SUM

More people outside, more often, for more reasons, in more ways, in more places. More. That's what SUM does and who we are - and whether that means management team retreats, mindfulness sessions, family camping or team bonding, we design it all around you and what you need from some time outside. Join us next Thursday, April 3, 5pm-7pm, at Spring into SUMmer to learn more about what that might mean for you. Mingle with the SUM team and past partners and brainstorm how you and your organization could benefit from the focus, calm and connection that come from restorative, intentional time outside. Register now! https://lnkd.in/gy6xYayW Spring into SUMmer? Thursday, April 3 5pm-7pm Offices of Crowe, 225 West Wacker, 24th?Floor, Chicago Plus, all proceeds from the event support our upcoming slate of summer youth and community programming! Join us!

It's officially spring! Come celebrate and learn more about how you, your team or your organization can #getoutside with SUM in 2025 for restorative experiences that foster #connection, build #trust and help everyone take a collective breath during some pretty anxious times. Register now for Spring into SUMmer, and hear directly from some of the 1,800 people who have gotten outside with SUM since our founding in 2022. Brainstorm #staffretreats, community events, #teambuilding sessions and more, and hear about our pilot Winter #Wellness Cohort and what comes next. Plus, all proceeds support SUM's upcoming slate of youth and family programming this summer. Register now for Spring into SUMmer - https://lnkd.in/gy6xYayW Thursday, April 3 5pm-7pm Offices of Crowe, 225 West Wacker, 24th Floor, Chicago Join us! Andrew Geer Lesley Roth Jennifer Guzman Ashley Eisenmenger Juan Carlos Linares Shannon Madden Shafaq Choudry Carrie Grogan Rebeccah Sanders Josh Ellis

The #wellness benefits of time outside in winter can be profound - but it’s also when most of us struggle most to reap those benefits. SO… over the past 3 months SUM piloted our first Winter Wellness #Cohort to test a new model of what safe, welcoming and inclusive time outside can look like… in the snow, in the cold, in all that stuff. It was a hit. Our 15 members used terms like #connection, #reflection, #growth, #relaxing and #energizing to describe it all. We’re sold, and we’re figuring out what comes next. Want to learn more? Swing by our April 3 Spring into SUMmer happy hour (https://lnkd.in/gwHKFAzF) or contact SUM’s ED Josh Ellis. A huge thanks to our whole inaugural cohort! Lillian Dypold Bui, CFRE Rebeccah Sanders Clio Lyons Chelsa S. Moore Elizabeth Cisar Karen J. Lewis David Burrows, EIT Carolyn E. Ramírez, Ph.D. Anita Maddali Anne Evens Kelsey Zlevor, MCRP Nicole Sims, PMP Carina Yepez Sara Siddiqui Alexander Bui

More people outside. More often. For more reasons. In more ways. In more places. More. That's SUM. Join us Thursday, April 3, at Spring into SUMmer to kick off our 3rd full year of #restorative experiences outside. All proceeds support our summer #youth and #community programs. Register now at https://lnkd.in/gwHKFAzF Learn more about how SUM can help you, your #team and #organization #getoutside for focus, calm and connection… and learn it straight from some of the 1,785 people we've gotten outside with to date, whether for a curated #managementteamretreat at Indiana Dunes, an afternoon exploring on horseback or as part of our pilot Winter Wellness Cohort. If you've never been on a SUM experience, but want to learn more - please join us! And if you've been out with us several times - please bring some folks you think would like to learn more! Hope you see you Thursday, April 3, 5pm-7pm at the Offices of Crowe (225 West Wacker, 24th Floor) for Spring into SUMmer! Register now at https://lnkd.in/gwHKFAzF Josh Ellis Lesley Roth Jennifer Guzman Andrew Geer Ashley Eisenmenger Juan Carlos Linares Shannon Madden Rebeccah Sanders Shafaq Choudry Carrie Grogan

Our 3 new #Board members are an amazing group, and we're very excited Shafaq Choudry is part of it! Shafaq has gotten outside with SUM multiple times; that firsthand appreciation for our #restorative experiences #outside is a big reason she joined our growing Board. "SUM has a fresh and fun take on bringing #everyoneoutside of four walls and into breathable and restorative spaces where people can build community and trust with intention and purpose. Think of Priya Parker's?#TheArtofGathering?put into practice for all Chicagoans,?in all seasons. Experiencing SUM's work in action is what first drew me to the mission -- gathering passionate people driving meaningful and transformative?change in our beloved city/region into the great outdoors is bridging together the best of both. In a time where social isolation and divisions are on the rise across our communities, SUM offers a window for playful, creative, and thoughtful avenues back to humanizing our collective experiences." Wow, and, we agree! We're looking forward to benefiting from Shafaq's personal experience, unique perspective and deep expertise in #UrbanPlanning and #SocialImpactConsulting. Welcome, Shafaq! #boarddevelopment #organizationaldevelopment #leadership #getoutside ?

We're very excited to announce another amazing new #Board member at SUM! Rebeccah Sanders brings a wealth of #nonprofit #management #expertise, paired with a passionate commitment to the #restorative potential of time spent #outside for all. "I believe everyone, everywhere should have access to the outdoors in a way that is meaningful for them. SUM understands that we each have a different relationship with being outside and creates transformative experiences that deepen our understanding of ourselves, our communities, and our natural areas." Welcome, Rebeccah! #boarddevelopment #organizationaldevelopment #leadership #getoutside

We had a ton of fun outside - and ate a ton of pizza inside - at last week’s Family Hike + Pizza Class, the first of several family experiences outside SUM will be leading on CPS closure dates in 2025! Next up = April 18! Register now at https://lnkd.in/gXE5ZgXG Thx Rachael Mizuno Lesley Roth Benjamin Haley Erin Aleman and your families for being part of a healthy and happy random Tuesday w/ no school!

The whole team at SUM is very excited to start introducing our amazing 2025 class of 3 new #Board members, starting today with Carrie Grogan! We're excited to learn from Carrie's deep expertise in #workplacewellness, #mentalhealth and #culturebuilding from her role at Mind Share Partners and tap into her background in #recreation too! In her own words: “I’m drawn to SUM's work because it’s important for everyone regardless of identity, location, or ability to feel welcome and safe engaging in our natural spaces.” HARD AGREE! Welcome, Carrie - we're so fortunate to have you on board! #BoardDevelopment #OrganizationalDevelopment #GetOutside

A few observations from an awesome retreat w/ Illinois Institute of Technology MA and Lila Self Leadership Academy: - #IndianaDunes #NationalPark in winter is evocative and inspires awe. Plus the beach is a canvas for creativity. - There is something about a train ride (even a 50 minute one) that makes you feel… away. Thx NICTD South Shore Line. - A fire does wonders for discussion. Soup does wonders for morale. - And a memorable experience will be a more meaningful experience, which is the whole point. An amazing day, an amazing group of young #leaders and proof positive that being #outside makes all the difference in the world. Want to #getoutside and #getconnected? Drop us a line. #retreat #leadershipdevelopment #connection #Indiana Jack Kwatinetz Isabel Mendoza National Park Service

Our pals Vibrant Yoga are offering a free 30-minute chair yoga session tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb 26th at 12:30 PM CST! This virtual class offers simple stretches and mindfulness techniques designed to help you feel refreshed, focused, and ready to tackle the rest of your day. Just use the link below... https://lnkd.in/gAmFhyqS