|
A 21-year tradition of inner and outer exploration
at a week long wilderness encampment

The Creative Edge of Leadership
Leadership is a quality both seductive and elusive. In the classic
model, the leader stars in the movie, leads his charges into battle,
gets the prettiest girl. The leader says, "This way, men!"
and none hesitate to follow. Most of us yearn to be that guy,
but who is he really, and what does it mean to be the leader?
Experience teaches us that "leader" is not a title
conferred on a man for life. In some situations you lead, at other
times, you follow. Following, tuning in, guiding quietly in the
background may in fact be key attributes of soulful leadership.
Above all, who is the leader who does not know himself? Where
can this man lead us if he is uncertain of his own motives? What
hope is there for society if immature men fight to be leaders
only to prove something they don't themselves understand?
In our thinking, leadership is an art. It is a process of exploration:
into our depths, into our family history, into the power of council
and ritual, then out among our communities. As an art, leadership
involves the courage to face the creative edge of uncertainty
and to leap boldly into the unknown. As an art, leadership is
a talent we all possess, one that we can develop and practice
to free our creative power to serve our people and ourselves.
Stories of the Experience
"Because of these men,
there was a framework set up to receive me as a young man who
was full of ideals and passion. There was a net to be caught in,
to be mentored and shown how to be a man, how to grow up and take
ownership of my life."
— Seth Braun, 29, Boulder, Colorado
Musician, Healer, Entrepreneur
"There's so much that goes
on. I showed up afraid, having a lot of judgment. I look back
on that and realize that's how I walked through life, afraid,
mistrustful, full of judgments. During the week the fear and judgment
started to go away. I experienced the men for who they were. I
started to open up. I got to look at a lot of pieces of who I
am, the parts that have been protected by all this fear and judgment."
— Dave Cottrell, 40, Conifer, Colorado
Programmer, Real Estate Investor
"The Art of Leadership
was among the most meaningful pieces I have ever done. I did the
training five years ago, and since that time, every day, I have
worn the necklace I received. Every day I put it on, and I touch
and feel the power of that time. It never leaves me."
— Marty Hellman, 52, Norwich, Connecticut
Optometrist
"Before meeting these men,
I had no sense for the value of my life, of all the years that
had passed. I was afraid to live, afraid to die. Now I have been
seen. I have been appreciated, blessed and honored. All of my
shadows, the parts of myself I used to hate, I can now embrace
as pieces in the tapestry of my beauty as an elder."
— Bob Cote, 72, Berkshires, Massachusetts
Substance Abuse Counselor
|
Crossing the Threshold
We will rendezvous together at a location in Boulder, Colorado,
then caravan toward Estes Park. We will turn off the main road,
up a steep slope, on our way to private land, surrounded by National
Forest.
There you will cross a small creek, and enter another world. There
will be the smell of burning sage, perhaps a soaring red tail
hawk, or a raven, the chirping of a mountain squirrel, a distant
drumbeat. You will be welcomed for the man you are, in your beauty,
with your wounds, your history, your dreams, hopes, fears and
longings.
There will be a circle of men. All will speak their names. Each
will be honored. There will be the smell of a home cooked meal
from the outdoor kitchen. You will form smaller groups of five
or six men, each held by two experienced staff members. You will
set up your tent among the aspen and spruce. You may take a hike
along the rocky crags.
You will know you have arrived somewhere different, and yet deeply
familiar. It is a place your ancestors knew, a place all men came
from. You will feel what is right for you: frightened, exhilarated,
nervous, joyful, alive, or maybe numb. Whatever it is, it will
be right for you, and you will go from there.

Finding Allies
You will quickly learn, and may already know, that you are surrounded
by allies. Nearly half of the men around you have completed this
training themselves. They are there to guide and serve.
The leaders for this training have 19 years together, every summer,
conducting the Art of Leadership. It has not made them rich. They
are not famous. They continue because it is of primary importance
to them. They have known the pain of manhood in the modern world,
and they have given themselves to help other men heal, to continue
their own growth, to encourage a practice of masculine leadership
that comes from kindness, self-knowledge, humility, personal responsibility,
and love.
They will take you through powerful rituals. They will listen
intently as you tell your stories. They will share their wisdom
gently, more interested in the questions behind your journey than
in their own answers. They will share meals with you, stretch
with you each morning, read a favorite poem or tell a story. |
The staff will accept you as you are, and facilitate processes
that serve you personally on your path to soulful leadership.
Within hours a village of brothers will form, miraculously, genuinely,
allowing connections that can last a lifetime.
Do You Hear the Call?
The Art of Leadership has, for 21 consecutive years, in the arms
of wild nature, brought a collection of men together, most of
them strangers, for the sake of exploring their manhood. It has
directly touched some 250 men, who have touched hundreds more,
who have touched thousands. Almost everyone who has come has done
so out of faith, out of trust in a man who did the training, and
believed it would serve his friend. These men heard the call,
and took the risk to live their lives, at least for one week,
as a bold, important mission - then see where it lead them
next.
Men heard the call in ways like this:
—I was in my 40's and
wanted a deeper understanding of my life: where I was going, and
who was going with me.
—I couldn't understand why I was angry all the time. Anything
that didn't go my way, I got pissed off at somebody. I wondered
if there was an alternative.
—I was a young man, living in the city, among the violence and
the chaos, and some older guys said, "Hey, you should check
this out. We'll help you."
—I had lived a full life, retired many years ago, but felt there
was another chapter yet for me. I wanted to explore the gifts
I had yet to give.
|
And in 250 other unique and personal ways, men heard the call,
and they responded. We invite you to take a listen. Listen to
your heart. Is it time for a unique exploration you will never
forget?

Lead Staff Members
Led by Tom Daly, Jeffrey, Duvall, Keith Fairmont, and Mel Grusing.
In various forms this staff has led more than 21 years of Leadership
Training programs. Together they create and lead a safe container of acceptance, exploration,
and transition. You can view biographies of
here.
Guides Several guides serve as
assistant staff members in this training and are essential to
the team. They come also to continue their personal development,
focusing on their skills as students, elders and leaders. Many
of the guides continue to return to Sapphire Canyon, to be of
service to the program, and to help others bring out their own
sense of leadership.
Dates
July 18-25, 2008 - Sapphire Canyon - near Estes Park, Colorado
Enrollment
Attendance is kept low out of respect for the land and because
we believe in personal attention and exquisite care for the needs
of all participants. Our usual staff/guide to participant ratio is 1
to 2.
Locations
Participants
camp at Sapphire Canyon, in secluded, privately owned, 180 acres adjoining
3,000 acres of national forest near Estes Park, CO.
The program provides a comprehensive training notebook that includes pre-training
preparation and post-training integration. Hearty,
wholesome, home-cooked meals are also provided.

Costs
We offer a sliding scale registration ranging from $1,300-2,700. We ask that you pay what you can afford
and help with scholarships. We know that this program is worth the $2,700, but we want to assure that
everyone who wishes to attend is not held back due to financial consideration.
A minimum non-refundable deposit of $250 is required to hold your reservation and assure you of a spot
in this gathering. Meals are included. Space is limited to 20 participants.
If you wish to set up a payment plan or inquire about a scholarship, please arrange with the MLA office
prior to the event.
| Deposit: (non-refundable) |
| $250 | reserves your participation |
| Fee: |
| before Jun 20th | $1,300-2,700 |
| Jun 20th to Jul 4th | $1,950-2,700 |
| after Jul 4th | $2,700 |
| on-site Payment | $2,970 |
| Cancellation: |
| before Jun 20th | full refund (minus deposit) |
| Jun 20th to Jul 4th | 75% refund (minus deposit) |
| after Jul 4th | no refund |
The Colorado training is tent camping, a full gear list will be mailed to you
upon recieving your registration.
Registration
Register on-line using PayPal's secure website:
The Art of Leadership
near Estes Park, Colorado
July 18-25, 2008
|
|
Or you can print, fill-out, and mail your registration using the form below. Please
include your deposit or registration fee by check made payable to
"Men's Leadership Alliance".
After you Register
Upon receipt of your registration and deposit, you will receive a packet outlining further details.
Further Information
Download the brochure for this program 
For more information or other inquiries please
|