Custom Walks & Retreats
Walk Around Philadelphia designs custom walking and retreat experiences for universities, nonprofits, faith communities, leadership cohorts, arts groups, and mission-driven organizations.
These programs offer time for reflection, connection, learning, and shared discovery — grounded in the experience of the city’s edge.
We handle the planning and facilitation. You bring your group and your goals.
Examples of what’s possible
Short-Format Experience (3 hours)
A facilitated walk and reflection in a specific location with thematic links to your goals introduces the Walk’s values and collective care practice as part of orientation or leadership development.
EXAMPLE: Americorps VISTA fellows grounding the start of their service year in place, curiosity, and connection.
Larger group retreat (1-5 days)
A deeper shared journey combining walking, reflection, mapping, storytelling, and group dialogue.
EXAMPLE: The SNF Paideia Program at Penn gathered students, faculty, and staff for a multi-day retreat. Small groups each walked a different perimeter segment — collectively circumnavigating the city in a single day — then came back together to share stories, insights, and themes.
-> Exploring along the edges of Philadelphia reveals the essence of the city
Scalable for groups of any size
Whether you’re gathering 10 people or 120, for a single day or a full week, we work with you to design an experience that matches:
- learning goals
- accessibility needs
- schedule & capacity
- pace & depth of engagement
Programs may include walking, orientation sessions, reflection circles, mapping, storytelling, and closing conversations.
Rooted in Care & Inclusion
We prioritize:
- accessibility & equity
- respect for neighborhoods along the perimeter
- emotional and physical safety
- thoughtful pacing
- shared responsibility and reflection
Let’s Explore Together
If you’re curious about bringing your group to the city’s edge — we’d love to talk.