Gaming the New Masculinity
October 14th 3PM - 16th 3PM

Competition and Self Mastery: Empathetic Winning
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Does your inner fire light up whenever winning is on the line? This reaction is an evolutionary response that has helped us as humans to survive and adapt over thousands of years. In 1980 20% of work was done in teams. By 2010 that figure had risen to 80%. As we work together more and more across cultural divides, empathy has become critical to build and maintain successful and productive teams. Can empathy and competitive spirit thrive hand in hand? We believe that not only is this possible, it is critical for the continued success of a group or a team. As businesses shift their vision to longer term sustainability, leaders who can help build and participate in healthy groups become more and more attractive.
Join us as we explore traditional examples of masculinity across cultures. Through ceremony, game, and sport we will explore our tough competitive natures and learn how to build supple strength while practicing empathy. This journey will explore our masculine side, yet attendance is not limited to men.

Activities

Through traditional Cherokee sweat lodge and lacrosse, wilderness skills, and other games such as capture the flag, ultimate frisbee, cards and billiards, we will explore what it means to be a successful man in our modern intercultural society.

What you'll learn

Participants will come away with a deeper understanding of how to productively channel their competitive nature when working in groups. They will also learn traditional and modern tools to express masculinity. Finally they will take home tools for compassionate communication and teambuilding.

Facilitators

Zachary Towne-Smith is the second of five brothers (and a sister!). He has a varsity letter for soccer at Harvard and started a Capoeira School in Guatemala. His competitive spirit is intense, though he's learned ways to engage it while maintaining healthy relationships with his teammates, as well as those he's competing against. Through Caracol Consulting he facilitates individual and group creativity through interactive tools and processes, working with teams of leaders from rural dirt-floored schoolrooms to shiny corporate board rooms. Together with his wife and her parents he is building Seven Springs, and is a founding member of the Kula Collective.
Yona FrenchHawk grew up in the Cherokee homeland, learning the traditions through his father of the Bear Clan and his mother of the Eagle Clan. He has dedicated his life to sharing the ancestral teachings and sharing their relevance. As a drummer, singer, story teller and spiritual guide he’s travelled far and wide bringing his vision where he’s called and in his own words, “just showing up.” He's also an accomplished point guard and sportsman, always happy to play a game.

Pricing & Registration

BYO Camping - $250 us*
Shared Yurt - $300 us*
Single Yurt - $400 us*

Package Includes: 
Accommodations, Gourmet Meals, Cherokee Sweat Lodge, Camp FIres

To Pay by Credit Card: Register Here
To Pay by Check:Make Check payable to Zachary Towne-Smith
Mail Check to 120 Sweet Hollow Way - Maryville, TN 37803
To Pay by PayPal:Check "sending money to friends and family" and send payment to [email protected]

​*Additional 5% processing fee for Credit Card Payments Only