Author archive for Jess Villarreal

Exploring the Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota

The 2024 Annual Expedition finished earlier this month, taking place in the Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota. Over 7 days the brave team explored the icy wilderness while learning winter survival skills.

Lessons Learned 

Spending a week living outdoors in the cold takes skills! A participant shares, “I learned the importance of monitoring and regulating your microclimate in cold weather. I learned so many incredible things I am still in disbelief that this opportunity was given to me. I am so excited to continue to learn about the outdoors and how to make shelters and gather wood for campfires.”

Nature has a lot more to offer than just practical lessons. Immersing ourselves in the great outdoors can teach us valuable skills and have a significant impact on our emotions.

One participant elaborates, “I learned so much about nature! Trees, how to survive in the winter and cold outdoors! I learned the importance of having confidence in yourself, what you set out to do and sticking to that through flexibility and willingness to change based on new perspectives and learned experiences. I learned a lot about myself in tandem with others and what the great power you get from being a part of a team.”

Another team member expresses the resilience they found in community and positive thinking, “…the feeling that I can do hard things. I can always look back when facing something difficult and know that if I got through that I can get through anything. I also learned that I need people in my life to get through any difficult times … because someone has a flaw I don’t need to push them away. I also learned not to complain about everything I don’t like to focus on the positive and keep it pushing. One of the best things I took from it was I’m not alone in having gone through something traumatic, and sharing it with others actually helps me more than I know.”

Cherished Moments

Looking back on the time spent in Northern Minnesota, team members reflected on some of their favorite moments. A particular highlight for the group was spending time with the sled dogs, “Howling with the dogs! The first night out on the ice, seeing the clear glassy ice and the expansive night sky above was incredible and an image that will live in my mind for the rest of my life,” shared one participant.

One adventurer shares the magic of stepping onto the frozen lake for the first time. They express, “Stepping out onto the frozen lake for the first time and hearing the ice form and crack, waking up in the middle of the night while sleeping on the frozen lake and listening to the ice, it sounded like whales under us.”

Other highlights included cutting trees, spending time with the team, and being disconnected from cell phones.

Challenges on the Ice

The expedition was not without its hard moments! The snow, ice, and cold bring an emotional element to an already physical demand. Tough conditions can make it difficult to keep a positive attitude – everyone tried their best! The energy and time it took to cook, clean, build fires, and camp in the snow was tolling. Participants worked to pace themselves and their energy.

Participants agreed that the trip was difficult and wished they had trained harder for the adventure, “I had no idea what I was getting into but it was way harder than I thought it was going to be.” Similarly, another team member expressed, “I don’t believe I ever thought of all the hard work that went into an expedition, so the first two days took some getting use to.”

Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough snow to dog sled or cross-country ski as originally planned, “Although we did not get to go dog-sledding and cross-country skiing, the time in Minnesota, with a team, in a new and challenging environment absolutely met my expectations.. exceeded them, really.” Another participant shares, “I still would like to go dog sledding and cross-country skiing but I also was so glad I went on this expedition. I will never forget this New Year!”

Advice for Future Expedition Teams

Are you interested in joining the Annual Expedition in the future? Here’s what the 2023 team would tell someone wanting to go on this grand adventure:

• Go! Try out for it, work hard and invest in yourself because adventures like this only come around once in a lifetime and you’re worth that type of experience!
• It is a lot harder than you imagine but you will not regret it.
• Continue to nourish your body and continue working out on a daily basis. We only have one body and we have to take care of it for our lifetime. This trip reminded me when we take small breaks from self-care it has a huge impact.

Connection, Vulnerability, & Power: A 5 Day Journey of Discovery

Nestled between the serene national parks of Canada, a group of Recovery Beyond women embarked on a trip hoping to foster empowerment within themselves on the first-ever Recovery Beyond Women’s Empowerment Retreat.

The goal? Embracing vulnerability, connection, and the power within.

Hitting the Road

With a two-day road trip from Western Washington to our retreat destination in Canada, what might have seemed like a long drive turned into an opportunity for real connections.

We shared meals, gazed at awe-inspiring views, and bonded over our shared appreciation for nature’s beauty. As we ventured further from the familiar surroundings of Seattle, the landscape transformed, and so did our camaraderie. We reveled in the beauty that recovery allows us to experience.

The Power of Togetherness

The road trip experience set the stage for what lay ahead. Our interactions during the journey set a tone of unity and self-discovery.

We came from diverse backgrounds, some seasoned outdoor enthusiasts, and others new to the wilderness. However, these differences brought us closer together.

The trip wasn’t just about sightseeing; it was a crash course in practical outdoor skills. We learned to split wood, start a fire, and, importantly, the consequences of forgetting to close the grill or leaving a sweatshirt hanging outside.

Living in the great outdoors unveiled the simultaneous beauty of simplicity and complexity.

Lessons We Learned

Margo Talbot and Megan Wright led powerful workshops for the group.

Margo helped us carry the sense of power and connection we had fostered in the retreat into our everyday lives. Together, we worked to create practices and tools for pathways moving forward.

Megan led a workshop on the labyrinth. We reviewed its history and symbolism and it became a sanctuary for personal revelations and growth. Here, we delved into issues related to our relationships with our mothers and family of origin. We learned how to rewrite the stories we told ourselves and take control of our destinies. Our journey inside the labyrinth was a pathway to discovering the powerful individuals we are inside.

Yoga for the Soul

Our retreat was a delightful mix of activities, including invigorating yoga sessions. Guided by a skilled yoga instructor, we embraced learning poses and trying something new.

What began as a hesitant embrace of yoga quickly turned into a profound appreciation for the practice, leaving us feeling empowered and revitalized.

Healing with Nature

Water played a recurring role throughout our journey, symbolizing healing and transformation.

The weather was wet and the rain offered a challenge to living outdoors. Hot springs offered solace and rejuvenation, while our forest experiences were nothing short of enchanting.

Guided forest bathing encouraged us to reconnect with nature, and for many, it felt like their inner child was awakened. As we engaged with the forest floor, the trees, and the fallen leaves, we rekindled our connection with the natural world.

Reflections and Transformations

As our adventure came to a close, we realized just how much we needed this break from the constant buzz of technology and city life.

We returned home with a newfound appreciation for life’s simpler pleasures, a deeper bond with each other, and a strong sense of our own capabilities.

The Women’s Empowerment Retreat wasn’t just a travel experience; it was a lesson in the power of connection, vulnerability, and personal growth. It reminds us that the most profound transformations often happen when we step out of our comfort zone, bond with others, and immerse ourselves in the healing embrace of the natural world.

This retreat is a beautiful example of how recovery allows us to go deeper into ourselves and appreciate the world within and around us.

Recovery Is An Adventure

At Recovery Beyond, we believe in cultivating a spirit of adventure, wholeness, and health through consistent, no-cost, programming. This ranges from weekly bouldering sessions to monthly community gathering, to our larger, more unique events.

The Audacious Annual Expedition is the largest event of the Recovery Beyond calendar year and gives Participants a substantial goal they can work towards.

Our 2022 Audacious Annual Expedition took Participants on a kayaking trip around the San Juan Islands.

Learning New Skills

The Expedition Team carried their gear and set up camp each night while kayaking over 20 miles total on the Salish Sea. Cultivating soft skills, in addition to hard skills, became important as the group traveled together.

Communication, collaboration, gear know-how, and long physical days were critical components of the trip.

A Participant shares, “I learned how to perform a wet exit in a kayak, how to ‘put a kayak to bed’, how to properly pack gear and belongings in a kayak, and how to better communicate with others in a group setting.” These skills can be carried into other aspects of life – whether that be communication at work or feeling confident in adventuring solo. Another Participant elaborates, “I have a realistic view of what it takes to kayak camp now! The solo day can be reproduced by myself anytime, it was so beneficial.”

Capturing the Spirit of Adventure

A week of island hopping in the Pacific Northwest without cell phones provided space to be present and still, a Participant explains,  “The one takeaway for me is how important it is to have quiet time in a fast-paced and frantic world…”

A break from the constant business of life, and ample time outdoors, fosters reflection. Contemplation, physicality, and connection to the self and others is important in holistic recovery.

Another Participant conveys, “I can choose to be intentional about prioritizing in my life – family and self first, work second.” While the trip offered these sacred moments, there was plenty to do and plenty of laughs to be had!

Favorite memories from the Expedition include seals following the kayaks and the infamous “raccoon incident”. An overarching theme, however, was that of gratitude.

One Participant shares, “I am eternally grateful that I was able to find the strength and the courage within myself to get myself out out of my addiction (in October 2019) This was an a remarkable part of my recovery journey, going in this sea kayaking adventure and sharing it with [the team].” Another Participant echoed that statement, saying, “I am grateful for new experiences. I am grateful for my life. I am grateful for natural places.”

Words of Wisdom

The 2022 Audacious Annual Expedition was a space for connection, reflection, and community. We’ve received positive feedback from the team and are immensely thankful for the openness, bravery, and courage shown by all who attended.

In the spirit of preparing for the 2023 Annual Expedition, we asked the 2022 Expedition team what they would say to someone interested in joining in 2023. Here are a few words of wisdom:

•  – “It’s never too early to start packing or preparing, go in with an open mind and open heart. It’s ok to be nervous, it’s completely normal and human!”
•  – “Breaking your routine and discomfort are a part of the experience – be open and learn.”
•  – “Just let it happen how it is going to happen. Bring more snacks.”
•  – “It’s worth it.”