Surrender-Adventure
Treks n' Workshops in the Wild
for soulful seekers
Bringing the experience of El Camino de Santiago to the Wilds of British Columbia.
Welcome Fellow Soul Seekers n’ Wild Wanderers (or Wannabes) … Thrilled you’re here.
We launched these Surrender Adventure Treks in the Summer of 2023 and had a few remarkable experiences indeed. Due to permitting issues for each park, unfortunately we can’t just wander free.
As such, we’re finding other ways to adventure. We’ll be hosting A Wild Wander Within online workshop in 2024 and will sprinkle in Meet Ups for in-person Wanders. Please scroll through the idea and experience and if you feel a tingle of “Ahhhh these could be my people” and “Ohhhh I can’t wait to Wander” then please sign up for our newsletter to keep you in the know.
Look forward to meeting you on The Way. 🙂
~ Jennifer
What if we didn’t need to fly away to another part of the world to retreat, find solace and discover magnificence?
What if all the transformational experiences of a soulful pilgrimage could take place right here, now?
What if The Way isn’t really about a Place but a Perspective - a space created wherever, whenever, we wander intent on exploring and expanding ourselves?
Amazing how we often imagine that somewhere else is extraordinary, although we live and breathe in a part of the world that’s wondrous, where others long to be.
Are you looking for an opportunity (excuse) to tap some solo ‘me’ time in nature?
Do you long, like us, to align yourself with fellow soulful seekers, and build genuine relationships through authentic connection?
Are you craving more moments of bliss and laughter in your life?
What if all the transformational experiences of a soulful pilgrimage could take place right here, now?
Good gawd doesn’t that all sound, mind-blowingly delightful? “Sign Me Up”, right?
Across 233 kms of rolling, open, forested, ancient, wild space along El Camino de Santiago in northern Spain, I fell in love with the road.
The freedom, peace and the deep and giggling joy it evoked. I skipped passionately into rapture with The Way, not just along the path but with what was stirring from within.
Walking solo, I had time to listen. In each town I had the opportunity to connect with other wanderers and share stories and lessons of The Way.
I emerged transformed, reconnected with the wide-eyed dreamer I’d been as a girl and the imaginative, capable woman I’d fallen in love with through my years.
All along my travels, I kept thinking, two things.
- As I trekked across beautiful landscapes and felt the pulse of life within drawn to the surface in the wandering …
How do I bring this experience home to the trails and treks of B.C.? - As I met dynamic, curious, soulful fellow pilgrims in towns as I travelled, instantly diving into real and spirit-soaring convos …
How could I leverage all I’ve learned through my years facilitating workshops and developing community projects, to now serve who I know to be ‘my people’ and build authentic, vibrant community?
We’re not looking for grand sweeping promotion to conjure vast numbers, but a few kindreds and seeing how we grow, authentically and expand brilliantly, together. We’re looking for those comfortable and longing for solo time for reflection as they walk and hike and, in the pauses between and at the end of the trail, are jazzed by the deeper dives in contemplation, conversation and connection with others to discuss how we can take what we glean into our daily lives.
Are you at a crossroads? Making inroads? Looking to live from a more centred, soulful place?
Do you want to build a team of confidantes and cheerleaders? Do you want to be one for others?
Does the idea of leaving drama and fear at the door and heading for the path of trust leave you woozy with hope and anticipation?
The key to transformation on The Way, was this …
Consciously setting the course, leaving room for guidance from within and ultimately surrendering to the adventure knowing every … single … thing … that you encounter happens, not to you, but for you.
If this speaks to you, then have we got a wandering n’ waking opportunity for you.
Reflections on our Wander n' Workshop in the Wilds of BC
Although there are other opportunities for connection and community, it is rare to witness something extraordinary, such as Jennifer Maki's, Surrender-Adventure, this past weekend. I feel without a doubt her workshop that, "Brings the Experience of El Camino de Santiago to the Wilds of British Columbia", will have a powerful and life-transforming impact on all who participate. I was fortunate to attend her first event and cannot possibly share enough about how it has already caused another level of awareness in my life.
I have been dealing with alot of anxiety, this adventure brought me so much peace, awareness of our beautiful parks, and my heart is full and my pain has subsided.
Having this time with Jen and the group was the closest to being in Spain with her. I loved the exchange of our groups' experiences.
Wonderful connections - both with nature and other like-minded people!
Here was the Initial Idea - Now to be Reborn at another time and flow in the Future ...
Surrender-Adventure Treks – Wanders and Workshops in the Wild
The What:
- Regular walks, hikes and mini workshops in the wilds of BC.
- Wandering is done solo with staggered starts, to offer the freedom to BE solo, communing with self and nature.
- Kindred community connection with an initial welcome at the start and workshop in the wild at the end.
- All the support you need. We set the course, give you a map, provide markers along The Way, so you wander with ease – giving space for that listening bit.
- Tidbits of inspiration and learning:
- Opening meditation to set the tone.
- Stretching and Qigong-esque flow at the end.
- A Surrender-Adventure Booklet to record reflections.
- Natural group discussions and time for building relationships with others.
- And there will be other wee activities day-of to engage and delight, but what’s life without a few surprises?
- All levels of abilities are welcome, but we will need to walk the trails and there are often hills or stairs, so we recommend that you are in good physical shape.
- *If you have a disability of any kind and need support or want to discuss a walk designed for you and others, I’ll be thrilled to discuss. You can reach me at jennifer@jennifermaki.com anytime! Just for perspective, I once ran a camp for Easter Seals’ kids and their families (and was Director of Communications at their head office) and worked diligently to find places where those of all abilities could participate and connect. If there is interest here, we will make it happen!
- Please note – * this ‘pilgrimage’ of sorts, while spiritual in nature, is nondenominational. We welcome all faiths and honour all paths to love and celebrate diversity and inclusion without question.
What You Receive:
- A Surrender-Adventure Trek Checklist with all you need to know and bring.
- A Surrender-Adventure Booklet for our Workshop in the Wild – with space to record insights, ideas and intentions.
- Day-of, you will have a map and guiding markers to follow.
What you Need to Bring:
- A burning desire to wander in nature and openness to connect with soulful seekers.
- A healthy lunch and water.
- The full details of the small things you will bring to be included in your Surrender-Adventure Trek Checklist.
The Where:
- To Be Determined at some point in the future.
The Times/Dates:
- Our events were – Weekend and Weekday Times are 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
The Contribution:
- We’re doing our best to the keep the costs super low to ensure all who want to participate certainly can. The regular price per person is $55 for the 4-hour Wander n’ Workshop in the Wild. Early Bird special is $33 if you’ve PAID 6 days prior to event date.
Additional Details:
- All participants will be responsible for arriving on site at the selected time. Full travel and parking instructions will be provided.
- We will select walks, hikes, and trails to suit the needs of the group moving forward, and gauge those selections based on the interests and abilities of all, as best we can.
- We are not tackling difficult terrain and will be gently wandering, but there will be inclines and stairs and you should be in good physical condition. We will also have a first aid kit onsite, just in case. It may go without saying, but of course you will be responsible for your own safety on the trail and will need to sign a waiver to participate. Thank you for understanding. Your safety is essential to us.
In this wildly busy world of ours, time does not stand still … but we can.
If we do not carve out moments for self-connection and reflection and consciously build relationships with like-spirited people, then we’re at the whim of what comes directly to our own door. This can be beautiful … but stepping out into the forest, together, is better.
And, as this biz is actually, and in full, called … Surrender-Adventure Treks and Trips, the ultimate goal as we build community is to launch out into the world together and wander elsewhere. For now, we walk, perhaps tomorrow, we soar. 😊
Looking forward to connecting on The Way! ~ Jennifer
Your Wander n’ Workshop-Guide on The Wild Way
Jennifer Maki has been a seeker from the start. As a child growing up on a 20-acre farmstead, she learned to roam and commune with fellow creatures. This is where that wise, innate voice within began to whisper. She listened and followed. Her communing turned curiosity and toward a career in sussing out human behaviour and specializing in how we communicate to build relationships, enhance our service in the world and create a life worth living.
After university her gypsy-self led her abroad to live and work in Grand Cayman, San Diego, Austria and finally home to Canada. What she gleaned, from her career pursuits, but particularly from volunteering with hospice patients, and working with children with disabilities, and their families, shaped the trajectory of her personal and professional journey. These extraordinary beings taught her about the tenacity and tenderness of the human spirit, what deeply matters when faced with the realization of life’s end, and the pure joy that can still be found and brilliantly lived when one aligns their values with their conscious actions. All this, instilled in her a deep gratitude for life and, inspired her to not only launch her business Center of YES! Inc, now Project YES! Life, but spurred her decision to ‘Lifeschool’ her children and launch The Mad Hero Project alongside her husband and two boys.
Jennifer weaves her experience into customized, interactive workshops, keynote talks and writings to ignite self-awareness and collective action. She had the unique and profound opportunity to create the first personal development workshops for Calgary Health Region (CHR), available for over 20,000 employees and returned as keynote speaker for Alberta Health Services (AHS) Provincial Conference. Her clients have also included CHR neo-natal nurses and the Dental Assistant Association, Deloitte and Touche, University of Calgary, the YWCA, CDI College, Everest College, Highbanks Society – residence and support for single mothers, Lakehead Board and Calgary Board of Education, Anderson College, as well as a host of spectacular entrepreneurs.
“My listening of late took me to the shores of southern Spain, to the quaint villages of Galicia in northern Spain and 233 kilometres across El Camino de Santiago – Sarria to Santiago and on to Muxia and Finnisterre and the end of the earth. I called it my Surrender Adventure, planning the topline details and leaving room for inspiration to lead. Along this transformational trek I rekindled my love with the wandering, reattuned to that Voice that gets muddled in the busy, rekindled my connection to self and my hope in the collective and wanted to find a way to bring The Way home … to you, for us all.”
Wanna wander together and be dazzled by whatever comes of it all?
Me too.
To read more about Jennifer’s adventures on El Camino (and beyond), you can connect with her The Way blog. If you want more details on Jennifer you can visit www.jennifermaki.com / https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermmaki/
I Wanna Wander ... SIGN ME UP
Events dates have been put on hold but we’d love to have you connect with our Wild Wanderers – Wisdom for The Way Newsletter!
More Events n’ Opportunities to Adventure together coming soon!
~ Jennifer