Corporate Retreat Without Internet

As a business owner or human resources director, have you ever considered that, to increase productivity, your employees may need to disconnect to connect? Think about it: What does the constant dinging of emails and text messages, the repeated internet searches, the tapping of keyboards, the iPad-smartphone-Kindle-tablet treadmill do to a person’s brain before it hits overload?

No one can doubt the efficiency and usefulness of modern technology, but studies have shown that workers perform best when they feel they are valued as humans, when they connect with other people, not just with machines. If your business depends on technology, that’s all the more reason to consider rewarding your employees with an experience designed to renew and recharge their brains and spirits.

That’s where we come in. We offer once-in-a-lifetime corporate retreats in the wilderness of Yosemite National Park — a chance to see the iconic park as famed naturalist John Muir did in the 19th century. Conducting hundreds of tours has taught us that it generally takes a person two days to disconnect from technology and truly appreciate what nature — and taking in the magnificent Milky Way in such an awesome setting — have to offer.

The adventure builds an incredible camaraderie among participants, as talking around the campfire or in provided tents lends itself to sharing and honesty rarely found in the workplace. Participants don’t have to be skilled athletes to enjoy our Yosemite retreat. We gear our hikes to the level of our guests, with a minimum ability to hike and carry a filled backpack required.

This isn’t your grandmother’s team-building expedition. It involves more soul-searching and ultimately connecting, with the natural world and with co-workers, than a stay at a luxury resort or bungee jumping in Brazil or hitting Austin’s hot spots.

You’ll get more out of your work force if you give them back something technology, with all its advantages, has taken from them. Just saying.