When you start to see your world as something more in line as a tool and an obstacle to interact with, play with, you’re going to take that lesson and look at other obstacles in your life. Your relationships, your job, your work, your health even. All these things are going to be so strongly ultimately affected by this tiny little change of yourself and your city.
~ Caitlin Pontrella
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Risk gives you choice, and it gives you opportunity to explore and challenge yourself. Risk is a choice, and you have to learn how to negotiate acceptable and unacceptable risks in our lives. Play is a very safe space to learn how to do that.
~ Caitlin Pontrella
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I keep trying to rearrange my efforts so I can spend more time re-experiencing the hundreds of terrific conversations I’ve experienced. Every single time I manage to find time to go back in, I find something wonderful. That quote is from episode 4 of the Movers Mindset podcast—it wasn’t even called that back then. It was a wonderful, chaotic, ramble of a conversation long before I realized the magic of conversation.
I keep thinking: Have great conversations and get them recorded. Get those conversations recorded so they can be heard by others is the most important part. I have a million other ideas about how to extract meaning, share the best parts, find threads and themes that run across large scales of people and times and …
My hope is that if I simply keep having great conversations, everything else will take care of itself.
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Risk gives you choice, and it gives you opportunity to explore and challenge yourself. Risk is a choice, and you have to learn how to negotiate acceptable and unacceptable risks in our lives. Play is a very safe space to learn how to do that.
slip:4a818.
On Castbox.fm — Adam McClellan, Caitlin Pontrella, & Alan Tran | Art of Retreat 2019 Recap
How can events like retreats foster personal growth, collaboration, and community-building in specialized fields?
Discover how open schedules and shared creative spaces redefine the meaning of collaboration and innovation at events.
Something new that we did this year was open schedule […] an open forum where anyone could add a session or workshop or something informal, to the schedule during our blocks of open time, which was really well received.
~ Caitlin Pontrella (0:54)
This discussion revolves around the role of retreats in fostering personal growth, community-building, and collaboration. Adam, Caitlin and Alan describe the unique atmosphere of the retreat, emphasizing the importance of an open schedule that allows participants to contribute sessions spontaneously. This format lowers barriers to participation, inspiring individuals to step into leadership roles and share their expertise. Additionally, the conversation highlights the retreat’s design, which fosters vulnerability, connection, and a sense of belonging through shared meals, cozy settings, and creative activities.
The group also explores the challenges and opportunities of organizing international retreats. Topics include reducing economic barriers for attendees, creating cross-cultural connections, and leveraging sponsorships to enhance inclusivity. They stress the significance of helping participants take the retreat’s transformative energy back to their local communities, translating it into actionable insights and long-lasting impact. A key theme is the interplay between deliberate planning and organic participant-driven creation, which collectively define the retreat’s unique success.
Takeaways
Creating space for spontaneous sessions — This fosters inclusivity and encourages new voices to emerge as potential future leaders.
The role of environment — A retreat’s physical setting significantly contributes to its emotional and social impact, enhancing connection and memory.
Barriers to accessibility — Efforts to reduce economic, geographic, and social barriers ensure more diverse participation.
The power of shared meals — Communal meals are designed to build intimacy and create a warm, homelike atmosphere.
Cultural exchange in international retreats — Cross-cultural understanding and shared learnings enhance the global community’s impact.
Emphasis on personal agency — Participants are encouraged to take ownership of their experience, tailoring it to their needs.
Connection beyond the retreat — A focus on enabling participants to take back ideas, skills, and inspiration to their communities.
The hero’s journey framework — The retreat experience is framed as a journey of personal growth and transformation.
Resources
Art of Retreat — Official website for the retreat, offering event details and registration.
Parkour Visions — A partner organization supporting the retreat.
Parkour Generations Americas — A key partner in organizing and supporting the event.
Zen Planner — A sponsor providing resources for event management.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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On Castbox.fm — Adam McClellan, Caitlin Pontrella, & Alan Tran | Art of Retreat
What makes Art of Retreat a transformative experience for community leaders and organizers?
Leaders gather to exchange ideas, solve problems, and shape the future of Parkour communities.
It’s been kind of special to wake up in the morning and have it be peaceful and quiet and more nature oriented. And I think that’s changed the vibe in a certain way which has been pretty valuable.
~ Adam McClellan (0:37)
Art of Retreat, held in the Cascade Mountains, brings together leaders, educators, and organizers to foster collaboration and growth in the Parkour community. The setting contrasts with previous urban locations, providing a peaceful and cohesive environment for attendees to engage deeply with one another. A significant focus of the event is creating a space for problem-solving, leadership development, and community building, with sessions addressing topics like business practices, sports psychology, and story branding.
When I think about stand-out experiences from the weekend, honestly, it was— …while the talks, obviously, are the key elements, the things that really resonated with me were the things beyond that: The community building, and getting a sense of group-making and cohesion.
~ Caitlin Pontrella (2:52)
Attendees value the social aspects and shared experiences beyond the formal talks, such as night missions, treasure hunts, and cabin activities. The organizers emphasize the importance of a diverse speaker lineup, often through an application process, ensuring a wide range of voices and perspectives. Challenges like travel logistics and expanding the event’s duration are under consideration to enhance the experience further. The event continues to grow in geographic reach and influence, drawing participants from international locations and various parts of North America.
Takeaways
The impact of location — A shift to the Cascade Mountains enhances cohesion and creates a peaceful, reflective environment.
Cohesion and connection — The retreat format allows for deeper group bonding and social interaction beyond formal sessions.
Community-focused programming — The event emphasizes leadership, education, and business aspects of Parkour, filling gaps left by other events focused solely on physical practice.
Diversity of voices — A mix of invited speakers and open applications ensures a broad range of perspectives and expertise.
Importance of informal moments — Activities like treasure hunts, night missions, and shared meals foster community and collaboration.
Expanding reach — The conference attracts attendees from across North America and internationally, reflecting its growing influence.
Future improvements — Plans include addressing travel logistics, adding additional days for decompression, and increasing focus on leadership and team-building topics.
Event co-creation — Volunteers, sponsors, and venue staff play crucial roles in the event’s success, highlighting the collaborative nature of the retreat.
Resources
Parkour Visions — A supporting organization that contributed to the event’s success and logistics.
Firestorm Freerunning — Sponsored the event and provided community support.
Axiom Parkour — Partner organization contributing to workshops and sessions.
YMCA Camp Lake Wenatchee — The venue for the retreat, providing a scenic and well-maintained environment for the conference.
Movers Mindset — Craig’s platform involved in recording and sharing content from the retreat.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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What steps can be taken to normalize play and movement for adults in public spaces?
Caitlin Pontrella discusses the Movement Creative, explaining its goals and vision beyond simply teaching parkour. She unpacks her thoughts on the concept of play, how it relates to parkour, and the benefits of both play and risk. Caitlin wraps up by sharing her insights into starting new projects and how to involve your community.
Risk gives you choice, and it gives you opportunity to explore and challenge yourself.
~ Caitlin Pontrella (5:17)
The conversation centers on the concept of normalizing play for adults and making public spaces more engaging. Caitlin Pontrella discusses her work with the Movement Creative, a social enterprise aimed at fostering creativity, movement, and education. Projects like “movement snacks” provide subtle invitations for play in public spaces, aiming to remove the stigma associated with adult play while promoting accessibility and inclusivity. This shift can lead to a cultural transformation, encouraging adults to view movement as a natural, joyful part of life.
Topics also include the importance of risk in play, the concept of Parkour vision, and how it changes perceptions of urban environments. Caitlin emphasizes the value of partnerships and community engagement when implementing ideas to enhance public spaces. She shares examples of playful initiatives, such as “mice on Main,” which successfully create a sense of wonder and interaction within cities. The conversation underscores the transformative potential of play and movement to enrich personal and communal experiences.
Takeaways
Creating playful invitations in public spaces — Movement snacks subtly encourage people to interact with their environment and rediscover the joy of play.
Normalizing adult play — By modeling playful behavior in public, adults can give others implicit permission to participate.
Balancing perceptions of risk — Understanding that risk is a choice and part of growth can reshape how communities design play-friendly spaces.
Reimagining urban spaces — Concepts like Parkour vision help people view cities as opportunities for exploration and self-expression.
Engaging communities — Collaborating with local groups and governments is crucial for implementing playful, impactful public initiatives.
Play as a universal language — Movement and play transcend cultural and social barriers, fostering connection and belonging.
Small projects, big impact — Low-budget initiatives, like scavenger hunts or playful signage, can inspire significant community engagement.
Shifting cultural mindsets — Encouraging creativity and play challenges the competitive, achievement-driven focus of modern life.
Resources
The Movement Creative — A social enterprise promoting movement, education, and design through playful initiatives.
Love Where You Live by Peter Kageyama — A book about using play to activate and engage communities.
Mice on Main — A playful public art project in Greenville, South Carolina, encouraging exploration and interaction.
Walk Your City — A project using signage to promote walking and community engagement.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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