Awakening Wonder: Longwood Experience
A one-day immersion into beauty, presence, and the joy that still lives inside you.
October 22, 2025 | Longwood Gardens
Presented by Prima + Drop Below the Surface
Life moves fast.
Sometimes too fast to notice all the beauty around us and in our lives.
Deadlines. Group texts. Doom scrolling.
You start to wonder — is this all there is?
You’re not alone.
You’re doing meaningful work. You’re showing up.
But somewhere along the way, the joy thinned. The wonder faded.
The balloon? Deflated.
This is your invitation back.
Not a retreat from life — a return to it.
One gorgeous, spacious day reclaiming the refuge that nature offers.
To shift from autopilot into presence.
To awaken your senses.
To refill the places that’ve gone dry.
Because beauty is still here.
And it’s still speaking.
This is a chance to hear it again — and connect with what makes life sing.
What To Expect
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA
(Arrive via your own transportation. Free parking onsite.)
Before You Arrive
Pre-Retreat Zoom Gathering
Wednesday, October 15 at 7:00pm EST
A 30-minute reflective session to meet the circle of good humans involved, loosen the grip of the week, and begin the inward shift as we prepare for our Longwood Gardens experience together.
Car Ride Soundtrack
Curated music sent two days prior — to help you land before you even arrive.
Because the road there is part of the story.
🌿 The Day Unfolds
10:00 AM – Arrival & Drop Below the Surface Session: The Art of Noticing
Step into the day — fully. Led by Carrie Johnson and Tracy Cutler of Drop Below the Surface, this opening session offers a gentle shift into body, spirit, and mind. A guided walk through the gardens invites you to slow down, open your senses, and notice what you might have overlooked.
12:00 PM – Time to Explore
Move at your own pace. Linger in a favorite corner. Follow your curiosity. Let the gardens meet you exactly where you are. Use the Wonder Cards to take you outside of your mind to your senses and the world around you.
1:00 PM – Savoring
A private dining experience at the newly reimagined 1906 Restaurant. In an intimate private room, you’ll enjoy a pre-fixe lunch and drink menu — a culinary journey of texture, intention, and conversation, elevated by the wonder only Longwood Gardens can provide.
2:30 PM – Open Space
Time to let things land. Go your own way, or join one of the day’s hosts at their favorite spots within the gardens:
Tessa: Bonsai, Greenhouses, and Lilies
Carrie: Idea Garden, Hidden spots amidst the fountains
Write, wander, sketch, sit — whatever fills you.
3:45 PM – Wonder Reflection & Closing Circle
We gather amidst the gardens for a reflection from Prima’s Mitch Nugent on awe, joy, and the kind of beauty that breaks through. Then, a closing circle — a chance to voice what you’ve noticed and carry it forward.
Until 6:00 PM – Departure
There may be time to visit a few final spots before the gardens close. You leave just a little more room inside.
Who This is For
Leaders. Creatives. Nonprofit builders. Founders. Soul-seekers. Moms. Retirees.
People who’ve been holding space for everyone else — but need to hold space for themselves.
This is for those who still believe in joy, even if they haven’t felt it in a while.
Not to escape.
But to remember.
Your Role
You don’t need to show up perfectly.
You don’t need to prepare.
You just need to say yes — and arrive.
The Outcome
Leave with:
More breath in your body
A heart that’s been stirred
A pocketful of moments that will stay with you
A creative reawakening
And a simple, potent reminder: Joy can still rise.
Next Step
This is your invitation.
Not just to an event — but to an experience that sparks your return to a life fully alive.
Reserve Your Spot – space is limited
Will there be a lot of walking?
Not unless you want there to be.
The beauty of this retreat is that it unfolds at your pace. While Longwood Gardens is expansive, the experience is designed with spaciousness, not distance, in mind. Most of the day happens in concentrated areas, and Longwood has mobility scooters available to rent if that’s helpful for you.
You’re encouraged to walk as much or as little as you like.
There’s no race. No finish line. No FitBit goals.
Just beauty — and your own pace through it.
If you have mobility questions or accessibility needs, feel free to reach out. We’ll make sure you’re fully supported.