THE WILDERNESS ADVANTAGE
Wilderness retreats are becoming the go-to choice for companies ready to innovate and inspire their teams. If big, out-of-the-box thinking is what you’re looking for, you must quite literally, get out of the four walls of the office. Science shows that novelty, movement, and time in nature are the keys to unlocking creativity and focus in your team members. At Nimmo, we are perfectly designed to help host your next corporate retreat. If you’re looking for a bit more convincing, these are the stories and strategies behind designing a retreat that actually works.
Why Nature is the ULTIMATE SETTING FOR CORPORATE RETREATS
In today’s business world, we are under constant pressure to innovate, collaborate, and make critical decisions fast. Yet the environments where these big conversations take place, like boardrooms, hotel conference centers, or busy city venues, are often the worst places for concentration and creative thinking.
That’s why more companies are turning to wilderness retreats. It’s time to take the group far away from everyday distractions and into the natural world. This provides a setting where you and your team can reset, refocus, and unlock the kind of big-picture thinking that drives meaningful progress. And science can back this up!
THE SCIENCE of THinking IN NATURE
Brains love Novelty!
When we change our environment, we change the way our brains work. Neuroscientists like Dr. Terry Sejnowski (author of The Deep Learning Revolution) have demonstrated that the brain thrives on novelty. New settings and new stimuli literally spark the growth of neural pathways. By stepping into a wilderness environment, where the sights, sounds, and pace are unlike our daily routine, we create the conditions for deeper focus and broader perspectives to flourish.
We Need Healthy Breaks
Similarly, Dr. Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist and brain health expert, emphasizes that the brain works best when it is supported by movement, healthy breaks, and environments that reduce stress. He often points to how walking, spending time outdoors, and minimizing overstimulation all contribute to clearer thinking and better memory retention. A retreat at Nimmo Bay integrates each of these factors perfectly.
SupportS all Learning Styles
People also have different learning and working styles. Robb Best, author of Brain Hacks, has outlined three of these styles: auditory, visual, and kinaesthetic. The best environments for team collaboration are the ones that support all three of these. A wilderness retreat at Nimmo Bay does just that. Conversations around the fire appeal to auditory learners. Visual learners are sparked by awe-inspiring landscapes of the Great Bear Rainforest. Kinesthetic learners thrive when problem-solving includes physical movement. A retreat with us will include hiking through the forest and paddling through a calm bay.
HOW TRADITIONAL RETREATS FALL SHORT
Most of us have sat in a fluorescent-lit conference room trying to generate new ideas, only to feel drained before the conversation even starts. The truth is that the environment matters.
- Distractions! Daily emails, access to phones, and city noise all pull focus.
- Lack of novelty. The sameness of hotel conference rooms and urban meeting spaces does not strike creativity.
- Minimal movement. Sitting for hours in rigid chairs works against information retention and collaboration.
HOW DOES NIMMO COMPARE?
- Undisturbed focus is key. Due to Nimmo’s remote nature, you won’t hear loud traffic, and minimal service means everyone won’t get endless notifications. It’s just your team and the natural world.
- Built-in novelty. Nature continually surprises us, from the changing weather to the wildlife you might encounter. This novelty primes the brain for fresh thinking.
- Offers space for natural movement. Whether it is a short hike between sessions or a paddle across the water, wilderness retreats seamlessly incorporate activity that re-energizes the brain and provides opportunities to connect with one another in a new and fun way!
The Power of A WALK
One of the most underappreciated aspects of learning and decision-making is the brain break. Dr. Sejnowski has written extensively about how downtime allows the brain to process and solidify information. The “aha moments” often happen when we stop consciously thinking.
Research from Marc Berman, PhD, environmental neuroscientist at the University of Chicago, underscores this point. He found that “people experience a whopping 20% improvement in attention and memory after taking a 50-minute walk in the park”. This measurable improvement highlights the power of integrating nature into breaks, something that Nimmo makes effortless.
Nature provides the perfect backdrop for these breaks. Instead of checking phones during a coffee break, your team might walk our forest trails, breathe in the salty ocean air on the dock, or watch the swaying cedar trees, blown by the wind. These moments of quiet and movement are scientifically proven to improve recall, sharpen decision-making, and reduce stress.
BEST PRACTICES FOR DESIGNING YOUR RETREAT
It’s important to note that a successful wilderness retreat doesn’t just mean moving your meeting outdoors. It’s about designing an experience that takes full advantage of what the natural world offers. Here are a few strategies we focus on at Nimmo:
- Balancing work with movement. Teams are encouraged to alternate short, deep-focus sessions with hikes, paddles, or boating excursions to get off-site. It’s a time to step into your body, and out of the looping brain mode.
- Incorporate time to reflect. Nimmo is the perfect place for silent wellness sessions like cold plunges, yoga, sauna breaks, or solo moments. This is the time when the brain can process and connect the dots. Bonus points for picking from our wellness menu and going for a body treatment like deep tissue massage.
- Leverage diverse learning styles. Information should be presented in multiple ways, from storytelling by the fire, displaying data against a backdrop of mountains, to hands-on problem-solving activities.
- Make space for recovery. A good night’s sleep in our cozy cabins, nourishing and delicious meals at Little River, and unplanned downtime on the dock are essential. These “in-between” moments are where many breakthroughs occur.
- Disconnect to reconnect. At Nimmo, cell service is limited. We do have WIFI onsite to facilitate work, when necessary, but overall, there are limited digital distractions. Your team will be able to keep focus on the task at hand. Leave your phones in your cabins for maximum presence.
What A Retreat at Nimmo Bay LOOKS LIKE
It’s already been a long week, and your executive team arrives at Nimmo Bay exhausted from back-to-back board meetings. On the first morning, instead of diving into presentations, they start with a guided yoga session. By the time you’re sitting down later in the day to discuss strategy, everyone is energized, connected, and more open to ideas. When the plane landed at the resort, the team was feeling too tired to even think. But being present in the rainforest has given everyone a rush of new energy.
On a different day, the team uses the floating sauna as their mid-day “brain break”. What might typically be a quick coffee run in the city turned into a shared ritual of relaxation and conversation. The chance for breakthrough ideas skyrocket in this situation and the team is ready to dive into a challenge that’s been haunting them for weeks in the office.
This is what happens when you pair the science of the brain with the magic of the wilderness.
THE TAKEAWAY
When it comes to corporate retreats, the setting matters as much as the agenda. Science shows us that novelty, movement, and recovery are critical for learning, collaboration, and big- picture thinking. The wilderness naturally provides all three.
As Dr. Daniel Amen reminds us, “Your brain is involved in everything you do.” And when your brain is rested, nourished, and inspired by nature, your team has the capacity to do its very best work.
The next time you are planning a corporate retreat, ask yourself: do you want another forgettable meeting in a beige room, or a transformative experience that will unlock new ideas, energize your team, and set your company on a bold path forward?
The wilderness at Nimmo Bay is waiting.
Words by: Alexandra Janes
Photos: Jeremy Koreski