Chicago Adventure Therapy
Leading at the Intersection of Adventure, Justice, and Personal Transformation
Chicago Adventure Therapy (CAT) is a Chicago-based nonprofit making the outdoors accessible to communities who have been historically excluded from natural spaces—especially Black, brown, LGBTQ+, and low-income young people. By centering culturally responsive and trauma-informed practices, CAT leverages outdoor adventure as a tool for healing, leadership development, and mental health wellness for all.
Our Mission
Chicago Adventure Therapy (CAT) uses outdoor adventure sports to help Chicago children, youth, young adults, and families build leadership and social skills, foster empowerment, and create lasting positive change in their communities.
Programming Areas
Chicago Adventure Therapy currently offers programs for children, youth, young adults, and families. Often this happens through a partnership with other nonprofit agencies but individuals and families are also welcome.
Core Programming
We collaborate with youth-serving organizations to offer outdoor adventure experiences for their clients. Through our collaborative efforts, we empower participants to embrace the outdoors, build resilience, and cultivate valuable life skills.
Adventure Communities
CAT Adventure Communities was created to ensure that youth participants, regardless of their involvement status with partner organizations, maintain access to outdoor adventure experiences. We bring together youth from various backgrounds across the city of Chicago to build community and hone their outdoor adventure skills.
Family Adventures
We offer unforgettable outdoor experiences for our young participants and their families at absolutely no cost. Families are invited to join us for a rewarding journey where they can bond, grow, and create lasting memories together.
Community Festivals
We bring the adventure to you. Our team sets up at parks, block parties, and other community events, providing gear for hands-on experiences and answering any question you may have.
After School Programming
We offer on-site sessions for outdoor education, nature reflections, and skill-building activities.
Adventure is for everyone
Chicago Adventure Therapy values and promotes diversity and inclusion in our organization, our programming, and our partnerships. We are dedicated to providing quality, safe, effective programming to all people regardless of race, ethnicity, citizenship status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identification or expression, body type, ability, income, religion, philosophy, and/or all other identities represented in our diverse city.