Outside the Ordinary Retreats
Step outside. See things differently.
Experiential Workshops | Organizational Off-Sites | Nature-Based Retreats
Discover a different kind of learning experience.
Created and led by psychologist, author, and speaker Jonah Paquette, Psy.D., Outside the Ordinary brings the science of well-being to life through immersive workshops, customized off-sites, and meaningful shared experiences.
Drawing on years of research, writing, teaching, and speaking, these experiences invite individuals and teams to step away from the familiar, reconnect with what matters, and discover new ways of seeing themselves, one another, and the world around them.
From the forests and coastlines of the Pacific Northwest to inspiring settings across the country, Outside the Ordinary offers a fresh approach to personal growth, professional development, and organizational well-being.
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Beyond the Conference Room
Some things are better experienced than explained.
We can learn about mindfulness in a presentation. But what happens when we practice it beneath a canopy of towering trees?
We can study the science of awe and wonder. But what changes when we experience these emotions firsthand?
We can talk about connection, gratitude, creativity, and resilience. But what becomes possible when we create the space to genuinely experience them together?
Outside the Ordinary is built around a simple idea: the most meaningful learning doesn't always happen in a conference room.
By combining psychological science with experiential learning, guided reflection, meaningful conversation, and the restorative possibilities of the natural world, these programs create opportunities to pause, explore, connect, and grow.
Because sometimes, a change in perspective begins with a change in scenery.
Interactive Workshops
Engaging, experiential sessions that bring psychological science to life through hands-on activities, guided reflection, and group discussion. Ideal for professional development events, conferences, and organizational gatherings.
Half-Day & Full-Day Off-Sites
An opportunity to step away from familiar routines and engage more deeply with themes of well-being, connection, resilience, and personal growth. These experiences can blend interactive learning, time outdoors, reflective exercises, and meaningful conversation.
Immersive Retreats
Extended experiences, from full-day gatherings to multi-day retreats, designed to create space for deeper exploration, renewal, and connection. Hosted in inspiring natural settings, these retreats offer an opportunity to slow down, gain perspective, and return with fresh insights.
Explore What Matters
A world of possibilities, grounded in psychological science.
Outside the Ordinary draws from a wide range of research-informed approaches to well-being, personal growth, and human flourishing. Programs may focus on one central theme or weave together several complementary topics.
Awe, Wonder & Perspective
Discover the power of awe to expand our sense of possibility, shift our perspective, and reconnect us with something larger than ourselves.
Mindfulness & Presence
Step away from distraction and cultivate greater awareness, attention, and appreciation for the present moment.
Connection, Gratitude & Belonging
Strengthen relationships, deepen understanding, and explore the science of meaningful human connection.
Curiosity, Creativity & Psychological Richness
Move beyond familiar routines, embrace new experiences, and discover how curiosity and openness can enrich our lives.
Resilience & Psychological Flexibility
Develop practical tools for navigating uncertainty, responding to challenges, and approaching life with greater flexibility and intention.
Savoring, Joy & Everyday Well-Being
Explore evidence-informed strategies for noticing, appreciating, and more fully engaging with the positive experiences already present in our lives.
Each experience is customized to the group, with opportunities to incorporate additional themes based on your organization's interests and goals.
What Will You Take Away?
A different environment. A different experience. A fresh perspective.
Outside the Ordinary is designed to be more than an enjoyable break from the everyday. It's an opportunity to engage with meaningful ideas in ways that are personal, practical, and memorable.
Depending on the focus of your experience, participants may have opportunities to:
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Reconnect with colleagues and cultivate a greater sense of belonging and shared purpose.
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Recharge by stepping away from everyday demands and practicing skills that support well-being.
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Gain perspective through awe, mindfulness, reflection, and time in inspiring environments.
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Rediscover curiosity by exploring new ideas, challenging habitual patterns, and engaging with the unfamiliar.
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Build practical skills for resilience, psychological flexibility, gratitude, and emotional well-being.
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Carry the experience forward with insights and practices that can enrich life and work long after the program ends.
The goal isn't simply to leave feeling inspired. It's to leave with something worth bringing back.
About Your Guide
Jonah Paquette, Psy.D.
Psychologist. Author. Speaker. Explorer of What Makes Life Worth Living.
I'm a clinical psychologist, author, and professional speaker who has spent much of my career exploring a deceptively simple question: What helps us live richer, more meaningful, and more fulfilling lives?
Through my books, workshops, presentations, and professional trainings, I've had the privilege of sharing the science of well-being with audiences across a wide range of organizations and settings.
My work draws on research in positive psychology and evidence-based approaches to cultivating awe, gratitude, mindfulness, resilience, psychological flexibility, and meaningful connection.
But I've also come to believe that some of the most powerful ways to learn about well-being are to experience these ideas for ourselves.
Outside the Ordinary grew from a desire to bring together my professional expertise, my love of teaching and facilitating meaningful experiences, and my personal passion for nature, exploration, and discovering new perspectives.
The result is a different approach to learningā€”one that combines the rigor of psychological science with the curiosity, connection, and sense of possibility that come from stepping outside our everyday environments.
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Let's Create Something Extraordinary
Whether you're planning a leadership off-site, a team retreat, an employee well-being experience, or a gathering that calls for something a little different, I'd love to explore what's possible.
Outside the Ordinary offers customized experiences throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond, from intimate workshops and half-day gatherings to immersive multi-day retreats.
Let's take learning beyond the conference room and into the world.
