I create single paintings all the time. A children’s book is basically a collection of dozens of pages. In this video, I show you how I am making sure they all look like they belong together when assembled into one story.

This is part of a video diary to take you behind the scenes of the making of “The Penguin Who Flew” by artist, author, and speaker Jason Kotecki. 

🐧Visit https://escapeadulthood.com/fly to learn more!

#ThePenguinWhoFlew

Here’s a time-lapse video of me drawing Marty’s humble abode, floating on an iceberg somewhere cold. You can see he’s welcoming of visitors!

This is part of a video diary to take you behind the scenes of the making of “The Penguin Who Flew” by artist, author, and speaker Jason Kotecki. 

🐧Visit https://escapeadulthood.com/fly to learn more!

#ThePenguinWhoFlew

Sometimes when struggling with how to draw something, a simple post-it note can go a long way!

This is part of a video diary to take you behind the scenes of the making of “The Penguin Who Flew” by artist, author, and speaker Jason Kotecki. 

🐧Visit https://escapeadulthood.com/fly to learn more!

#ThePenguinWhoFlew

Pondering the incompatibility of penguins and mustaches.

This is part of a video diary to take you behind the scenes of the making of “The Penguin Who Flew” by artist, author, and speaker Jason Kotecki. 

🐧Visit https://escapeadulthood.com/fly to learn more!

#ThePenguinWhoFlew

How exactly does one draw a tap-dancing penguin? 

This is part of a video diary to take you behind the scenes of the making of “The Penguin Who Flew” by artist, author, and speaker Jason Kotecki. 

🐧Visit https://escapeadulthood.com/fly to learn more!

#ThePenguinWhoFlew

They threaten to keep me from doing this project, but I shall not let them. Also, what does a penguin’s house look like? 

This is part of a video diary to take you behind the scenes of the making of “The Penguin Who Flew” by artist, author, and speaker Jason Kotecki. 

🐧Visit https://escapeadulthood.com/fly to learn more!

#ThePenguinWhoFlew

In which I share something that never happened to me before and how to write a book while driving a car. 

This is part of a video diary to take you behind the scenes of the making of “The Penguin Who Flew” by artist, author, and speaker Jason Kotecki. 

🐧Visit https://escapeadulthood.com/fly to learn more!

#ThePenguinWhoFlew

I’m working on a new project! This is the first entry in a video diary I’m making to take you behind the scenes of the making of “The Penguin Who Flew.”

🐧Visit https://escapeadulthood.com/fly to learn more!

#ThePenguinWhoFlew 

“Really?” you might be wondering. “For everyone on my list?”

Look, one can never be one hundred percent certain about anything (except that “All I Want for Christmas” by Mariah Carey is always playing somewhere), but we’re pretty confident that you’ll be able to check the hardest to shop for off your list. 

At the very least, you’ll come away with a handful of unique things you won’t be able to find on that one site that starts with an “A” and ends with “mazon.” (Yes, we know some of our books are sold there, but let’s not start getting technical now.)

Below are 12 ideas to consider, along with a helpful hint about who they are perfect for!

As always, thank you for supporting our small rebellion, where 5% of every sale goes to help kids, with over $130,000 donated to date! (Learn more.)

🔎 Wonderhunt: A Scavenger Hunt for the Weary Soul
Perfect for: busy moms and people who have overwhelmed or grieving souls.
Shop Now

🍎🍊Must Be Nice: Your Guide to Growing Beyond the Compare Game
Perfect for: people who are newly graduated, retired, or wondering what’s next.
Shop Now

🕯️Hope in the Darkness Candle
Perfect for: people who are grieving or going through a hard time.
Shop Now

🎄Happy Holidays Mini* Print Collection
Perfect for: cubicle dwellers, art lovers, and people with not a lot of wall space.
Shop Now

🍩 A Chance of Awesome: How Changing the Way You See Changes Everything
Perfect for: people who are dealing with recent unexpected changes at work or in life.
Shop Now

📆 2024 Celebrate Everything Calendar
Perfect for: families with young kids, people with classrooms, doctors and dentists with offices, and your top clients or customers you want to appreciate. 
Shop Now

🐧 Penguins Can’t Fly +39 Other Rules That Don’t Exist
Perfect for: new parents or people who have been in their current job for a long time.
Shop Now

🌼 Wonderhunt Card Deck
Perfect for: Busy people with purses and glove compartments.
Shop Now

🧩 Puzzles
Perfect for: Kids, kids at heart, grandparents, and people who are laid up with an illness or injury.
Shop Now

🧦 Limited Edition Socks
Perfect for: teenagers, fun aunts & uncles, and people who have to wear a suit every day.
Shop Now

🍷 Adultitis Fighter Tumbler
Perfect for: wine enthusiasts and people who like to drink things in shiny containers.
Shop Now

🍁 Fall Collection of Mini*Prints
Perfect for: people with FOMO who will be disappointed when this series goes away on December 17th.
Shop Now

Need more ideas? Shop the entire Lemonade Stand! 🍋

2023 marked the first time Wondernite was held in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. It was another sold-out affair, and the largest crowd yet. It was also the first time Kim joined Jason in sharing work, as she told the powerful stories behind three of her photographs. Here is an album of photos from the magical evening…

Our ninth Escape Adulthood Summit was historic in that it was the first to be held outside the state of Wisconsin. We traveled west to the mountains of Utah, just outside Park City.

Nestled into the Uinta foothills on the beautiful High Star Ranch, the DeJoria Center’s combination of rustic charm and modern elegance make it one of the finest event centers in all of Utah. Attendees were surrounded by some of the most amazing vistas nature has to offer.

This Summit was also our biggest yet, with veterans and newcomers from over fifteen states!

We were proud to send out more Golden Tickets than ever before!

Corrine Hanson has been to all nine Summits – the only one who can claim that fact.

Another first was the fact that all three kids joined us as staff members. Lucy, our oldest, is an old hand by now, but Ben and Ginny got their first taste of the Summit and were heroic helpers. It was truly a family affair!

Taking inspiration from the mountains, our theme was “Elevate.” But the first order of business on day one was to “Excavate” our lives, by looking back at our past for clues and insights to help us move forward.

Kim set the tone perfectly with an emotional and inspiring first talk. She encouraged us to Remember the moments of wonder and happy places of our childhood, Reconnect with our body, mind, and soul, and Remove the things in our life that are no longer serving us.

Show & Tell is always a highlight and serves as a unique way to get to know people. This year featured a lot of fun treasures and anecdotes!

There are always great takeaways from the talks, but some of the best aha moments come from fellow attendees in the Mastermind Sessions. Everyone has a chance to go deep into a variety of topics, including parenting, relationships, productivity, and dealing with grief and loss. Being out of your normal environment in a safe space with good people can lead to amazing breakthroughs and the comfort of knowing you’re not alone in the fight against Adultitis.

The weather threatened to ruin recess time, but Adultitis didn’t win. One group engaged in some hijinks with a military-sized parachute. Some accompanied Kim on a Wonderhunt. Others played cornhole or blew bubbles or went for a walk on the beautiful grounds. Many were content to hang out and talk to new (and old) friends.

Monica Hoyt and Shannon Babb joined forces and shared their science superpowers with some fun lessons and experiments for a curious group of attendees.

Before dinner, keynote speaker and DJ extraordinaire Rob Ferre was a special guest who gave a talk that invited us to be the first on the dance floor, figuratively and literally.

After dinner, I picked up where Kim left off on Excavation and spoke on our theme of “Elevate.” I reminded everyone that elevate is an action word, and shared ways to elevate above our past, our present circumstances, our self-limiting beliefs, and the negativity we so often encounter in our modern world.

Then it was time to party, putting what we learned from DJ Rob into practice. Kit Courter led a conga line that snaked its way through the room until everyone was aboard…

Destination: dance party!

DJ Rob was impressed by our group’s readiness to boogie and he did a masterful job of spinning classic tunes that kept all ages dancing the night away.

On a personal note, I was overjoyed to have both my parents attend their first Summit, and we surprised everyone on the second day when my Dad showed up in his bee costume, the very same one he wore when he told my family he had cancer. After sharing that story the night before, it was cool to see folks pose for pictures with him (and his partner-in-crime, the Queen Bee) as he gave out Bee Optimistic pins to everyone.

It was great fun to lead everyone in an in-person edition of “Let’s Draw,” which had become one of the most popular segments of Escape Adulthood LIVE. I was able to project my iPad drawing onto the big screen, and attendees got to try their hand at pastels. I loved seeing how everyone’s “astronaut dinos” turned out!

One table, led by a group of four sisters, put the Play-Doh we handed out to good use, making this colorful dinosaur-themed whimsy wonderland.

During lunch on the second day, we got invaded by some terrifying visitors…

It turns out they were friendlier than they looked, which was a relief to everyone, and provided some good photo ops.

As the Summit was nearing its close, Kim and I made a special appearance as our 99-year-old selves. We wore the same costumes we were wearing on the 99th episode of Escape Adulthood LIVE, the very show that was prematurely cut short by the storm that destroyed our property.

After some shenanigans, I shared some thoughts with attendees and led them in an activity that got them reflecting on their takeaways from the Summit.

Of course, an event like this doesn’t happen without a team of helping hands. We take care of the details so our guests can truly escape the grip of Adultitis for a few days, free from calendars, clocks, and commitments. Special thanks to Jenna, Rachel, Sue, Lucy, Ben, and Ginny for your selflessness, and for sharing your gifts of time and talent to make Summit #9 a resounding success!

And finally, thank you to everyone who joined us. Thank you for your trust, your kindness, your openness, and your generosity. The best part of a Summit is the people. Thanks for bringing the magic!

[ This post features photos taken by Ryan Callister as well as various Summit attendees. You can check out even more photos from this year’s Summit here. ]

I wanted to share an update with you about what happened in the middle of our season finale 99th episode of Escape Adulthood LIVE. Kim and I had a lot of fun dressing up as 99-year-olds. There was much shenanigating (the first five minutes were worth the price of admission!). Near the end of our “Let’s Draw” segment, a severe storm knocked out our power, abruptly cutting the show short.

As it turned out, the storm produced a 100-plus mile per hour straight-line wind, which from what I understand is like a tornado but instead of rotating, the wind comes in one direction. Kim ran upstairs to collect the kids. When she came back downstairs, one of the kids mentioned a tree had fallen, and Kim confirmed there was “significant tree damage.”

After the storm settled a bit, I went upstairs to assess the situation. I was not ready for what I saw.

I expected to see a few fallen trees, not a preview of the apocalypse. A hurricane-force wind had done its damage. Our backyard, which had at least a hundred trees, was nearly bare. They were just…gone. Uprooted trees were everywhere. A few jagged sticks jutted out from the ground – the remains of trees that had been snapped in two. Most of the rest were diagonal, ready to fall at any moment. 

I walked outside into the dusk. It was raining lightly. Two trees had fallen on our roof, and another landed on our car, shattering the back window.

Carnage was everywhere.

By the time I went back inside, Kim had a cozy nest set up downstairs with blankets and candles, and flashlights. We were in shock, still in our silly costumes, trying to process what just happened. We were grateful to all be safe.

The days since have been a blur. It took about 24 hours for the power to be restored. I was scheduled to leave at 6:45 the next morning with Ginny for a speaking engagement in Chattanooga. It was supposed to be her first Daddy Daughter trip.

In bed that night, every time lightning flashed, the eerie silhouette of the craggy trees lit up like a living nightmare. 

After “sleeping” for about an hour, Kim and I were up early to see about clearing the driveway. A friendly neighbor stopped by and helped me chainsaw the fallen trees and push them out of the way, clearing a path for the other car that was still in good shape. 

After much deliberation, we decided to continue as planned, and Ginny and I headed to the airport. I tried to refocus my mind on the job at hand. Kim took on the Herculean task of calling insurance agents and tree guys and sorting through the mayhem that attracted a steady stream of onlookers perusing the devastation.

I am writing this from a hotel room in downtown Chattanooga. My youngest daughter is still sleeping, tuckered out from two hours spent in the pool yesterday afternoon. My talk for the Tennessee Pharmacy Association was well-received, and Ginny served as my beautiful assistant, checking bingo cards and handing out books as prizes to attendees. My goal has been to be professional, deliver a remarkable presentation, and make this trip as memorable and fun for Ginny as possible.

Meanwhile, my wife has been an All-Star, with her titles of “Director of Everything” and “Little Miss Details” proving to be accurate labels. My parents came up to help, bringing years of wisdom and a generator to power our refrigerator. So many people have stepped up to help in mighty ways. 

Even amidst the shock of processing the initial damage, we have tried to turn any fear we’ve had into curiosity. We are heartbroken over the devastation of our property, but are already asking the question, “What does this make possible?” We are grateful for our safety, an outpouring of support, and amazed at the ways we are already seeing God work.

I’m sure there will be more to report on that front in the coming weeks and months.
​
One seemingly miraculous development is that even though close to a hundred trees were uprooted and tossed about all over our yard and house, the new studio renovation was completely untouched. This is especially significant because it had yet to be insured since the walls and roof were so recently finalized. 

“Turn fear into curiosity” was one of the pieces of advice my 99-year-old self gave me in the monologue I delivered just a few minutes before the storm hit. I think it was one of my best monologues yet – definitely one of the most emotional – and I’m proud to be able to show it to you here.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts and prayers as we continue to sort through this. It could have been much worse, and I am reminded yet again that it’s awfully hard to be mad or afraid when you’re busy counting blessings.

🤔 I wonder…what’s something you’ve recently been reminded to be grateful for?

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, when all live events were canceled, Kim and Jason Kotecki went from seeing their speaking business go up in smoke to achieving a dream come true that was twenty years in the making.

The Beatles song, “Here Comes The Sun,” turned out to be a fortuitous anthem for their improbable journey and inspired the first series of paintings to come out of Jason’s studio. He created this film as a hopeful reminder that the darkness shall not overcome the light.

☀️ Check out the paintings here!

It was worth the wait.

After having to cancel the 2020 Escape Adulthood Summit because of that pesky global pandemic, we were overjoyed to be able to host another sold-out affair in our new hometown of Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

Nestled on the stunning shores of Lake Michigan, we had two glorious days to process a rough 18 months and celebrate being together again. And that was the best part: Just being together, in person, sans screens.

Not to mention the hugs.

Our theme this year was “Rise.” After a long, turbulent journey through the depths, we wanted to provide an opportunity for healing and a chance to lift up our spirits and open our hearts to new opportunities in front of us.

We kicked things off with a good old-fashioned edition of Show & Tell, just like in kindergarten. Everyone was invited to bring and share something from their childhood. There is no better ice breaker, and it delivered a lot of laughs and no small amount of touching moments.

Kim and I teamed up to give a presentation about lessons we learned taking our family on a hike to the Lanikai Pillbox in Oahu. It was an adventure that ended up giving us more than we bargained for, but the lessons were just as relevant for us as we rise out of this pandemic.

During our tailgate buffet lunch the first day, stocked with burgers and brats (Sheboygan is the Bratwurst Capital of the World, after all), attendees were delighted by some surprise guests.

Two of the Johnsonville Sausages from the Milwaukee Brewers showed up for some shenanigans.

There was racing.

During the Summit, we offer a number of different Mastermind topics – ranging from parenting to caregiving to dealing with the difficult people in our life – and everyone has a chance to sit in on a group of their choice. The discussions that ensue, and the golden nuggets of insight that come forth, make these Masterminds one of the most valuable parts of any Summit.

Next, Jenna led everyone in a three-part kite-building project. The first step was to build them…

…the second part was to decorate them…

…and the third part? Flying them, of course!

That was a perfect entry into Recess. It was a majestic sight to see dozens and dozens of kites soaring above Blue Harbor Resort against the backdrop of a brilliant blue sky. For some, it was the first time ever flying a kite, and for many, the first time doing it since they were a kid.

It’s a bit of a tradition to eat dessert first for at least one of the meals. A slice of delicious apple pie did the trick, serving as a sweet appetizer to a plated dinner and captivating conversations.

After dinner, I was excited to be able to unveil the series of paintings I’d been working on since moving to Sheboygan. Inspired by the Beatles classic, “Here Comes the Sun,” this series features sunrise vistas from Lake Michigan paired with lyrics from the song. All but one of the paintings had been covered, so it was a joy to show them off for the first time.

In my talk, I shared the stories behind the paintings as I recounted the making of a twenty-year dream-come-true and the improbable journey to finding Sheboygan – and our new home – during a pandemic.

That night, we also surprised our Wonder & Whimsy Society Patrons with a one-of-a-kind acrylic block made from one of the new paintings.

In a past episode of Escape Adulthood LIVE, we interviewed Eddie Korosa, Jr.

Eddie is a prolific polka player who is most well-known for appearing with John Candy in the classic movie Home Alone. In the film, Eddie and his real-life band were part of the “Kenosha Kickers” who drove Kevin’s mom home from the airport. The interview was a hit, and Kim and I knew he’d be a great surprise guest for the Summit.

There was polka. And chicken dancing.

Our night ended with Eddie and his band bringing the polka party around a bonfire complete with s’mores. And here’s a fun fact: In the movie, John Candy claimed that the group was “very big in Sheboygan.” Even though the movie came out thirty years ago, I am proud to say that the Escape Adulthood Summit was the first time ever that Eddie and his band were booked to play in Sheboygan!

Kim kicked off the second day with a very powerful and inspirational talk about her quest to find inspiration by getting up for thirty sunrises in thirty days. We recorded the talk, and have made it available for Wonder & Whimsy Society members and Escape Adulthood alumni. It concluded with a slideshow made by our daughter Lucy that combined some of Kim’s photos with the powerful song “Rise Up” by Andra Day. There was barely a dry eye in the room.

We design the Summit to be introvert and extrovert friendly, providing lots of time to meet and interact with new people, but also space to think and reflect on the lessons that present themselves. The location offered plenty of opportunities for inspiration.

At the end of our time together, I was excited to give everyone a special limited-edition print featuring some art from my “Here Comes the Sun” series overlayed with the lyrics to the classic song.

An event like this doesn’t happen without the help of many hands. Jenna, Sue, Rachel, and my daughter Lucy helped make the 2021 Summit magical, and they were always ready to do whatever was needed. Thank you for your generous spirit of selflessness!

And thank you to everyone who made the effort to be with us. A lot of planning goes into an Escape Adulthood Summit, but the best part is always your presence and what you bring to the table.

We’ve been through some dark times, but never forget that shadows prove the sunshine!

[ Not enough photos for you? We’ve got over a thousand more here! ]

We’re excited to announce a life-changing experience for the biggest supporters of our work. It’s for people addicted to making memories and creating meaningful moments. It’s for people looking for an escape from taking themselves too seriously. It’s for people fed up with Adultitis who are ready to reawaken their spirit, reignite their passion, and see with new eyes.

Joy is contagious. The people you surround yourself with are the biggest influence on your behavior, attitude, and results. This community exists to give you the fuel to fill yourself up, so you can go back out and serve the important people in your life. The Wonder & Whimsy Society is your safety net to get the inspiration, encouragement, and accountability you need to live your best life and let your authentic, childlike spark shine.

If you’ve ever felt like that childlike spirit is an unwelcome guest in your own family, circle of friends, or workplace, there is a place for you here.

This is your tribe, your people, your chosen family, where you no longer have to apologize for being you.

Welcome home. We created the Wonder & Whimsy Society for you.

I just finished up this painting while my family and I continue to practice social distancing, cooped up together at home. Being in the studio has been a wonderful way for me to unplug for a bit and lose myself in act of creation. I have so many ideas bubbling up right now!

The original idea for this one has been sitting in my sketchbook for years, inspired by the song “Ghosts That We Knew” by Mumford & Sons. I revisited the idea during this crisis, as it seems to be a perfect message for the time.

So give me hope in the darkness that I will see the light
‘Cause oh that gave me such a fright
But I will hold as long as you like
Just promise me we’ll be alright

Amidst a lot of sadness, grief, and uncertainty, it’s easy to lose hope. But we only need a small flicker of light to remind us that hope is never lost, even in the darkest moments. I hope this piece encourages you.

👉 You can get an 11×14 print here. (Original is already sold.)

Here is a time-lapse video of me making the painting, accompanied by the wonderful song that inspired it:

The third annual Wondernite was another magical affair filled with smiles, wows, and even a few tears. The exclusive art collecting event is where I premiere never-before-seen originals and limited edition artwork, but more than anything, the team and I strive to create an inspiring and entertaining evening of wonder.

I wanted to share a few thoughts (and a lot of photos!) from the evening. Enjoy!

Guests came from all over to the top of the Park Hotel, with stunning views of the majestic State Capitol building, to enjoy a fancy night out and browse my newest creations.

Along with the original art, we also have a ton of other fun goodies on hand, including our newest product releases, which make perfect gifts that accommodate any sized-budget.

Kim and I were excited to have our children join us for the first time this year. We weren’t sure how they’d handle the late night and the fancy dinner, but they were champs! They were there all day helping with set-up, and held it together through dinner and my talk. (I think they fell asleep one second after being tucked into bed!) We paid them handsomely in Legos and an awesome breakfast at The Old Fashioned the next morning.

Guests dined on their choice of prime rib or Atlantic salmon and enjoyed lively discussions with old and new friends.

I think my son Ben’s highlight was the personal bottle of tiny ketchup that came with his chicken strips.

One of my new paintings was titled, “Time for S’Mores,” so we commissioned the culinary geniuses at Daisy Café and Cupcakery to create s’mores cupcakes for the occasion…

…complete with a yummy marshmallow filling!

After last year, attendees clamored for the return of my brother Doug as auctioneer. And so we had a small live auction, filled with fun and extremely exclusive items, like a signed copy of an out-of-print Escape Adulthood mini book, and a framed original canvas proof from one of my paintings.

Kim surprised me by having the kids introduce me by “sharing something about Dad that other people might not know.” Needless to say, I started my talk – in the words of Linda Richman – a little verklempt.

I love sharing the stories behind my newest pieces. Going beyond the hows and whys of color and form and subject matter, I explain the “why” behind each piece, telling stories and sharing ideas that always bring it back to the guests in attendance.

I see myself as a professional “reminderer,” encouraging people to think about great truths they may have forgotten amidst the tumultuous daily battle against Adultitis.

A number of folks took advantage of our VIP experience, which included sitting at the head table with me, Kim, and our kids. We shared a bottle of champagne and each person received a special original drawing from yours truly.

The last story I shared was about the largest painting I’ve made yet, featuring a great white shark sporting gold teeth, entitled “Pretty Darn Great.”

I admitted that I often chase shiny objects to show the world my worth. But like a shark who is losing teeth on the regular, these shiny objects don’t last. Then we surprised everyone with a real shark tooth, my hope being that by receiving this shiny object, they’d be encouraged to stop chasing after new ones, and be reminded that they are already pretty darn great.

Each gift box also included a unique, hidden blessing to encourage them.

It was another memorable and magical night. Thank you to everyone who attended, brought a friend, and made a purchase, especially the many new and old collectors of my original paintings. I am so honored have your support and encouragement for my art and our mission!

Of course, an event like Wondernite doesn’t happen alone. I am so grateful for the awesome team that helped with set-up, clean-up, checkout, and generally making the night run smoothly. Thank you to Jenna, Sue, Doug, and Katie (as well as my pint-sized indentured servants who cheerfully contributed as well!).

Want more photos? Check them out here.

And if you’d like to be the first to know when tickets go on sale for the next Wondernite, be sure that you’re an Escape Adulthood Insider to stay in the loop!

Kim and I were invited by American Family Insurance’s DreamBank to share our story about when we returned home from vacation with our three kids to find something we were not expecting. It led to an emotional roller coaster of fear, anger, and grief, but eventually evolved into an inspiring story of hope and the power of community.

In this vulnerable but uplifting program, we share our journey from darkness into light. We also touch on themes from Jason’s newly released book, “A Chance of Awesome: How Changing the Way You See Changes Everything,” giving tips and insight for finding the silver linings amidst the dark clouds that roll into our lives.

To celebrate and promote the release of A Chance of Awesome, we invited fans to share a fun photo of themselves with the book and tag us with the hashtag #AChanceOfAwesome.

One lucky winner would be able to choose a 20″ x 20″ framed canvas reproduction of their choice. That lucky winner is…Paula Wick! Congrats, Paula; we’ll be in touch to confirm the details!

Meanwhile, thank you to everyone who has helped spread the word about this book! We have mostly received a wonderful reception (although we have had some people hate it, as you can see from the reviews). If you’ve read the book, would you please take a moment to post an honest review on Amazon? I’d really appreciate it!

The 2019 Escape Adulthood Summit – our seventh! – was another sold-out affair. More than seventy people, from 14 different states and Canadian provinces gathered in the Middle of Nowhere, Wisconsin, for a chance to take a break from the daily grind, connect with other Adultitis Fighters, and take their lives to a new level.

This year’s theme was inspired by the Henry David Thoreau quote, “All good things are wild and free.”

That being said, we wanted to set the tone in a wild and memorable way. As guests arrived with their Golden Tickets, they were greeted by snakes, alligators, lizards, and turtles presented by the Madison Herpetological Society.

While some folks admired them from a distance, others were eager to get up close and personal with the unconventional ambassadors.

A wild start indeed.

Once the doors opened, we greeted each guest one by one, excited to share with them all that the team had spent many months planning.

Everyone got a swag bag filled with all kinds of fun surprises…

…including an exclusive t-shirt…

…and some new anti-Adultitis temporary tattoos. (Now available at the Lemonade Stand!)

As eager as we were to kick things off, we couldn’t start our journey together on empty stomachs.

Aside from beginning and end times, we purposefully keep most of the agenda a secret. This is hard for some folks, but it’s a rare opportunity to unplug from the day-to-day hustle, be unshackled from the burden of managing time, and enjoy the freedom to just “be.”

Once you start meeting the smiling people who are serious about giving Adultitis a good swift kick to the shins, it’s pretty easy to settle in and go with the flow.

There is something special about people who decide to attend an Escape Adulthood Summit: they are the coolest people on the planet.

After some quick introductions, we love starting things off with a fun group project. Each table was tasked with creating a coat of arms inspired by their favorite wild animals.

Creative minds and busy hands went right to work generating some crafty masterpieces.

Later, each table got to share their creations with the rest of the group.

Jenna, pictured above, is our secret weapon. Besides managing the Lemonade Stand, she helped gather all of the materials needed to allow creativity to run wild on this project.

And the banners were hung with pride for the duration of the Summit.

Then it was time for our first-ever Summit Field Trip, a mile down the road to the MacKenzie Center, one of the most diverse education centers in Wisconsin, featuring interpretive trails, exhibits, museums and programming available for all ages.

Sara, one of our awesome team members, stepped up as the Summit “Mom” and gave attendees a bag on their way out the door, each one lovingly packed with snacks and treats.

Once on-site, everyone got a chance to take advantage of a number of pre-planned activities, or explore the grounds on their own.

There was a cool tour that highlighted fascinating facts of wildlife native to Wisconsin, such as bison, deer, gray wolves, lynx, red fox, and raptors. All of the animals in the exhibit were injured, orphaned or raised in captivity and cannot be released into the wild. They are cared for as part of an educational exhibit, providing people an opportunity to see and learn more about the animals that are part of Wisconsin’s ecological community.

Other options included archery…

…and the opportunity to break into groups for a scavenger hunt thoughtfully designed by Jenna.

For others, it was a chance to explore the beautiful grounds and enjoy the perfect day we ordered up.

The field trip concluded with some of the scavenger hunt teams entertaining us with chants they created as part of the game.

Back at the “ranch,” it was time for a hearty dinner of pulled pork, brisket, and all the fixin’s.

After dinner, we welcomed Dianne Moller of Hoo’s Woods Raptor Center who brought some her feathered friends.

It was thrilling to see and experience these amazing birds up close, including this juvenile bald eagle. (Did you know that the bald eagle’s head and tail feathers don’t fully turn white until they are five years old?)

This barn owl named Cookie stole the show with his little swagger and his eager desire to fly up into the rafter of this awesome, you know, barn.

After the birds took off for home, we assembled outside for some sweet treats, including a taste testing station of wild and weird sodas…

…featuring flavors like Mustard, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Ranch Dressing, Butter, Kittie Piddle, and Zombie Brains.

Jo from Sugarsmith was back for the second year, but we encouraged her to bring some flavors that were a little on the “wild” side. She obliged, and guests had the chance to try buttered popcorn and chocolate-flavored cotton candy.

And we also offered up the more traditional, but inner child-approved favorite, s’mores.

The evening was capped off by a joint talk from me and Kim. As I unveiled some of my newest paintings featuring whimsical wild animals, we shared lessons we learned from some of the more unconventional choices we’ve made in our life, and how they have led to much of the freedom we now enjoy.

On the morning of the second day, Kim started us off with a humorous and heartfelt talk about she reawakened her wild heart amidst the joyful haul of motherhood.

I had the opportunity to record it, and am pleased to share it with you here:

At every Escape Adulthood Summit, attendees are encouraged to bring an item for Show & Tell. It is always a highlight.

After breaking into groups and diving deeper into topics relevant for creating better health, relationships, workplaces, and lives, it was time for an old school art project.

The chance to decorate wooden birdhouses instantly transformed everyone back into kindergartners again.

After a Wisconsin-approved brat bar lunch, everyone was let out for recess! It featured some really BIG bubbles…

…some sumo-themed hijinks…

…a little juggling…

…semi-professional hula hooping…

…and bowling.

Oh, and there was an epic Rock Paper Scissors war…

…and an extra helping of fun with a GIANT parachute!

Needless to say, it was NOT a good day for Adultitis.

As our time together wound down, I was able to share some thoughts on living a wild and free life.

I was eager to be able to tell the somewhat traumatic story of something I experienced a few Summits earlier. It was both one of my worst and best days ever, but taught be a valuable lesson about the power of seeing with new eyes.

We always hold an open mic session at the end in order to give people the opportunity for people to share their biggest takeaways and shout-outs to new and old friends who made a difference.

It’s a magical time, marked with laughter and a few tears, that reminds me just how special this event is and how grateful I am for the people who come from near and far to celebrate joy and learn ways to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of others.

Our time together ended with the presentation of a specially-designed “Wild & Free” merit badge, aimed at inspiring everyone to do something great with their “one wild and precious life.”

But the Summit didn’t end until we surprised everyone with one more thing…

…a pastry box with two early copies of my (at the time) yet-to-be-released book, “A Chance of Awesome: How Changing the Way You See Changes Everything.“

It was cool to finally be able to share the book with real live people, and a pleasure to be able to personalize them once the Summit ended.

After so many hours of planning, the event itself feels like it’s over in a flash. Writing these re-cap posts always gives me the opportunity to be grateful for the people who make it magical and the memories we created together.

As always, this thing would never be possible were it not for the selfless effort of our small but mighty team of volunteers, including Sara, Lynn, Sue, Jenna, and this year, for the first time ever, our oldest daughter Lucy!

As you’ve seen, a lot of what we did was very animal-centric. The thing about animals is that they are pure. There is no pretense, no ulterior motive. They are who they are.

As Kim and I prepared for this Summit, we realized that some of the best parts of our life have been when we have decided to just be who we are. Some of the decisions we’ve made may seem wild to the outside world, but they have led us to freedom.

Our goal was to share some of those decisions (and the lessons learned), not so that you’ll make the same ones, but so that maybe you’ll be encouraged to be more of who you are.

Even if it seems little wild.

[ Not enough photos for you? There are hundreds more here! ]