"The cold does its work without talking"
Tim Voors, 53, founder of the ‘School of Dreams’ & author of 6 international bestsellers
It's minus two degrees. No tent, just a warm sleeping bag, a mat and a hot water bottle beneath the trees. Tim Voors, founder of School of Dreams and writer, looks around at the group of 10 people that he has brought along for 24 hours in the woods on a so called ‘24 hour Offfff line.
"The cold does its work without saying a word," Voors says. "Whether you're sixteen or seventy-six; sleeping in minus two degrees has a magical impact on everyone, it just works differently for each person. Sleeping under the stars is amazing."
Voors has believed in the power of walking in nature and sleeping under the stars outdoors for years, not as a nice extra, but as a method. ‘‘Walking with groups for 24 hours out in nature creates a safe space”’, he explains. People tend to feel safer sharing their thoughts and emotions outdoors with strangers, and when you're walking side by side, you don't have to look at each other while you talk. "It's just like when you have the best conversations during long road trips."
His approach is simple: take everything away; phones, time, comfort, and your familiar bubble of friends and family. Participants are asked to hand in their phones for 24 hours. There is no clock, no taking photos and no quickly looking something up. Just yourself, the group, fire and the elements. "That can be quite confronting," Voors says. "We're all addicted to comfort and distraction. What remains is something he sees again and again: people discovering that they can handle more than they thought. A cold night under the stars becomes a small victory. "And let's be honest," he says, "insecurity is often at the root of a lot of personal struggles. When someone discovers they can get through a night at minus two degrees without a tent, they look at themselves differently afterwards."
One of his favourite formats brings that idea to life. Participants camp without a tent, in the cold, with only what they can make themselves: a fire, a shelter and a warm meal. They also write a letter that begins, "Dear Mom, if you're reading this, I'm no longer here." It is an exercise by Special Forces soldiers before going on a mission. It sounds intense, but Voors says the effect is surprisingly liberating. It puts things into perspective and invites them to write down what is really important to them and their loved ones, while reminding them that they are part of something much bigger than themselves.
That sense of being part of something bigger is what Voors ultimately hopes people take away from spending time outdoors. "Everything is connected and constantly changing. The seasons are always moving from one to the next, and so are we. Continuously in motion; evolving, adaption, in perpetual change. It’s nice to discover that change is okay. There's no point trying to hold on to everything to prevent things from changing. Nature teaches us that, if we spend more time walking and sleeping out in it." For Voors, this feels particularly relevant today. We've become increasingly attached to screens, comfort, safety and predictability.” he says, and sometimes people simply need a little push to step outside. To embrace the discomfort, and grow to love what it brings. He compares it to how kids used to grow up 100 years ago. "Off you go, out to play. Dinner's ready at six, and I don't want to see you before then." Mom would say.
At the same time, he is wary of taking the idea of outdoor learning too seriously. Too many pretentious and vague "find yourself" exercises can make young people switch off rather than connect with nature. The experience should leave room for humour, spontaneity and simply having a good time. "We shouldn't all become too serious outdoors," he says. "There's got to be room for keeping things light, perhaps even more so for older people than for young people."
The following morning, the group gathers around the fire to reflect on the 24 hours in nature together. The long walk, fresh swims, cooking over the fire and sleeping out in the freezing cold has clearly made an impact on everyone. Not because of some carefully designed exercise or deep conversation, but because the cold has done its work. The cold and nature are humbling. The trail provides. Not always what we had hoped or expected, but the trail provides. Always.
Tim is the founder of School of Dreams and the author of six international bestsellers about long-distance hiking, including The Great Alone about his walk along the Pacific Crest Trail. Find his books and upcoming adventures on timvoors.com , or connect with him on LinkedIn.