With staff from across the entire organization—from foresters to communications, science teams to donor relations, and everyone in between—the retreat created space for conversations that don't always happen in a typical workday. By bringing those perspectives together, we were able to think more broadly about the challenges and the opportunities ahead of us. We learned about everything from invasive species from our foresters, to how our Monitoring team sets up carbon monitoring plots, our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work, our wildfire prevention projects in the West, and even got a biochar demonstration around the campfire one evening. It was a perfect time for us all to deepen our understanding of each other's work and share our passions.  

We also made time to enjoy being together. Because we staff our teams in the communities we serve, many of us work in different locations and collaborate virtually across different states, so we were all excited to reconnect in person, get to know new teammates, and deepen relationships with old friends. We had so much fun with endless activities like birdwatching, a murder mystery event, crafting, and even watching some sports together after the day was done (Knicks in 5!). Those moments always remind us how great it is to be a part of an organization where you truly enjoy who you work with, and how those connections make our work even more meaningful.