More people outside.
More often.
More ways.
More reasons.
More places.
More.
The sum human benefit of the focus, calm and connection that come from restorative experiences outside is our goal. It’s even our name.
SUM curates, design and leads experiences outside around your goals. We make outside easy - for you, for everyone.
What SUM Does
SUM brings the benefits of time spent outside - focus, calm, insight, and connection - to people and groups who need it. We curate and lead wellness outings, trainings, leadership and team retreats, and more - all outside, and close to Chicago.
Whether yours is a workplace group, a social organization, an educational class, or a group of friends, SUM works with you to understand your needs and aspirations. We then customize an experience - or set of experiences - around your unique aspirations.
While we believe everyone can benefit from time spent outside, we know that is disproportionately difficult for some. Our model ensures that welcoming, inclusive, and purposeful experiences outside are available to all.
everyone + outside
Why We Do It
There are many reasons people don’t spend more time outside. It’s considered unusual at work or limited to the weekend. People don’t know where to go. People don’t want to go alone. People have been excluded because of race, disability, gender, identity, or income. The outdoors and nature feel like someone else’s. The list goes on and on.
SUM is working to change this. We all can benefit physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually from time spent outside - as long as it’s easy, safe, and welcoming. SUM is working to ensure that our core premise - everyone + outside - means just that.
Whatever your group, and whatever your need, SUM makes it easy, welcoming, inclusive, and memorable.
SUM Types of Experience
-
Core Experiences are unique, curated offsite sessions - from a few hours to a full day - that help groups accomplish a focused objective. SUM uses time outside as a catalyst for deepening connections and exploring organizational effectiveness.
Recent Example - Regional Transportation Authority senior leadership retreat at Indiana Dunes National Park
-
Restore Experiences heighten wellness and mindfulness, with a greater goal of facilitating a deeper sense of connectivity to self, the group, and the natural world.
Recent Example - A monthly series of wellness sessions with the Burke Group, ranging from hiking to yoga, kayaking to guided forest therapy
-
Explore Experiences focus on creating a memorable, shared experience using a central theme to prompt connection and conversation, in some of the most unique and beautiful places in the greater Chicago and NW Indiana region.
Recent Example - Kayaking the Des Plaines River with PODER staff and community members
SUM Testimonials
-
![three women standing together posing for their picture on the sandy beach]()
"Going on a hike with SUM was one of the best exploring experiences I've ever had. I had so much fun during my trips, felt extremely taken care of, and left with many new friends. Because of SUM I appreciate the outdoors in an even greater way, and feel like exploring it is more accessible to me. I look forward to more events with SUM and having more fun memories with the team.”
Katerina Levi. Ma’wa Collective
-
![two women standing on a beach smiling]()
"In these uncertain and transformative times of fluctuating office space, SUM and their activities are a crucial resource to promote team building, connection, and togetherness."
Jose Martinez, Digital Accessibility Supervisor, Access Living
-
![a group of people sitting on stone steps]()
"Thank you so much for the wonderful retreat you organized for us. The team really enjoyed it – I did for sure! And all activities, questions, conversations, etc. were exactly what this group needed."
Petra Hurtado, Chief Foresight and Knowledge Officer, American Planning Association
-
![two people tandem kayaking together on a green lake]()
“SUM’s "everyone outside" team will deliver beyond expectations. As CEO of a non-profit; they made my job so easy in taking care of hard duty stuff including bus, food, and entrance pass to our hike in Indiana Dunes National Park. They were so welcoming and genuinely awesome! They even had resuable foodware for us to meet our initiatives on wastefulness. They had created various options for people to perform on the trip. Great crew!!”
Layalee Beirat, CEO, Chicago Muslims Green Team
-
![group of people standing around each other in a green forest]()
“The partnership between the Council and SUM is one based on shared values, curiosity, and engagement. This event kept the best of what it means to be a Council member and EL front and center. The addition of forest bathing exposed us to the opportunity to recenter and connect with nature and each other”
Harley Jones, Director of Domestic Programs, Project HOPE, Council on Global Affairs Emerging Leader Class of 201
-
![a group of people walking on a path in the woods wearing backpacks and one individual utilizing a wheelchair for accessibility]()
"SUM allowed our team to unplug from work and connect with each other. Our team was able to have meaningful conversation free of day-to-day distractions. The ability for our team to allow the day to be planned and executed by SUM staff also allowed for the day to be restorative."
Ashley Eisenmenger, Disability Inclusion Training Specialist, Access Living and Founding Board Secretary, SUM
-
![a group of people posing for a photo outside, in front of a beach]()
"Josh and the SUM team provided a great forum and structure for our team to connect in a meaningful and valuable way. We really enjoyed the SUM experience."
Jill Leary, Chief of Staff, Regional Transportation Authority
-
![three people standing next to each other in a green forest]()
“I do firmly believe that being outside, specifically while walking in the woods, greatly contributed to my clarity of thinking and my willingness to express myself more openly. I highly recommend the experience”
Dan Loftus, PODER
-
![A group of people sitting on a wooden picnic table eating chips and drinking smoothies]()
A few weeks back, I had the privilege of participating in a unique leadership workshop led by SUM. It wasn't your typical conference room setting – we were surrounded by the beauty of nature, venturing out for a day of connection and reflection. The fresh air and calming scenery provided the perfect backdrop for exploring leadership from a different perspective. We delved into the importance of self-awareness and taking a breath to recharge, even amidst the constant challenges we face."
Kevin Bueso, Chief Financial Officer, Regional Transportation Authority
-
![selfie of a group of people smiling with the green woods in the background]()
“SUM allowed me and my team to connect without office distractions and truly listen to each other. Absolutely had a wonderful time and can’t wait to do it again.”
Griselda Piedra, PODER
-
![two people looking a the sandy beach and blue water with a blue sky]()
“SUM helped our organization step back, take a breath and see ourselves in a new light. Being outside together helped us connect to ourselves, each other and our work in a different way.”
Rae Perez, Daylight
-
![three people walking in the distance next to each other on a fall forest path]()
“SUM offered me and my co-workers the opportunity to connect purposefully outside work in a setting that allowed us to reflect, laugh and learn more about each other.”
Kyle Berry, Christopher B Burke Engineering
-
![a group of people walking on a path underneath a clear blue sky]()
“I do firmly believe that being outside, specifically while walking in the woods, greatly contributed to my clarity of thinking and my willingness to express myself more openly. I highly recommend the experience.”
Dan Loftus, PODER
-
![group of people standing by a rail looking out at the Chicago buildings and lake]()
"SUM got us out of the office and into the Palos Preserves for a day of reflection and reconnection — helping us get aligned, focused, and energized for our organizational development work ahead. Grateful for the safe, comfortable, and thoughtful experience SUM created for us!”
Lyndon Valicenti, Daylight
SUM Leadership
-
Executive Director, SUM
-
Board President - Principal, Lamar Johnson Collaborative
-
Board VP, Founder, Bestola Consulting
-
Board Secretary, Interim Director of Communications, Access Living
-
Board Treasurer, Principal, Blue Eddy Community Advisors, LLC
-
Board Member, Public Sector Consultant, Crowe LLP
-
Board Member, Lead Principal, Mind Share Partners
-
Board Member, Executive Director, Clean Energy Jobs and Justice Fund
-
Board Member, President and CEO, Association House of Chicago
-
Board Member, Director of Community Service Partnerships, Interfaith America
SUM Public Events
-
School's Out! Veterans Day Hike
Nov. 11, 9:30am-1:00pm
Part of our School’s Out series of family events on Chicago Public Schools closure dates.
Join us for a morning hike into Site A - a top secret nuclear research facility - and some crisp fall air, foliage, wildlife and more.
-
School's Out! Ice Falls at Starved Rock
Feb. 17, 9:30am-2:00pm
Part of our School’s Out series of family events on Chicago Public Schools closure dates.
Winter at Starved Rock State Park is amazing, and can also be intimidating. Join us to see frozen waterfalls and have lunch in the historic lodge!
-
School's Out! Horses, Pinball and Pizza
March 18, 9:30am-1:00pm
Part of our School’s Out series of family events on Chicago Public Schools closure dates.
Ride horses (they need winter exercise), play pinball, and eat pizza. Pretty stimple.
SUM’s our name and our philosophy. It means everyone + outside. It means more people spending more time outside in more ways for more reasons. SUM means the total positive impact of all that.
SUM is a registered 501(c)3, founded in 2022. Our founding Board and Executive Director came together around the simple notion that it should be easier for people to reap the benefits of time spent outside. Then we founded SUM to do the hard work of making that easy notion a reality - in our early days we are focusing on leading a wide of restorative experiences, but our long-term vision includes building amenities and infrastructure to expand what experiences outside are even possible in the greater Chicago region.