats to self, Threats to family, Issues with effectiveness at work, Financial instability
decrease of depression symptoms
10.9%
decrease of anxiety symptoms
18%
decrease of feelings of overwhelm
28.2%
… all while improving their internal experience
57%
felt more connected to their North Star
11%
experienced more freedom, authenticity, and realness
21%
felt more confident
Leaders felt like they were making a meaningful contribution to healing divisions in their community. Are you ready to make a difference?
“For those of us who chose to run for office as a means to provide service to our fellow citizens, the experience of forming collaborative and respectful relations with fellow elected officials strengthens and preserves our resolve to make governing compassionate and fair.”
— Dave Knutson; Councilmember, Paonia, CO.
