The story of change wild is exemplary for multiple transformation, repeatedly shifting shape like a dragonfly emerging from its larva. Follow our extraordinary story from the early beginings on. It all started with simple guiding in nature and evolved on a winding path of gaining expertise and gathering a committed team to shape today’s highly specialized programme of self-development retreats.
Our story
Starting out
Roughly 25 years ago, Thoralf became a guide for nature-based activities across Europe. While completing training programmes in wilderness guiding, nature mentoring and outdoor education, he soon moved on to more ambitious guiding in the Nordic wilderness.
Through training and practise over many years, he built up extensive experience and developed profound expertise in his field. After a decade of freelancing, Thoralf founded his own guiding company which later became change wild .
From guiding to facilitation
Thoralf guided these wilderness experiences, which hundreds of people came to join. Over time, he observed the significant effect that these experiences had on the participants’ personal growth. He came to understand the life-transforming power that springs from carefully guided nature immersion. Consequently, he founded his activities on three pillars:
- immersive wilderness setting
- connection with nature
- facilitating personal growth
This was a pivotal point on the way towards today’s change wild .
A competence hub
Over time, various organisations began to cooperate with Thoralf, forming a network of partners around him. Thanks to this network, the activities evolved into a full-time occupation, covering everything from design, organisation and handling to guiding and facilitating wilderness experiences.
In each collaboration, the respective partner organisation is contributing their specific philosophy and each team member bringing their own guiding or facilitation style to the project. In effect, change wild has become a competence hub where different approaches and methods are practised, compared and refined, providing access to ever higher levels of expertise.
From self to whole
Connection – creating a relationship between one and another – has always been essential in our work. So far, our focus was on one side of the relationship, on our participants’ end. Connecting ourselves with nature for our own sake is good. However, taping into nature for the benefit of the common good is way more powerful.
This shift of perspective – from self to whole – makes change wild stand out today: it’s neither about adventurous wilderness experiences alone, nor about self-development or personal growth per se; it’s about growing ourselves in resonance with the world we’re living in – and growing to serve the living whole.
High quality focus
Today, we focus on one single programme with only few dates per year to ensure the highest quality possible. There we’ve brought together all those layers that are essential for powerful transformation:
Dedicated guides and facilitators who actually embody the approach have joined the team, and we always hold a Quest in a team of two to guarantee the best support for you. Together we d’like to invite you to start your journey wherever you stand in life. We will be there to support you on your journey.
More about us
About us
At change wild , we create and facilitate nature retreats and wilderness camps that help people reconnect.
Learn what makes our courses stand out:
The people
change wild started out with just one founder, and over time it evolved step by step to engage more people. Read about the founder, see who co-guides our clients, and who is working behind the scenes:
Our sources
Our work is highly inspired and infused by renowned sources whose ways light up in everything we do at change wild . Get to know those bearers of ancient traditions and visionary pioneers:
Media
We have published a collection of videos, audio recordings and written works, and we continue to publish more. Each one offers a different perspective on our work. Watch, listen or read here:
Join us live
Join us on one of our nature retreats. Spend a full week in the Norwegian wilderness – not alone, but deeply connected. With yourself, with others – and with something greater. Guided by wise mentors and the rhythm of nature, you will remember who you are and why you are here.
© change wild!
