Corporate strategy sessions and leadership retreats often end up looking like the same PowerPoint marathon inside beige conference rooms.
The result? Numb minds, glazed eyes, and a team that leaves no more inspired than when they arrived.
Cori Coffman, Sales Manager at Stonewall Resort, believes there’s a better recipe: fresh air, open skies, and maybe even a s’mores bar.
As she puts it, “There’s something powerful about just stepping outside the walls of a traditional meeting room. Being outside naturally boosts creativity and helps slow your mind down, and also brings positive attitudes.”
So why should your next leadership breakthrough happen outdoors? Let’s break it down.
The Power of Outdoor Meeting Spaces
The Problem with the Four Walls
We all know the grind … teams sit in boardrooms trying to think outside the box while literally trapped inside one.
The sterile environment can stunt creativity, reinforce hierarchy, and make “team bonding” feel like another corporate checkbox.
Coffman has seen the contrast firsthand: “I’ve seen teams leave with way more energy and stronger connections just by changing the environment of their meeting.”
Translation: the problem isn’t always the agenda; sometimes it’s the scenery.
Space to Think, Room to Play
At Stonewall Resort, Coffman points to two spots that turn strategy into something that feels less like work and more like possibility:
- The Covered Terrace Patio & Lawn: A shaded space with a sweeping lakeside view, versatile enough for sit-down dinners, brainstorming huddles, or a round of cornhole before diving into big decisions.
- The Maple Patio: A spacious, paved area perfect for outdoor meals, casual conversation, or spontaneous “aha!” moments.
And then there’s the kicker: fire pits with s’mores kits.
Because nothing says team bonding quite like negotiating over who roasted the perfect marshmallow. As Coffman notes, “It’s a super fun add-on so you can have a tasty treat and great conversations outside.”
Play fuels creativity, and these kinds of touches loosen up even the most serious executives.
But What About Weather, Wi-Fi, and Work?
The most common objections to outdoor meetings sound familiar: What if it rains? What about comfort? Will the Wi-Fi actually work?
Coffman’s team has thought of all that. “We always have a seamless backup plan if you do have a session planned outside,” she explains. Shaded seating, plenty of refreshments, and strong outdoor Wi-Fi with portable AV mean productivity doesn’t get sacrificed.
In other words, you won’t be choosing between nature and efficiency, because you get both.
When Fresh Air Leads to Fresh Thinking
The real magic happens when the environment changes the way people interact.
Coffman recalls one healthcare leadership team that took their strategy session lakeside. “That was the first time that they all really stopped to listen to each other,” an executive told her afterward.
That simple change of scenery sparked a breakthrough that reshaped the company’s vision and culture for the year.
Not bad for a meeting that started with folding chairs on a lawn.
The Bottom Line: Don’t Underestimate the Outdoors
Great ideas rarely show up under fluorescent lights. They thrive where the air is fresh, the atmosphere is relaxed, and teams can connect like humans first and leaders second.
So the next time you’re tempted to book another generic conference room, remember: stronger teams might just be waiting outside—preferably around a fire pit with marshmallows in hand.
Ready to plan your outdoor strategy session at Stonewall Resort? Let’s connect >>