Traverse Together

Come join us! We have fun in new experiences while also building upon independent living skills...

April 2024: Always a good time when we Traverse-even in our own city!

Paint splatter room was a fun release and so grateful for our professional photo shoot. We were able to get shots for graduation, portfolios and upcoming business plans as we keep Moving Forward.

March 2024- Traverse had the opportunity to go to Patagonia in Chile for a backpacking trip, with partner organization Foster The Earth.  Our students demonstrated such strength and proved that any one can persevere and literally, make it over any mountain.

February 2024- Lake Geneva winter retreat weekend, making memories.

-Snowtubing and s'mores.

-A mouse in the house

-Bonding time and "fighting" like siblings.

-A photography class with such great energy, learning about capturing the story and opportunities for self business.

December 2023- We Traversed to New York City for our annual holiday gathering.  Travel can be challenging especially in a big city but in the end we conquered the waves, all grew closer and had a great time exploring the city, including the 9/11 Memorial, Central Park, Time Square, Brooklyn Bridge and an amazing Broadway (and even got pictures with the stars of the show).

Traversegiving

November 2023- We celebrated Thanksgiving together at one of our alumni’s homes. Everyone brought food to share and fun was had at the movies, playing games, singing karaoke and of course eating amazing food!

The Movie "Clueless" at Millennium Park 

August 2023- Having fun together and soaking in the last days of summer, before school starts again.

Where did the summer go!?

Apostle Islands Camping and Kayaking Trip

August 2023- We took a road trip to return back for the annual Apostle Islands camping/kayaking trip, in Wisconsin, with our partner organization Chicago Adventure Therapy (CAT).  There were a lot of laughs and bonding while we also challenged ourselves: sleeping and cooking outdoors, kayaking and hiking. We enjoyed new experiences which included riding a ferry over to Madeline Island and exploring it by bike.  There was plenty of ice cream too, of course!

Camp Aramoni

July 2023- This was our third time glamping at Camp Aramoni.  We explored nature, including a sunflower farm and the canyons and waterfalls in nearby Mathisen State Park.  They fed us well, including an amazing picnic by the river.  We gathered each night around the campfire, shared stories and continued to build strong connections with each other.

As the students stated:

I am so happy to have had the opportunity to relax and recharge in a beautiful and safe place. I love being outdoors and I loved the opportunity to explore while being catered in an amazing way. 

I loved every little detail and being outside in the sun and seeing the stars felt like I was connecting with myself again.

Guatemala

June 2023- We traveled to Guatemala where we volunteered with the children living in an orphanage there. We also completed service projects including working in the kitchen, daycare and sorting beans. We were able to explore the local area including hiking a volcano where we got to cook marshmallows and pizza on the hot lava (from an explosion 9 years earlier).  We also visited the nearby city of Antigua where we immersed ourselves in the local culture, food and shopping.

Bike and Camping Trip

May 2023- It was such a fun weekend biking with Chicago Adventure Therapy at Camp Sullivan.

Everyone's confidence grew while also engaging in challenges by choice and setting the goals/boundaries that were right personally for them.

We all watched out for and protected each other in the challenges of biking on the road, and in life.

Big Marsh Mountain Biking and Milwaukee Road Trip

April 2023- This April we went mountain biking at Big Marsh with our AMAZING partner Chicago Adventure Therapy. We focused on building foundations in order to build connections with each other and the families we want to create for ourselves. We determined it may feel imperfect, but nature perfectly works things out how it's supposed to be-imperfectly perfect.

From there we spent some time at Semicolon Bookstore finding our inner child before heading to explore Milwaukee.

One of the students: "This is really nice. We love exploring new cities but we also love representin' Chicago!"

Family Finding Training

March 2023- Sometimes (often) things don't go according to plan as we try to coordinate all the plans, work schedules, train schedules, illness, and weather.

Nonetheless we have to keep moving forward, and these moments can bring unexpected pleasant surprises though too. In only an hour's time, our Family Finding training (to search for family we may be unaware of) helped identify new or lost family connections.

Camp Aramoni

January 2023- We had a relaxing winter retreat at Camp Aramoni learning how to engage in self-love and move forward from past trauma. To best be able to help younger kids with similar experiences. Frozen waterfalls, finding our family and cultural roots, puppy kisses and hot chili definitely help all that too!

Makeover, Dinner and Theater Night

December 2022- Traverse celebrated the holidays in style!  A shopping spree at Kohls for outfits, a night in The Palmer House, hair and makeup by The Aveda Hair Institute, a Broadway show, and dinner at The Dearborn.  We are so grateful to the donors who made this weekend possible!

Swimming Classes

November 2022-We partnered with Live Grit Soars to learn swimming lessons.  Suits, goggles, and caps were provided in order to teach such an important skill.  Who knows maybe we will see some of our students in the Olympics someday!

Devil's Lake, WI

October 14-16th,2022-What a great weekend to Traverse Together in Devil's Lake, WI. These young women are all amazing and persevering through so much, including:

- Camping in 30 degree temps, with no complaining

- Climbing their own mountains and rappelling back down (physically and literally), with support from each other

We have so many laughs together while also having new experiences and making memories for a lifetime. Thanks again to Chicago Adventure Therapy for partnering with us-such an amazing group of people, creating space and opportunity for everyone in all environments-especially outside.

Beach house in Manistee, Michigan

August 18, 2022-August 21, 2022- This weekend retreat included a beach day, hiking in the dunes and exploring the scenery.

Kayaking Trip at Apostle Islands

July 27, 2022-July 31, 2022- We Traversed to the Apostle Islands with our partner organization Chicago Adventure Therapy (CAT). It was amazing to watch so many of the students overcome fears, be brave and experience the first of many things (s'mores, sunsets, the milkyway, shooting stars, pitching their own tents, paddling to and sleeping on an island). Trips like these make our students reimagine their possibilities!

African American Heritage Water Trail and Overnight Glamping Trip

June 19th-21st, 2022- This overnight trip was jampacked with fun and adventure! We celebrated Juneteenth by learning more about the underground railroad, and Chicago's influence on it, and by kayaking with Chicago Adventure Therapy on the African American Heritage Water trail. We camped in tents, hiked at Starved Rock and chased waterfalls! We also made our own pizzas, self-reflected and glamped at Camp Aramoni – which was well earned!

Adventure EXP - Participants

May 2022- Rachel got to take the first students participating in our partnership program, with Adventure EXP, to settle in Austin Texas for the summer. This is a work destination program with options throughout the US and abroad. Jobs and housing provided for our participants while exploring the world and their passions, building strengths and learning independent living skills (including resume building and budgeting)! 

Hiking Trip

April 24th, 2022- We had so much fun Traversing Rock Cut State Park! We focused on assessing risk and defining safety, not only while hiking but in all parts of our lives. April Event FAQs

Bonfire, Reiki, Restorative Yoga

March 27th, 2022-We participated in yoga and reiki to focus on our physical and emotional health. Through engaging in self-care and letting go of the things that no longer served us, in order to move forward

Lasagna Love

November 7th, 2021-We went grocery shopping on a budget to buy the needed ingredients and learned how to make lasagnas in a virtual cooking class with Lasagna Love. Participants were able to keep one for themselves and give another away to someone in need of some lasagna love. Just a fun way of engaging in daily independent living skills.

Backpacking and Gaining Camping Skills

November 21st, 2021-We got out of our neighborhoods and went backpacking with REI in a suburban preserve and learned to pitch a tent. We can't wait to go camping this summer now!

Aerial Yoga

October 10th, 2021-We engaged in aerial yoga to improve our strength, balance, and flexibility both mentally and physically through the combination of physical activity and art.

Water Safety

October 23rd, 2021-We partnered with the B.R. Ryall YMCA Unsinkable program for a water safety day to ease those fears, and feel safer not only in the pool but in life.