Mission.
An experiential program to spark human flourishing beginning from beauty.
We are made of stardust, that part of the universe that in us becomes aware of itself. We flourish in the warmth and light born in that mysterious moment of self awareness: beauty and awe. Wonder seeks to reestablish beauty as an essential event in peoples’ lives. Through various opportunities to encounter and deeply connect with themselves and the world, we provide adventures and immersion in beautiful settings with flourishing individuals and communities around the world, fostering a journey of self-reflection and growth for the participants.
For thousands of years, artists, philosophers and scientists have connected the beautiful with a longing for meaning. Now we live in a day when convenience, security and personal success have largely displaced beauty as a value.
WONDER brings beauty back.
We flourish when we find our lives in harmony with nature and people, when we become aware of the meaning of the stars, of events, and of ourselves. People who acknowledge and make space for beauty are found to be happier, healthier, and more connected to the world both globally and in their daily lives.
WONDER offers a place to recognize, reflect, interiorize, and share participants’ experiences allowing for a journey of mutual and personal growth.
The world will change by our encounter with beauty.
WONDER is an experiential learning adventure in two parts:
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Wonder in Nature
provides learning adventures for people in beautiful natural settings.
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Wonder in People
facilitates experiences of encounter with flourishing individuals and communities.
About The Founder
Ilaria Schnyder
I grew up in Lugano (Switzerland,) surrounded by spectacular Alpine landscapes and marvelous family and friends. In the last 15 years I worked as ethnographic researcher - first in Milan (Italy) and later at the University of Notre Dame (USA). Through my research, I attended to the experiences of communities in Africa and Latin and South America and of refugees and migrants, seeking to understand what empowers them to flourish despite daunting challenges. My own life has been vastly enriched by learning their stories and appreciating the beauty of their cultures. A year ago, I combined my passions – mountains and people – and WONDER was born. WONDER is an invitation to rediscover one’s humanity through an immersion in some of nature’s most beautiful settings together with fellow sojourners. In regaining appreciation of the beauty all around us, WONDER allows one’s life and perspective to be refreshed; as has been the case in my own life.