October 25th to 30th 2024, I'm hosting WONDER WANDER 2024 — a gathering of curious, creative, and adventurous humans for a surreal communal experience on the border of Saguaro National Park.

The aim is to bring a dozen diverse interested/interesting people together to examine life, share perspective, and bask in the glory of the natural world together.

We'll be staying at No Pants Ranch, a vibrant five-acres with two funky homes nestled on the border Saguaro National Park. Part private wildlife sanctuary and part artist’s retreat, the space is both representative and totally ideal for a WONDER WANDER.

What is WONDER WANDER about?

As its name implies, WONDER WANDER is about wonder and wandering.

By day, we'll venture the surrounding landscapes. Some days near, some days far. Expect a good deal of time spent outside, from mountain tops to desert floors and anywhere between. While most of our time will be spent among nature, we may also venture into Tucson, AZ to dig cultural gems popular or obscure.

WONDER WANDER has become an increasingly collaborative retreat. Across our six days and five nights together, everyone will have the opportunity to lead an experience of their choosing. This could be an activity, exercise, presentation, discussion, reading, meditation, or pretty much anything you feel called to share. Each participant should aim for their experience to last anywhere from ten to ninety minutes (though exceptions can certainly be made). A question in the application asks what you might do with this opportunity to share with the group. Please take some time to feel around within yourself and consider before answering this question. Choosing the experience you want to lead based on feelings of stoke and inspiration tends to make for more impactful experiences than those arrived at by logic alone.

Why am I hosting WONDER WANDER 2024?

WONDER WANDER is an experience I dreamed of but didn’t know how to find. This temporary communal experience centered around wonder and sharing the things that sing to us creates a collective sense of connection, awe, and resonance unlike any other group interaction I have experienced.

I’m honored and stoked to have a fifth go at this experiment in community — another kaleidoscopic spin of individuals coming together to create a unique collective experience in the Sonoran Desert this October.

Reviews from past WONDER WANDER participants:

“Wonder Wander is a self-growth extravaganza mixed with making amazing friends in a gorgeous place. We laughed, we cried, we stared into each other’s eyes. We gazed at the milky way and danced until the sun came up (almost). Vulnerability led to pretty incredible breakthroughs with basically perfect strangers. How to summarize such an event? Pure magic.”

“Holy fuck. That was AWESOME.”

“I am still buzzing with energy thinking about WW21 - two weeks later! I keep telling people this was one of the best weekends of my life, but then think: “Am I being hyperbolic?” No! WW was such a treat, on so many levels. The people that showed up shared the same virtues and desires I’ve been looking for in the world but haven’t known how to find in others. The conscious work in deep thought exercises was as challenging as it was rewarding, and by the end of the week, I felt more in tune with my purpose of life. WW was truly a breath of fresh air, a respite to the chaotic chatter that is regular life in society. I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to recommend WW to everyone.”

“That was the coolest, most awesome, authentic experience I’ve had in, like… uh, forever.”

Other Q&A's

Q: Who is this event for?

A: WONDER WANDER is for the curious ones. For adventurers, creators, and wannabe philosophers like me who love the outdoors and are open to examining life with others. Interested people are interesting — from artist to entrepreneur, athlete to academic, and photographer to poet, the goal is to bring together a wide cross-section of people who are really into what they do. Ideal attendees are also positive and open-minded, and as hiking up desert mountains will certainly be a part of the gathering, capable of hiking at least three or four miles uphill.

Q: How much does it cost?

A: $400 per person. This covers all food, drink, and lodging for six days at No Pants Ranch. The aim is not to make money, but to break even while keeping the gathering attractive and financially viable to the widest cross-section of interested people. The cost allows us the freedom and comforts in a remote, natural setting to create a collective experience that has the potential to be a highlight of our lives, deeply connecting us with other curious humans, and fully celebrating the miracle of existence.

Q: What will our excursions be like?

A: Excursions will range from Catalina Mountain climbs to stargazing nights on far out desert floors to time to write, meditate, or kick it with a young saguaro in the shade of a nurse tree. Some days we’ll break into smaller groups for greater flexibility, to be more in touch with nature, and to allow everyone to interact with the landscape in the way they feel called to.

Q: Who hosts WONDER WANDER?

A: Here's my short bio.

Q: What's the food situation?

A: The octagonal house at No Pants Ranch has a fully equipped kitchen and all the typical amenities. I'll make an epic grocery run and buy enough food for a dozen of us to eat for six days. The kitchen will be stocked upon your arrival with fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, grains, milk, yogurt, beer, wine, condiments, herbs, spices, and who knows what else. I usually overdo it, but just in case, grocery stores aren’t more than a half hour drive away. We'll be doing our cooking communally, as connection naturally forms over food. Big group dinners rock, and we’ll likely assign two or three people each night to cook for the group.

Q: How will the transportation situation work?

A: No Pants Ranch is thirty minutes west of Tucson, Arizona, on the far side of the Tucson Mountains and just north of the border of Saguaro National Park West. While some may drive from home, I suspect many with fly into Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport, rent a vehicle, and drive out (a 1 hour 45 minute drive). We’ll have a discussion board for attendees who want to team up on a car rental and go to and fro together (this approach has worked super well at every gathering thus far).

As driving is the way in, we'll inevitably have enough vehicles to get around. We're doing this informally, as friends who've simply yet to meet. From rides and cooking to wondering and wandering, we are in this together and will figure it out as we go.

Q: What should I bring?

A: The capacity to carry at least two liters of water, light hiking attire to cover you from the sun, and warm clothes for cool desert nights under countless stars (average highs/lows for this time of year are 82°/48°). A pack for hiking. A notebook and pen. Perhaps a good book. Toiletries. Sunblock (or at least a hat). An open mind and heart.

APPLICATIONS FOR WONDER WANDER 2024 ARE DUE AT MIDNIGHT SUNDAY AUGUST 11TH, 2024. Applicants will be notified of tough decisions by AUGUST 20th, 2024.

If you feel called to join, please do not hesitate to apply! The application is neither a resume contest nor measure of worth. The process exists to help bring together a diverse spectrum of individuals and better ensure this will be a balanced and rad experience for all in attendance.

Fill out the application (either atop or to the side of these words) and let us share a most epic, surreal, and wondrous experience among the Sonoran Desert this October!

If you have any questions you can reach me here.

P.S. I’m also looking for one skilled photographer / videographer to both participate in and document the experience. In exchange for a sweet set of photos and a creative video of the gathering (open to other artistic approaches here too), the cost of attendance will be waived in full.

For photo and video examples from previous gatherings, check the What is WONDER WANDER? page. To apply for this position, simply mention it in your application and include a link to your portfolio or previous works.