Spring Newsletter

Happy Spring!

How are you doing? 

It’s hard to believe that over a month has passed since the whole world has been able to relate to one another in a very unique way…Our businesses and guiding community here in the Rocky Mountains have temporarily closed their doors in response to the global pandemic.

As guidelines continue to develop to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, including limiting gatherings to 15 or fewer and avoiding non-essential travel, Skala Adventures has suspended all adventure and retreat activities through May 30th.
The health and safety of our adventure community remains our number one priority.

We continue to monitor the Department of Health recommendations and access the situation closely.

I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones in good health and managing as well as possible. 

We are praying for the well-being of all of you, our national and local leaders, as they seek to help us through this pandemic.

I bet many of us are saying “I can’t wait to be on the other side of this”, to go back to my normal. But I am also thankful for this time of RESET, this breather our environment is getting, this time to re-evaluate all kinds of things in our lives…
SO I can’t wait to see what is in store for us – in this “new normal”.

In embracing the God who made us, as the One who Loves us, we in turn receive that Love, which gives us peace and hope. Peace and Hope is all I ask for you and yours during these interesting “reset” times. To receive this peace, we are invited to renew our minds with God’s word – we clothe ourselves with promises…One of my favourites:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God…Phil 4:6

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.  — Corrie Ten Boom

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged..I will strengthen you and will help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand…Iz.41:10

I am looking forward to exploring and enjoying our beautiful creation together!

In the mean time, I hope you can get outside, enjoy the fresh air, sounds and sweet aromas of spring!

Let your Faith be bigger than your Fear…

It’s going to be OK!

Stay well friends,

Katarina

Hello from the other side…

well, today marks ONE year since my broken pelvis accident, and I am beyond grateful for quite a rapid and successful restoration of my body. With a few aches and energy fine tuning, I have been able to enjoy what I love…and while I was at it –  I made a lil’ spontaneous video too.

…running along the river in spring has it’s advantages…when chunks of ice broke off during Easter time, I was strongly re-assured, that this pandemic, will too, break off…

Ponderings and learnings during the pandemic:

Even if we can’t travel as freely these days, we can always travel inwards, right?

I have been learning that instead of easily hiding and becoming invisible during this time of isolation, this time is about connecting, taking care of one another in the best way we can.

“This is the time not to just GO through the season, but to GROW through the season”

(Thank you Lisa Vanderkwaak)

I have been enjoying re-connecting with friends that I haven’t heard from in a while, and have kept my focus on some house fun = indoor sprouting, gear repair, experimenting with new baking recipes, etc…and of course some outdoor fun too = running or walking. Yep! Spring has arrived in the mountains!

I also picked up some tools along the way, such as getting into video making (see slide show below!) and perhaps got more brave to just speak my heart on the spot. Being vulnerable definitely stretches me, but I know that it helps me grow and allows for personal transformation.

So how do YOU stay healthy? What’s in your psychological first aid kit?

Is it by getting outside, reflecting, connecting with others? I hope that you have been able to cultivate some peace and hope during these interesting times!

Here are my DAILY Pandemic Thoughts inspired by Dr. Leaf:

1. What am I GRATEFUL for today? 

2. Who am I CHECKING IN ON or CONNECTING WITH today?

3. What expectations of “normal” am I LETTING GO of today?

4. How am I GETTING OUTSIDE today? 

5. How am I MOVING MY BODY today?

6. What BEAUTY am I either creating, cultivating or inviting in today?

and if you ARE feeling sad or anxious, try to do the following:

1. Write your thoughts down – ask yourself – is it Really true?

2. Write the opposite of the thought – sit on it and reflect on wheather you want to be in that place of Fear vs. Solution!

Ask yourself – What Do I Want? Are my thoughts and my behaviour getting me what I want?

I hope you choose Freedom of fearful, negative or toxic thoughts!

Learning to Switch, Replace or Exchange the negative thought for a positive one – allows for a Shift in your mind and the environment around you. Think of it as detoxing your brain, which is ultimately so healthy for your mental and emotional health!  I’ve tried it for 21 consecutive days – it’s amazing how free you feel after your “brain surgery”!  😉

I would love to connect with you!

I have created a FB group called Skala Body-Mind Connection  – since I can’t guide you in the mountains, my hope is to see you face to face and have some heart to heart chats! I am hoping to host this group to encourage and support one another! Hope you can join us!

If you don’t have Facebook, let’s try this new platform everyone is connecting on – ZOOM! You don’t need an account, but you do need an App – I am so new to this group virtual world, but hopefully we can connect! I have created an invitation below to meet up. The first time topic can be just Check-In and meeting each other – and hopefully encouraging one another during these times…So make yourself a cup of tea / coffee and hope to see you on Saturday morning! Should be cool!

Katarina Ducaiova is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Skala Tribe Zoom Meeting

Time: May 16, 2020 10:00 AM Edmonton

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8782313308

Meeting ID: 878 231 3308a

Somethin’ to keep you excited about future Skala trips  –  from my living room to yours….

I made this teaser just for you – even if you can’t make it to our neck of the woods yet, one day, when the time’s ripe, I hope we can pack our packs, dust off our boots and explore!

I know for me, it will expand my heart, renew my mind, refresh the soul…

In the mean time, keep on dreaming here 😉

We are hopeful for restrictions to lift off and a good summer ahead! Feel free to check out the tentative dates of our 2020 season. Not seeing the dates you like? Happy to customize dates around your free time!

In the mean time, click here for our day or multi-day programs.

TODAY’S SPRING TIP:
As a guide and outdoor educator, I am used to movement on a regular basis. Hiking, packing, loading up canoes or instructing an outdoor skill. Now that these regular activities have been taken away from me for over a month, I need to be pretty mindful to STRETCH!!!

Think of stretching as your best friend you want to stay connected with! You want to check in with them on regular basis, spend quality time with them, be good to them! You wanna be good to your body too, right?

Mix brown sugar, butter, cocoa mix, and milk mixture in a pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and boil 3 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent scorching. Remove from heat and stir in remaining ingredients. Drop by spoonfuls onto a flat surface such as a pan lid. Let sit for about 10 minutes to set.