Constanze “Conny” Polster
M.A. Food Chemistry, University of Technology Dresden, Germany
Having grown up on a farm in rural East Germany, Conny has always been connected to the earth and outdoors. Over the years, this connection grew into something more profound: a deep longing to understand the interdependence between human and nature, which has weaved a constant thread in her life’s tapestry. She studied Food Chemistry, where she asked questions about the ways in which nature nourishes our bodies. Her academic career then led her to a position at a food corporation, where she quickly realized that something was missing: But what truly nourishes our soul? It’s that question that sent her from the European Alps to the Nepalese Himalayas, then all the way to the Andes of South America. She traveled through Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil. But when she set foot in Peru in 2018, she immediately fell in love and settled herself in the charming town of Urubamba, where the base of Dragons’ Peru programs is located.
After witnessing the lack of ecological awareness in Peru firsthand, she dedicated her time to working with local NGOs specializing in environmental education. She became an experienced educator in formal and experiential settings, but what really lights her up is facilitating immersive learning through outdoor experiences. This involves everything from holding workshops and organizing events to working as a coordinator and facilitator for retreats and summer camps, including taking local youngsters on rock climbing and hiking trips. She is also a nutritionist and a language teacher of 3 languages.
Geared with tons of regional and cultural expertise, she is thrilled to take students on an authentic deep dive of her second home. Conny believes in the power of hands-on experiences and their ability to create personal transformation, which is invaluable for evoking change and creating a better world. Peru both allowed and forced her to have a deep look into herself and embrace the unfamiliarity, but also to discover the spectacular potential for growth that happens just outside your comfort zone. Conny’s goal is to inspire students to listen and observe closely, to discover their own personal “why?” and create the change they want to see in the world.
In her free time, you can find her either on her yoga mat, roaming the mountains of the world, or somewhere with a cup of cacao and a plate full of homemade food absorbed in a deep conversation about life.