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"The first thing that we had to do when we started to create this map of the competitors in the field was to set objectives for the project and then do some research. Here is what that looked like: Objectives: Define our top competitors From the list of competitors define: Target Demographic – Who they’re serving (age, background, region). Core Offerings / Differentiators – What makes them stand out. Similarities to Project Wonder – Overlaps in mission, format, goals. Unique Positioning (vs. PW) – What’s missing or done differently. Define Possible axis for a Perception map  Even though we are not going to add price on the perception map - can we add pricing so that we can structure our pricing to the market? 1. Khan Academy Target Demographic: Students from K–12 to early college, globally. Core Offerings / Differentiators: Free, comprehensive academic content across various subjects. Mastery-based learning with interactive exercises. AI-powered tutor "Khanmigo" for personalized assistance. Widely known Similarities to Project Wonder: Use of technology to enhance learning. Unique Positioning: Primarily focused on academic subjects and test preparation. Less emphasis on project-based or entrepreneurial learning. Lack of one-o-one mentorship Cost: $4 monthly or $44 yearly to use the Khanmigo AI Teaching Assistant   Ashoka / Changemakers Target Demographic: Aspiring and established social entrepreneurs, including youth. Core Offerings / Differentiators: Global network of social innovators. Programs like "Lead Young" to empower youth leadership. Focus on empathy and systemic change. Very professional resources - all are the same. :) Similarities to Project Wonder: Shared emphasis on social impact and changemaking. Social responsibility Step by step tutorials that help give structure to someone thinking about starting a project.  Cost: Free for some information and $19.99 a year for premium - they take donations They also have a Young Changemakers Community as well which is geared towards our market.    Unique Positioning: More geared towards supporting existing social entrepreneurs. Less structured educational programs for beginners. 3. Uncharted Learning Target Demographic: Students from grades 4–12 in the U.S. Core Offerings / Differentiators: Entrepreneurship programs integrated into school curricula. Hands-on experience in building and pitching business ideas. Collaboration with educators and industry mentors. Similarities to Project Wonder: Focus on experiential, project-based learning. Encouragement of entrepreneurial mindset. They provide funding for projects after the “pitch” is made. Unique Positioning: Primarily U.S.-centric with structured school partnerships. Emphasis on business entrepreneurship over social impact Cost:  $3,500 4. YCM Challenge Target Demographic: Young individuals passionate about social change. Core Offerings / Differentiators: Global platform for youth-led social initiatives. Support through mentorship and funding opportunities. Similarities to Project Wonder: Empowerment of youth to lead social change projects. Unique Positioning: Focus on providing a platform rather than structured educational content. Cost: None 5. One Young World Target Demographic: Young leaders aged 18–30 globally.  Core Offerings / Differentiators: Ambassador network for ongoing support and collaboration. Similarities to Project Wonder: Global perspective on youth leadership and social impact. Unique Positioning: Have a Global Summit for students to kick off projects. 6. DoSomething.org Target Demographic: Young people aged 13–25, primarily in the U.S. Core Offerings / Differentiators: Campaigns for social change that are easy to join and execute. Focus on civic engagement and activism. Similarities to Project Wonder: Youth empowerment and social action. Unique Positioning: Less emphasis on education; more on activism and campaigns. Cost: No Next we had to decide what the axis were going to be, or what metrics did we want to compare ourselves by with the other companies. We thought about price but after looking at the competition realized that many times the price was nominal or in some cases free. We thought about using social impact vs academic learning but the go hand in hand so that didn't work either. So we settled on our metrics that you see at the top because that is what we would like to do at the end of the day - cohort and project based learning... We are going to need to do a bit more work on this as we grow. But this is our start!"

"Your project might start with your vision—but for it to last, it needs to live beyond you. Use this checklist to see if your project can keep growing even if you're not around to run it. For each question, answer Yes or"

"Discovering or Reminding Yourself of Your Interests Understanding what brings you joy and what you truly appreciate is important for enriching your life. To help with this, you'll engage in a reflective journaling activity. Materials ..."

"I think that it is ready to go – there are enough of the elements of Project Wonder for me to start talking to some of the people that I know… Here is the outline of that idea. Initial pitch for investors     1.Project Wonder Logo on black background with the words written out.  2. Introducing: Collectives that support and create local change during a time of global upheaval and change in government services. This is why it is important now. 3. What it looks like: Picture of a project page (explain curriculum and the connection to developing and connecting young social entrepreneurs.) – could be a picture of a few phones with different elements of the project page on them. 4. Business Model: for profit curriculum with a non-profit aspect to fund projects around the world. Non-profit funding – For-profit work with schools and individuals – Target market is schools and students that are applying to universities and jobs. The program helps differentiate curriculum and helps differentiate the students from other high performing students. (missing how we are going to get to these markets – homeschool pitch – start with the non-profit route to gain users and show results…) How to display? 5. The Wonderment vision and connection to other projects that can be funded and supported by Project Wonder. 6. Perception map of other players in the industry 7. We will provide: individual or group support for teens to create a social entrepreneur project – with grants that will help their projects and scaffolding for their project to thrive 8. Funding goals: Fund 10 projects, support a team of people to work with the students and create curriculum and support the platform Asking for: $200,000 for administration costs, $100,000 for grants and $50,000 to support the platform (should this be more?)  9. Team: Cloe, Mileidy, me (the Wonderment team as well?) 10.Thank you Some things that I am going to have to work on in order to make this credible – Create a visual for the business model so that people will understand where we are starting. Do some research for perception map that will solidify my understanding of the market if asked questions. Understand the platform and how it works in case of questions. Get feedback from users right now about the interface so that I can answer questions about what is working and what we are working on. Create a power point with images and few words. Be ready to explain different projects and budgets. Please let me know if there is any feedback that you would like to give.  "

"https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ONwh9NUdTD8jrtVK2DP2MVBQVDijabW9bj5OoWa5LdM/edit?tab=t.0"

"My trip to Guatemala has stayed with me in a powerful way—especially as friends and family continue to ask what I thought of the experience. From San José, it’s just over an hour by plane to Guatemala City, making it a quick and affordable trip. We visited the stunning Acatenango volcano and wandered through the rich, historical streets of Antigua. I’m so grateful I went, and I’d love to return someday. But I’d be lying if I said it didn’t also make me deeply uncomfortable. What unsettled me was the stark contrast in income and opportunity. It was hard not to feel the weight of that disparity. And yet, this discomfort has also deepened my commitment to Project Wonder—our mission to make entrepreneurial tools and learning accessible to students and changemakers around the world. One project that especially inspired me was the Paco Piñas initiative. It’s proof that real change can start at the local level. The women running the library there are doing more than just providing books—they’re nurturing futures. They work tirelessly to help children build skills that matter, both in school and in life. Being there gave me a genuine sense of hope. While we were visiting, Owen was talking about hope and it stuck with me: “Hope is really the best thing that we can give to people."  I saw that firsthand at the community center. There was a garden growing, shelves full of books, games to play—and most importantly, a group of women showing up every day to nurture the children. That kind of love and commitment is transformative. If we can help support and bring more structure to community-driven organizations like this—anywhere in the world—then we start to create small but meaningful shifts. Even when I feel uneasy about the inequities I witness, places like this give me hope. And hope, I believe, is where change begins."

"Cass pointed out that this trip was full of emotions, and I couldn’t agree more. As much as I dislike admitting it, I’m very aware that I’m a sensitive person—and this trip was a little hard on me. And since I’m someone sort of obsessed with making lists, here’s a list of thoughts, feelings, and conclusions drawn from this experience (in no particular order): Talking with Adriana about the lack of educational opportunities made me feel helpless. I myself am a product of financed education—thanks to the government, sponsors, and scholarship programs. I know how hard it is to have dreams and not know if you’ll reach them because of financial uncertainty. I felt uneasy about presenting to teenagers, but even though not all of them were eager to participate, I was surprised to find myself enjoying the dynamic. Who knows—maybe I learned that I could work with teenagers. Surprise again. I was really excited about hiking the volcano but fully convinced I’d do horribly. Turns out I’m in better physical shape than I thought. Torn between happiness and sadness—about the volcano, the kids… I love nature, but seeing so much trash was disheartening. It felt like the volcano had become a product—something consumed and discarded. The trash left behind reflected that. Saddened by the inequalities in choice, mobility, and life opportunities. Talking with the guides and one of the porters was probably one of those moments that will stay with me forever. Amazed—by the night sky, by everything Juanita and the girls and Mr. Paco Piña do, by all the things Adriana wants to accomplish. A little lost, too. That feeling of being tiny and helpless came up again. (Little propaganda moment: y’all should read my blog entry—Tourist on the Volcano, Outsider in the Story.) Privileged. I don’t think this needs much explanation. But I do think it’s important to recognize that we experienced the entire trip from a place of privilege—and even then, we sometimes felt things weren’t great or could have been better. Just imagine what it’s like from the perspective of the locals."

"Browsing through our shared photo album I get all these glimpses of the trip through everyone else's eyes. I admit, though, I have maybe like a genetic predisposition to Augie's photos, taken with an old camera without any AI algorithms in it to goose the color saturations and sharpness and all that. And Augie also seems to have a very literal eye--when he takes a picture of a dog, it's just a picture of a dog. Or a tree and some rocks. Or just some mostly invisible mist. Maybe a cloud, if you're lucky. The zen monk in me likes that quality of is-ness to whatever it is in the photo. And so the Augie picture above is just a picture of Gigi, visiting a place. And not to try to force things too deep, but what I see in the photo is a person in a place who's maybe just a bit out of place. And the place itself is wildly layered with so many different types and ages of things it's almost incoherent, almost tearing itself apart not knowing what it even is. But all of that comes together in this amazing tapestry-like thing that just works for me. This latest trip helped me see that I'm the kind of person that likes to find a space of quiet in the middle of a riot of stuff. I've always been this way I think, but this trip helped me put my finger on it, and now it's become a part of who I think I am. I'm never happier than when I'm in the middle of 10 super weird things happening around me at the same time. I feel the most calm and centered when other people are freaking out. The only thing I didn't like about the volcano night, for example, was I thought that if Augie had to be carried off the mountain, his mom was going to murder me and people would say I was a deadbeat dad. The dad version of mommy guilt, plus the fear of being murdered by the mom. But other than that, the weirder it got, the more I loved it all and wanted to go back and do it again immediately. Well, not quite immediately, but, you know, after 20 minutes in a shower and a real bathroom, I was rarin' to go. Anyway, that's what I learned about Me. But what I learned about Us is in the title to this response, which could be boiled down to a simple algorithm: Place + People = Magic. I think it's just that simple, except for writing it down I immediately notice I'm missing the one key, sometimes hidden ingredient: Attention. So maybe we should write like this: Attention(Place + People) = Magic. Attention transforms any place into a riotous, multi-layered, endlessly fascinating tapestry of electric connection and meaning such as is evident in everything that surrounds Gigi in the photo above. And likewise, deep attention transforms any "ordinary" person into someone you can see is actually a visionary with a totally unique view of the world and its possibilities, and also a receptacle of the wisdom and stories of all their infinite generations of elders which you can hear all about if only you ask, and listen. When you bring that kind of attention to people and places, magic unfolds, every single time. It's foolproof. For the sake of consistency and branding, and in the Augie-inspired spirit of is-ness, maybe I should just say Wonder instead of Attention. Okay. It's all about Wonder, here. Something else that is completely evident in the trip album is that bringing Wonder to a situation is not only fun, it's extremely practical. Look at all the connections we formed and strengthened with so many new and old friends. Look at how many possibilities for new work we identified and got fired up about. This is exactly how all new ideas, connections, and coordinated social actions come into the world. And it's also so fun. Anyway, now there's so much to do to keep the energy building on all these new ideas, actions, and relationships. Time to get to work. But also, how about let's pick a new place and do it again? Whatever you loved about this place and these people, let's find it all again in a new place with new friends. Whatever kicked your butt, made you scared and uncomfortable, why not face that beast again? I swear, we could climb that volcano in such style, with such grace and dignity. Who's in?"

"This was an amazing trip. Full of so many emotions...joy, gratitude, fear, dread, relief, comfort, & discomfort! You name it, we felt it during this week in Guatemala. I wouldn't change a thing! We learned; explored, laughed and shared stories, we were amazed by the people and places. The schools were pure joy to visit, the kids were happy and engaging. We met passionate people with love in their hearts for the kids they're mentoring. We were able to share a little about us, about The Wonderment, and bring needed supplies for the teachers and students.  I think everyone involved came away more grateful and willing to help keep these kids and schools thriving."

"I like Amy’s outline approach to reflecting on this trip… As we were talking on the phone yesterday I was saying how it has taken my body these 2 weeks to recover from the trip. And I still don’t feel fully back physically. But at least I am now able to keep up with my house chores and am finally fully up to date with all my messages and emails… On the call we agreed that we LOVED the trip but it was HARD. For different reasons for each of us – I think. The hike was hard for me. It was the hardest part of the trip and everything after that. It was so hard to convince myself with every step to keep going and that I could do it. It hurt so much – all the time – in every way. Not to take credit away from myself but if Adriana hadn’t been with me every step of the way – I really don’t think I would have made it. And that’s why I fully agree with Amy on reflecting how important people are – specifically the people we surround ourselves by. I’ve always known this but it just becomes more clear with time. I am so grateful to Adriana for this. I also felt very comfortable traveling with Mileidy and Amy – and it was really special to share this trip with The Wonderment families. It is not often you find yourself having a big group of people (a community) to share space, time, or a trip with. That was really refreshing. As well as feeling the comfort in the company of our Project Wonder team. It was for sure really sweet and cool to see teachers – but specially Ingrid – excited for this project. Project Wonder. And it did make it a reality for a second. Which is all we need."

"It was just a couple of weeks ago that we went to Guatemala and spent some time at the Meso school with our friends from Utah and The Wonderment. There were many things that stood out for me about this trip and I wanted to write them down before I forgot their impo..."

"The little busses sell yummy ice cream!"

"Since we did the bus project with our friends at Colegio Mesoamericano, we’ve known that busses are a big part of life in Guatemala. But I had no idea just how cool and vibrant bus culture really i..."

"I would say that my biggest fear is probably getting to know people, especially because my Spanish is a beginner. The thing I’m most excited about is going to the volcano and playing soccer with other kids and learning about soccer in another country."

"I would say that my biggest fear is probably getting to know people, especially because my Spanish is a beginner. The thing I’m most excited about is going to the volcano and playing soccer with other kids and learning about soccer in another country."

"It's more than just a clickbait title. I've said that exact phrase to myself at some point during pretty much every one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. And not just said it to myself, but really felt it in my bones in an almost sickening way like... I'm in too deep, I'm not good enough to do this, why was I even thinking this was a good idea in the first place?? As we're headed out on this trip together, I just wanted to say that that "huge mistake" feeling we get sometimes in the middle of these experiences is usually a "feature" of a life well-lived, not a "bug." So the feeling's normal, but the way you respond to that feeling makes all the difference. The truth is in most of these situations that there's no way OUT but THROUGH--when you're on day 3 of an 8 day trip, what choice do you have but to plow on ahead to day 8? If you can get yourself to really accept--maybe even embrace--that fact, the "terrible mistake" feeling becomes sort of a gateway to pass through, and when you let yourself go through that gateway there are some pretty amazing things to discover. On the other side of the scary-seeming gate you might see that: Other people care about you and are more willing to help you than you ever thought. You're more energetic and resourceful than you thought. And all kinds of things that seem bad or inconvenient in the moment turn out the be the most energizing experience of your life. Basically if you put yourself in weird situations and make it through the gateway of that mistake feeling, you'll end up a bigger person, able to feel more, and connect more with more people, in stranger situations, than ever before. I mean, some things really just are mistakes. And some things we start out to do with good intentions turn into fiascos, for sure. But I was thinking of a few rules of thumb that have helped me boldly, recklessly strike out into the unknown with the best odds of coming out better on the other side. :) Here's the advice (for myself) I've come up with: Before you embark into the great unknown, take some time to imagine the things you're excited about and want to experience--actually visualize it, dream it, let your imagination run wild with how amazing it could be. Visualizing what you want brightens your outlook and preps your brain to seek the beautiful experiences that may emerge, even and especially the surprising or unsettling ones.   Prepare the very best you can. While you're visualizing all that, use what you're seeing to make detailed preparations. The food, clothes, schedule, people, etc., etc. Make smart, reasonable plans, and then trust yourself, relax, and let yourself be carried along the way.   Hang on for the ride. When the inevitable "huge mistake" feeling arises (or some minor version of it--not everyone is as big of a drama queen as me), congratulate yourself! You put yourself out there, and now you're getting your reward: a truly memorable experience. What else is there worth living for? After you congratulate yourself, you're really living now. But then also maybe share what you're thinking and feeling with someone. Get some help, have a laugh, adjust your plans if you can/want, and keep moving.   This is such old man/dad advice, but literally everything worth doing has its truly, deeply crazy moments. Learn to see them as the gateway and you'll be amazed how smart and resourceful you are, and how many smart resourceful people you have around you. I took that picture up top on my last trip to Guatemala. It was an incredibly beautiful moment in the middle of a trip where I didn't know where I was, what I was supposed to be doing, surrounded by an odd mix of people, and a little sick to my stomach. I def had to go through the gateway way of "this is a huge mistake." But then when I did, I found myself immersed in all that green and gold and pink you see in that photo, and I felt amazing. And there were 50 other amazing moments like that over the course of my week of venturing a little *too far out there. So we'll see you all out there--let the huge mistake begin!"

"Here is the link to the article. The article discusses how small talk helps us connect to others in the beginning and once that connection has happened - the author is a neuroscientist - she calls it synchronizing, then a deeper connection can be forged. The brain actually feels more comfortable after those initial questions and can then feel comfortable asking deeper questions.  "

"While there were many moments during our Salt Lake City field trip that were informative, interesting, and profound, one experience stood out as the most memorable—and the most unexpected. Looking back, it was not just an adventure but also a powerful lesson in teamwork, resilience, and adaptability. To showcase the stunning natural beauty of Utah and the Salt Lake City area, we planned a rafting trip for Saturday. The day started out perfectly—warm sunshine, gentle currents, and breathtaking mountain scenery. Dressed in swimsuits, we floated down the river, soaking in the peacefulness of the landscape. Then, without warning, we rounded a bend and found ourselves in the middle of a sudden squall. The wind roared against us, pushing our boats backward as rain and hail pelted down—yes, hail, in August! We had no choice but to scramble to shore for safety. In the chaos, as we huddled together, as you can hear on the video, Gigi had the great idea to use the boat as a shield against the elements. But just as we started to feel a bit more secure, we saw our other boat lift off—literally flying in the wind! Without hesitation, Owen and I sprinted after it while Matt, Cassia, and Amy stayed back with the rest of the group. We finally caught the runaway boat after an all out sprint. We spotted a small zip line business with an enclosed store. After confirming that we could stay there, we hurried back to gather the rest of the group. Cold and shaken, we warmed up inside while waiting for Owen’s dad to pick us up. During the ordeal, fear and discomfort were inevitable. Some of us were soaked and shivering, others felt unprepared for the unexpected turn of events. But what stood out was how everyone stepped up to support one another. Matt stayed outside with the boat, keeping watch as others navigated the storm. Owen took the lead in securing a safe place for us to wait, building a connection that ultimately benefited the whole group. The young women stuck together, reassuring one another and maintaining a sense of unity. By the end of the day, despite our exhaustion, I couldn’t have been prouder. What started as a challenge turned into a bonding experience. We had faced adversity together, adapted, and come out stronger. After a bit of rest, we were ready to continue our journey, carrying with us a newfound confidence in our ability to handle the unexpected."

"This was the second reel we shared. This time with more context & information in the reel itself and less in the caption: Mac’s experience of our first official Project Wonder retreat!"

"I have been in choir for 2 years and it is one of my favorite classes. One of my main interests is in music especially singing so it makes sense but my favorite part about it is the people. I feel like it's a really good group and most of my close friends are in choir and I feel like I get along with everyone. I also am the choir secretary. I don't do much in the position I mostly just help people with their music and things like that. I am planning to do choir next year again and it might be interesting to explore what else I might be able to do in choir."

"I joined the theatre program this year to try out something new and I thought it was fun there were definitely some people I didn't get along with but I also met a lot of nice people too. I think the theatre program at my school could get better at being more open to new people because I felt there were a lot of cliques even when I had friends who were already in theatre. I think it was because I wasn't really a "theatre kid" as I am not in any drama classes  so I think they thought of me as an outsider but if we could get more kids who aren't necessarily traditional drama kids I think it could really boost the program."

"This is one of my first communities I was a part of and have known for a very long time. It's a group of my mom's friends and their kids we don't see each other very often but very consistently. This a a picture from our annual camping trip we go on with them to Capitol Reef National Park which is the only place I like to camp."