History
At a high summit in the Rocky Mountains, a lightning bolt struck Raymond Landgraaf when he was 18 years old – a frightening near-death experience ignited a profound inner shift and planted a seed for what later became OTRO Elements. He discovered nature as a mentor, community as a guide, and immersion into the wild as his true calling.
Raymond’s Outward Bound experience plunged him into raw wilderness – high-altitude climbing, navigating in the wild, and full reliance on nature. The strike amplified every lesson: resilience is born in challenge, and real connection grows from shared hardship.
Fifteen years later, driven by that spark, Val d’Otro in the Italian Alps became the cradle of that vision. Later, Raymond founded his long-desired wilderness school at Alpe Selvaccia. Through back-to-basics activities, he shaped expeditions that welcomed everyone to be part of an inclusive, supportive tribe.
Over time, a community of devoted mountain guides, facilitators and hosts grew around OTRO Elements. United by a shared mission and passion, it blends expertise and warmth with genuine care – making every expedition feel like coming home.
Manifesto
We live in a world in which we race ahead – faster than we can breathe, think, or connect. Noise has become our default. At OTRO, we slow down to reclaim stillness, presence and purpose, and tune into nature’s rhythms guided by timeless principles that spark inner peace and outer change.
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Authenticity over performance: we leave our masks at the mountain’s edge. Here, you show up fully – raw, real, and human – daring to be seen just as you are.
Self-reliance and shared responsibility: you are responsible for your own path – your energy, your needs, your choices. Yet, we are in this co-created journey together. No brands, no masks, no status. Just presence, open hearts, and shared humanity.
Stillness holds truths we often rush past. Stewardship is our responsibility, gratitude is our guide, and playful joy is our medicine.
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OTRO's Elements
The natural elements shape every OTRO Elements expedition. You’ll engage directly with nature’s primal forces – wading through water, tending fire, breathing fresh alpine air, standing on solid earth, and pausing in open space. These elements reveal insights that words alone can’t capture.
Air
Otro
Space
Earth
Water
Fire
The OTRO “O” is shaped like a diamond, inspired by nature and ancient wisdom. It symbolises The Hero’s Journey by Joseph Campbell – an ongoing circular path of challenge, insight and integration. A reminder that it’s both an adventure and a return.
The inverted mountain peaks in our logo symbolise endurance and self-discovery; the sharp lines of the letters OTRO mirror the timeless ancient stone carvings of the mountain inhabitants.
Every curve and corner of the OTRO “O” draws from elemental forces – water’s flow, earth’s solidity, fire’s spark, air’s sweep, and space’s openness – embodying our commitment to immersion into the elements in every expedition. Adding OTRO’s sixth element: self-awareness.
The O is also shaped like a hexagon, the ancient form of the beehive, nature’s architecture of perfect harmony, strength, and cooperation. Of building something greater together.
Disconnect to reconnect
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