AGILE LEADERSHIP SURF CAMP
Bahia Ballena, Costa Rica
A one-week transformational experience for people who want to more deeply embody agility and grow their capacity to lead more powerfully and authentically.
April 5-11, 2025
Enrollment now open. Spots are limited.
Scroll down for details.
Surfing is a powerful access point to greater embodiment of Agile Leadership.
If your first reaction is OMG, I don't know how to surf, keep reading. It will all make sense ;-)
I know that you know it is impossible to control or perfectly plan in complex environments where we face ambiguity, unpredictability, and change. And yet, we also still feel this internal and external pressure to do exactly that.
When we learn to ride the waves instead of trying to control the ocean, we become more present, connected, adaptive, innovative, and resilient for the sake of leading more powerfully in all aspects of our lives.
This is much more than a catchy phrase for a motivational poster - people (including me!) have been living it, and I want you to experience this too. So we can have more people out there influencing positive change and creating more impact - all while feeling less stress and overwhelm in the process.
Agile Leadership Surf Camp is a UNIQUE transformational experience focused on growing your leadership CAPACITY.
When we grow our leadership capacity, strengthen key leadership qualities that help us be more effective with leveraging skills and tools. We also discover our ability to feel more ease and confidence as we navigate challenging situations, turn failure into learning, and collaboratively solve complex problems.
During the week, we will weave and integrate leadership and agility as you participate in:
- surf lessons,
- yoga classes, and
- guided workshops and conversations
Things you DO NOT need to get the full benefits:
- experience with surfing (we teach you!)
- experience with yoga or flexibility
- any specific athleticism or fitness level
Certified and highly experienced instructors will teach and guide you (the very same ones who taught this Ohio girls years ago). And this learning process is where the magic happens.
We all need space to reconnect to what’s important, reflect, integrate new insights, and look forward with new clarity.
Unlike what you have experienced in a traditional classroom or online workshop setting...
This is a unique and powerful Agile Socks™ Leadership Experience. You don't leave with a list of things you need to change - you go home changed.
When I say AGILE, I mean the true essence of agility
ADAPTIVE & CREATIVE
NIMBLE & RESILIENT
OPENNESS & CURIOSITY
SENSING & RESPONDING
EXPERIMENTING & INCORPORATING LEARNING
This experience is NOT about any specific agile frameworks or tools. It’s about the true essence of agility.
When I say leadership, it's not about a job title or position
Leadership is a relationship-driven process of connecting to what matters, envisioning what could be, and taking action to bring that vision to life.
Who This Is For
--> anyone in a traditional agile role like Scrum Master, Agile Coach, Agile Team Member, Agile Leader
--> anyone who knows that agility is essential to navigate complexity and uncertainty in their domain/ industry
Agile Leadership Surf Camp is going to be fun, challenging, and most of all, transformative.
A breath of fresh air for your mind, body, and heart... you know, your full body intelligence.
You will experience:
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Immersion in Nature & Embodied Learning - Step out of your regular routine, immerse yourself in nature, and use your body to learn new skills. This will open you up to new possibilities and perspectives while nourishing and re-energizing your mind, body, and heart.
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Meaning, Vision & Aligned Action - Grow your capacity to connect to what matters, imagine what is possible, and take aligned action to bring that vision to life.
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7 Essential Leadership Qualities - Explore and cultivate essential qualities for powerful leadership: presence, awareness, connection, curiosity, courage, adaptiveness, and resilience.
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Practices to Lead More Powerfully & Authentically - Deepen awareness of ingrained beliefs and patterns that may be holding you back and limiting your perspective. Then you can start to disrupt those patterns and create new beliefs and habits that help you cultivate openness, curiosity, and a commitment to learning (rather than winning or being right).
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Get Off the Hamster Wheel - Discover deeper levels of embodying agility that help you more easily recognize when old patterns of control, perfectionism, judgment, scarcity, and competition are showing up - in yourself, in relationships, and in larger systems.
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Navigating Challenging Situations & Strong Emotions - Feel more confidence and ease in your ability to navigate strong emotions and challenging situations while finding beauty, joy, and fulfillment along the way.
If this sounds like the experience you're looking for, join me in Costa Rica the week of April 5, 2025.
We have space for 10 people.
Your Investment: $4250
Get on the interest list for details and next steps. We only have spots for 10 people total.
WHERE WE WILL BE
Bahia Ballena is a small town on the Pacific Coast in the Southern Zone of Costa Rica. It’s the only place in the country where you have the beach and the mountains together. There are no big resorts here, unlike in other parts of Costa Rica.
The private Lodge is a 15-minute walk from the Marino Ballena National Park, which is also where surf lessons are held.
The landscape is dramatic and stunning; this is where the jungle meets the sea.
Marino Ballena translates to “Whale Bay” not only due to the migrating whales passing through, but also the natural whale tail-shaped sandbar formation.
The Lodge has been operating for more than 10 years and is a certified B-Corporation. The property reflects their vision of simplicity and environmental consciousness, and they create a relaxed vibe in a quaint setting.
- All rooms have a private bathroom.
- Some rooms have a mini-fridge or small kitchen; all other rooms have access to a shared kitchen. Since most meals are already included, you likely won’t need or want to use a kitchen anyway ;-)
- There is a mix of single and shared room options available.
What Is Included
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Lodging - 1 night in San Jose when you arrive, 5 nights at the private Lodge in Bahia Ballena
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Hotel in San Jose provides transport from the airport when you arrive
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Private group shuttle transfer from San Jose to Bahia Ballena and return to San Jose
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5 Surf Lessons
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5 Yoga Classes
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Cultural Walk with local guide
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All breakfasts, all lunches, and some dinners Monday through Friday are included - we also want to give you a couple of opportunities to explore the local restaurants on your own :-)
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Includes Costa Rica's 13% Value Added Tax (VAT)
What the Week Looks Like
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Saturday - Arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica and stay at a quirky hotel
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Sunday - Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then take a private shuttle to Bahia Ballena (4-hour drive). You will have time to get settled in at the Lodge, get an introduction to the community, and enjoy our first group dinner.
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Monday through Friday - Daily surf lessons and yoga classes and communal meals. In-between, we will have short workshops & guided conversations to grow our leadership capacity and put our learning into practice using real-world challenges.
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Friday - In the evening, a private group shuttle takes you back to San Jose.
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Saturday - You can book your flight to leave anytime. Of course, you can also keep exploring Costa Rica if you desire. San Jose provides a central starting point to choose a different part of the country to explore.
The daily yoga and surf lessons were a game-changer. They helped me tap into the present moment and develop a deeper connection with myself, others, and the world around me. I brought that newfound presence and awareness back into my everyday life, making sure I was nourishing my relationships and taking care of myself.
Learning to surf was an absolute blast! Not only did it push me out of my comfort zone, but it also taught me valuable lessons about self-confidence, courage, and trust in my abilities. I found myself making more authentic choices in my own life, aligning with my values and aspirations.
It's not just a retreat, it's a life-changing experience filled with joy, growth, and unforgettable memories. Trust me, you won't regret it!
This is not for you if....
- You do not embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- You prefer to focus your time and energy on learning the latest agile practices and techniques and earning certifications.
- You want to debate which agile framework/ practice/ tool is the “best”.
Your Investment: $4250
Get on the interest list for details and next steps. We only have spots for 10 people total.
How does a week of leadership growth in paradise sound?
Surfing + Yoga + Leadership + Jungle Vibes
We believe small is beautiful, so we only have space for 10 people.
What Customers Say about the Surf & Yoga Lodge
This place is really special. Excellent surf instructors. Rejuvenating yoga. The hospitality is next level... I went for one week and my biggest regret is not staying for a second week. I can’t wait to go back.
I was excited about surf and yoga but found so much more. The attention to detail, beautiful surroundings, energy, positive attitudes, acceptance, personalized instruction, sincere interest, community, caring staff, inspiration, nurturing, sense of accomplishment and belonging, and just plain fun...
The location and food are beyond stellar but what stood out the most are the people at the Lodge. Everyone was so warm, welcoming, and knowledgeable.
WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN YOU LEARN TO RIDE THE WAVES
- 🌊 Start to naturally integrate experimentation, learning, and adaptation into everything you do.
- 🌊 Become more embodied, which is like expanding your antennae to sense more information of what is going on within you and around you. And then you can use that information to better sense what is wanting to emerge and be more intentional in aligning your actions with our intentions.
🌊 Notice changing conditions sooner and gain more comfort and confidence in your ability to navigate change and complexity - 🌊 More easily recognize when old patterns of control, perfectionism, judgment, scarcity, and competition are showing up - in yourself, in relationships, and in larger systems.
- 🌊 Sense when it is time to act on your leadership urges with more clarity.
- 🌊 Improve your ability to self-regulate when you feel stress, overwhelm, or uncertainty.
- 🌊 Grow both your courage and your resilience.
- 🌊 Navigate strong emotions, conflict, and challenging situations more effectively.
- 🌊 Discover the ability to source your security, worthiness, approval, and fulfillment from within and take greater responsibility for creating your reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my experience with surfing and/or yoga matter?
Nope. Not at all. Success in this program has nothing to do with your physical fitness or how frequently you go to the gym. Success is not defined by how many times you can stand up on a wave either.
My co-leaders who run the surf lessons and yoga classes are experts in their disciplines. They have been teaching people of all experience levels for more than a decade and always prioritize safety and belonging. They will meet you where you are - whether this is your first time or if you are an advancing practitioner. Wherever you are, you will get what you need from this experience.
Our local beach Playa Chaman in the Marino Ballena National Park is a very safe beach to surf, which is one of the reasons it is such an optimal spot to learn. While surfing has its risks, many of these risks can be minimized by having ocean awareness, surfboard management skills, and surf safety knowledge - all of which we go over in our surf lessons.
What level of physical fitness is required?
Any level is just fine - we promise :-) We meet people where they are.
Success in this program has nothing to do with your physical fitness or how frequently you go to the gym. Success is not defined by how many times you can stand up on a wave either.
If you have concerns about your current health or want to discuss any injuries or physical limitations, we are happy to discuss the specifics so that you are comfortable that we've got you covered.
What if I don't have previous yoga experience or am not very flexible?
That's no problem! We love it when we are the first to introduce our students into the world of yoga. And classes are both personalized to the students and multi-level, which means that there are different variations of many poses depending on students' experience, flexibility, and level.
What is the food like? What if I have dietary restrictions?
The food at the Lodge aims be nutritious, healthy, locally-sourced, fresh, and delicious. And we are able to cater to specific dietary restrictions such as vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, nut-free, etc.
Is Costa Rica LGBTQ+ friendly?
While Costa Rica is still a fairly conservative and religious culture, due to the amount of visitors it receives, it has progressed a great deal in this respect in the past 20 years. Nowadays, it is a very popular destination with travelers of all genders and sexual identities. Our area happily welcomes travelers of all kinds with open arms. At the Lodge, we practice "radical inclusion" and ensure that we are accessible and welcoming to all.
Are there accommodations for individuals with specific needs?
We are dedicated to ensuring a comfortable and accessible experience for all participants. If you have specific needs or require accommodations, please don't hesitate to reach out and ask: stephanie (at) agilesocks (dot) com.
I have a lot of questions about travel planning....
Of course you do! You will be getting all the travel details you need like logistics, what to pack, what to expect, etc. in a series of emails leading up to the event. And if you need to talk about these details before putting down a deposit, I totally understand. I’m a planner too! I’m happy to chat more about these details on a call.
For now, your most pressing question is likely when to book flights. Plan to arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica on Saturday. The hotel you stay at allows check-in by 3pm, and they will provide shuttle transfer from the airport to the hotel. Even if your room isn’t ready when you arrive, there is an onsite pool and restaurant to relax while you wait. The private group shuttle will pick you up at the hotel Sunday around 9am to get you to Bahia Ballena.
For your return on Friday, the private group shuttle will leave at 3:30pm to transport you back to San Jose. We recommend that you spend that Friday night at the same hotel as when you first arrived (we will provide a promo code to receive a discount if you choose to do so). Your return flight home can be for any time the following Saturday.
Should I consider this professional development?
100% This is an agile leadership development event. And we just happen to be using surfing and yoga as tools.
I encourage you to request professional development funds your employer makes available to you. And I am happy to share strategies on how to do that.
What are the payment plan options?
The standard payment structure is a 50% deposit to hold your spot, and the remaining balance due by February 10.
We also offer the option of incremental monthly payments to help meet budgeting needs (e.g. four monthly payments of $1,062.50). And we never charge extra for payment plans - you still pay the same total.
What is the refund policy... just in case?
Obviously, we know you are committed if you're planning international travel. And we also get that life happens.
If you cancel before January 7, you will get all of your money back minus a $400 administration fee.
If you cancel before February 10, you will get a refund of up to 50% of the total price, based on total payments made to date.
For cancelations made February 10 or later, we cannot guarantee a refund. However, we will work with you based on the circumstances to try to fill your spot and potentially provide a partial refund and/or transfer your registration to a future event or other training and coaching services.
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