Events.

Choose Your Own Community Adventure (CYOCA) is Vynamic’s spotlight program that allows team members to come together to support charities and causes that inspire our global team. For the first time since 2019, team members were able to safely gather for in person events this summer to support amazing nonprofits across the US and London. Vynamic strives to continuously learn about new opportunities that expose us to new ways of doing better, which will create a lasting impact in the communities we call home.

Every summer Vynamic gives back to the communities in which we live and work through our spotlight program, Choose Your Own Community Adventure (CYOCA). While we couldn’t be there to lend our support in person this summer, Vynamic donated to over 115 charities and causes currently inspiring our global team. This year we celebrate organizations already near and dear to Vynamic, and new organizations exposing us to better ways and creating lasting impact in the communities we call home.

Each summer the Vynamic team looks forward to supporting charities in the communities in which we live and work through volunteering and monetary donations. While we couldn’t be there to lend our support in person this summer, Vynamic donated to the 55 charities currently inspiring our global team. This year we celebrate organizations already near and dear to Vynamic, and new organizations exposing us to better ways and creating lasting impact in the communities we call home.

For their first ever “Choose Your Own Community Adventure”, the London team volunteered with Thrive, a charity that uses gardening to bring about positive changes in the lives of people living with disabilities or ill health, or who are isolated, disadvantaged, or vulnerable. By helping in the Old English Garden at Battersea Park the team gained great insight into social and therapeutic horticulture while positively impacting their community.

Vynamic Philadelphia was proud to partner with Children’s Village for a 5th CYOCA event with this impactful organization. On that day, students from Children’s Village received a tour of the Vynamic offices and were then paired up with Vynamic Volunteers for a minute to win it challenge! In keeping with their summer theme of “Sports from Around the World”, students learned teamwork, bracket style tournaments, learning (and challenging) game rules, and friendly competition. Mary Graham, Executive Director of CV says, “Vynamic continues to offer engaging experiences to our students, including welcoming them into its incredible Center City Philadelphia workplace. The children and teachers are still abuzz about how much fun they had. Many of our students are from low-income families and we know that these children are much less likely than their more affluent peers to benefit from quality academic enrichment. Vynamic is enhancing the lives of our students in such a meaningful way.” Thank you so much to all who participated!

The Philadelphia team partnered with Our Closet for a rewarding CYOCA event. Our Closet collects clothing donations and creates pop up shops where community members can shop for clothing and accessories for free. In addition to setting up, “selling”, and cleaning up, the team met some amazing folks who were able to walk out with interview clothes, work bags, and new sneakers. Everyone left with a smile on their face.

Vynamic team members donated their time at AI duPont Children’s Hospital, one of the safest children’s hospitals in the country, with some of the best doctors, nurses, and pediatric specialty care available. While there the team toured the new Kids Clubhouse, an amazing destination for patients filled with activities and games to keep them occupied and entertained during their sometimes long stays at the hospital. The Vynamic team donated new board games, slime-making kits, and puzzles for the kids to play with.

The Boston team came together to host a craft party for our first ever Choose Your Own Community Adventure (CYOCA) event benefitting Franciscan Children’s Hospital. The opportunity to spend time with the incredible staff and fiercely brave patients at Franciscan’s was deeply inspiring.

This year our Boston team had the opportunity to return to Career Collaborative for not only one but two CYOCA events, helping this organization achieve its mission of teaching unemployed and underemployed adults with low-income jobs how to build careers that change their lives and strengthen their families.

This summer’s CYOCA (Choose Your Own Community Adventure) program kicked off with an energizing event with Girl’s Inc. Vynamic hosted our second-ever Consulting Career Exploration workshop at our Philadelphia office, where close to 30 girls ages 10-15 had a chance to learn more about consulting, present their ideas, and choose their own Vynamic color with the help of 21 Vynamic team members.

For the second year in a row, the pet-loving community at Vynamic spread the love at Penn Vet Working Dog Center, a national research and development center for detection dogs, to learn about the amazing work their trainers and dogs do and help with various projects at the center.

This year, Vynamic’s annual Cradles to Crayons “Choose Your Own Community Adventure” team helped Philadelphia-area children living in poverty by volunteering at their Giving Factory and making cards to be included in backpacks distributed at their annual Backpack-A-Thon at Lincoln Financial Field. As always, Vynamic was well represented with smiles and helping hands for such a great cause.

Vynamic team members helped out with various projects at BINA Farm Center

Vynamic team members quality checked produce at Philabundance

Vynamic team members portioned meals, labeled food, and chopped vegetables at Community Servings

The Vynamic Philadelphia team returned to Philadelphia City Rowing this year to paint their indoor facility, an essential part of the PCR experience that is used to help students excel in the classroom, prepare for the SATs, supplement rowing training with strength training, and continue building endurance throughout the winter.

Members of the Philadelphia team spent the evening at the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts for their latest Thrive Live event. The team tested their aptitude for balancing acts, trampolining, juggling, and the aerial sling, and capped off the event with dinner and drinks at Manayunk Brewing Company.

Members of the Durham team gathered at Drive Shack, a golf entertainment and event headquarters, for their first Thrive Live event of the year. The team showed off their golfing skills while enjoying great company, food, and drinks.

The Boston Team tried their hands at the fastest growing sport in America, Pickleball, for their latest Thrive Live event. Team members learned the game with a lesson from a pickleball coach, and after some practice and rallying, paired up and ended the night with a fun double-elimination tournament. The championship game ended in a tie, so a rematch will be needed in the future.

This November the Durham team participated in a Thrive Live cooking class at Wynton’s World Cooking School. The team worked together to create an elaborate 4-course French dinner including baked brie, Vichyssoise soup, mesclun salad, Poulet aux Quarante Gousses d’Ail, and chocolate mousse. While enjoying this 5-star cuisine, the team had a chance to catch-up and connect, all while enjoying each other’s company.

Embarking on a journey in the world of cheesemaking, the Philadelphia team gathered together for the final Thrive Live of the year at Hook & Master. While learning about how cheese is made, the team got to sample delicious products from Perrystead Dairy, which were accompanied by a variety of different courses.

The Vynamic London Team put their minds to the test by partaking in Thrive Live – Crystal Maze Experience. This challenge mimicked an iconic 90s gameshow that tested participants’ mental and physical abilities by taking them through four different time periods. Following their time travel, taco’s, drinks, and a lot of laughs were much deserved to help wrap up and celebrate an incredible evening!

Summer was in full swing as the team gathered together for a night of fun! The 2022 Summer Soiree kicked off at the Independence Beer Garden and was accompanied by an evening of beautiful weather and even better company. The team mixed, mingled; and shared plenty of laughs and conversations over good drinks and a Mexican Fiesta-inspired spread. It was great to see a ton of friendly faces and a few new team members as well. This get together was definitely a night to remember!

The Durham Team “Immersed” in an incredible Thrive Live event under the stars. The night began with a walk through the Van Gogh Experience in Raleigh and ended with dinner at The Oak where delicious food and plenty of good conversations were shared.

This July, the Vynamic London team reached new heights, as they embarked on a journey to the treetops! With Tarzan Swings, high jumps, tree crossings, and more, the team added a new meaning to “Thriving Live”! After an adventurous afternoon, drinks and pizza were enjoyed along the beautiful London skyline.

The Vynamic Boston team gathered for a Summer Solstice Sailing Soirée Thrive Live event. After a series of races on the water, the team enjoyed some beverages, food, and cornhole at The Anchor bar nearby.

This spring in Philadelphia, 35+ florists were born! Vynamic team members gathered to create their own summer bouquets and learned about the art of flower arranging – but it didn’t stop there. The team also created custom vases using chalk paint. Following the event, dinner was enjoyed among the beautiful new arrangements.

Members of the Vynamic Durham Team took to the ice to cheer on the Carolina Hurricanes for their 2nd Thrive Live event! The team enjoyed food, drinks, and a Hurricanes win.

The Boston Team gathered at the Boston Harbor Distillery for their first in-person Thrive Live in over two years! They were welcomed with a cocktail of their choice, and then spent the evening eating mouth-watering BBQ from The Smoke Shop, tasting handcrafted spirits, and enjoying each other’s company! The team appreciated their suggested Whiskey/BBQ pairings, while listening to the History of Boston Harbor Distillery from the founder and CEO, Rhonda Kallman. It was a truly wonderful night!

The Vynamic team put their archery skills to the test at Callowhill Archery range. We were taught the basic techniques of archery, tested our skills with target practice, and competed in some friendly competition. Thanks to all that came out!

The Vynamic Philadelphia team met at the Tower Theater for a Thrive Live visit to the Van Gogh Immersive Experience. The team enjoyed a ten-minute virtual reality journey through “A Day in the Life of the Artist”, relaxed with two-story projections of the artist’s most compelling works, and connected over pizza and drinks.

The Vynamic Durham team celebrated their inaugural Thrive Live event at AR Workshop. The evening was filled with priming, painting, delicious food, and great company.

The Vynamic London team gathered for an afternoon at the Graffik Gallery in Notting Hill for Thrive Live: Free Like Banksy. The Vynamic London team gathered for an afternoon at the Graffik Gallery in Notting Hill for Thrive Live: Free Like Banksy. The team learned spray painting technics from two former street artists and designed their own piece of art, followed by an evening at the pub for more fun and celebration.

Thrive Live was alive and well in Philadelphia this summer for our 2021 Summer Soiree at Independence Beer Garden! The team came together in person on a record breaking hot day to celebrate this first in-person event in many months. Thrive Live was alive and well in Philadelphia this summer for our 2021 Summer Soiree at Independence Beer Garden! The team came together in person on a record breaking hot day to celebrate this first in-person event in many months. It was great to see old friendly faces and meet a solid crew of new team members as well. Plenty of smiles, laughter, and of course food and drink was shared by all!

The Vynamic London Team virtually took to the dance floor to learn Colombian-style Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, and Vallenato, guided by host Germán David from @tubailecom, live from Bogotá. The Vynamic London Team virtually took to the dance floor to learn Colombian-style Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, and Vallenato, guided by host Germán David from the TuBaile dance school, live from Bogotá. Our London team team is now fully prepared to return (survive!) on the dance floor when the UK re-opens.

Vynamic Philadelphia recently gathered virtually for their summer Thrive Live, during which Adam Delosso, Executive Chef at Vynamic favorite 12th St Catering guided the team and many members of the extended Vynamic family through the preparation of a gourmet entrée. Before they knew it, Vynamic chefs were flying around their kitchens learning how to make a delicious fusilli pasta with shrimp, mixed vegetables, and basil-parmesan pesto. The meal was completed with a kale salad and decadent chocolate-raspberry caramel tart. It was such a fun and informative event filled with laughs, wine, fire alarms, and a truly amazing meal with friends and family!

Why we are passionate about it: 

Cooking has always been an important outlet in my life, whether as a personal de-stressor, an avenue for me to get creative, or one of the ways that I show love for my family and friends. One of the things that has brought me and my fiancé joy during these unprecedented times has been getting together in the kitchen and me teaching him to cook. Figuring out what to make next has brought us joy and excitement, and I was so happy to be able to share an event with my Vynamic family in that same spirit.

Vynamic Boston celebrated their Summer Thrive Live with a cooking class hosted by a local Boston favorite, Chef Johnny Burke of Johnny Burke Catering. The Vynamic team and our select sous chefs (dogs, kids, partners, etc.) sharpened our knives and grabbed our chef hats to whip up a gourmet three course meal. Chef Johnny welcomed our team into his kitchen to teach us how to cook a vibrant summer salad, homemade ricotta gnocchi with shrimp, corn, and pesto, and an indulgent chocolate mousse. The evening was full of laughs, sweat (rolling gnocchi is quite the workout), and good eats with friends and family! Johnny was an incredible host and the event was the perfect balance of instruction and hands-on activity!

Why we are passionate about it: 

For me, cooking has always served as a way to bring people together. There is nothing more fulfilling than gathering with friends and family over a home-cooked meal. As a foodie, it is even more fun when someone welcomes you into their kitchen to teach you a new recipe that you can share with your loved ones. In these challenging times, we all miss gathering together and this event provided the perfect opportunity to share a delicious meal and toast with friends.

Vynamic London celebrated their Summer Thrive with a wine tasting with the wonderful Gavin Chanin, winemaker at Chanin Wine in Santa Barbara county California. As an American who has long been a resident of the UK, I wanted to learn more about American wines, and Gavin provided us with an opportunity to do just that. In our tasting Gavin discussed his background in winemaking, as well as lead a tasting of three of his fabulous wines. Despite his successes, Gavin was tremendously personable and approachable and provided some valuable insight for all levels of wine enthusiasts. We touched on how he started his business, his passion for winemaking and art (his works feature on all his bottles!), as well as the everchanging impact of global warming in viniculture. It was a fun and informative session for the Vynamic team to enjoy a (long overdue!) glass (or three!) of wine together.

Why we are passionate about it: 

For me wine is something you can constantly learn about, and the learning is an especially great experience when it is coming from the winemaker themselves!  I am true believer in a “good wine is what you like,” and that a good wine is something you should always share with friends. In these challenging times, I think we could all use a bit of time to socialise (albeit virtually) with our friends, and toast the good times ahead.

Vynamic Boston celebrated an afternoon of Swiss Culture, complete with a gourmet chocolate tasting from Beth Kirsch – Boston’s Chocolate Connoisseur & Founder of Beth’s Chocolate, and the preparation of traditional Swiss fondue & raclette (a semi-hard Swiss cheese prepared on a special grill and then scraped/poured over roasted potatoes, grilled vegetables, or cornichons).

Why we are passionate about it: 

Growing up (and to this day), my family was very passionate about our Swiss culture. From our holiday traditions to our deep love of chocolate, we celebrate that part of our heritage (and eat way too much Toblerone in the process). Fondue and raclette are traditional meals that we prepare in the winter months, and I’m excited to share those traditions with Vynamic at our Thrive Live. Both are very social foods that bring people together – and who doesn’t love a meal that’s 90% melted cheese?

My Dad grew up in Switzerland and many members of my extended family call it home. Switzerland is a beautiful country with a rich heritage, and growing up I spent a lot of time there visiting family. Sharing traditional foods with the Vynamic team and a little glimpse into Swiss culture is a fun and unique way to bring a little of my family background to Vynamic!

Team members from the Vynamic Philly office celebrated the first Thrive Live event of 2020 by sampling a number of “Aroi Mak Mak” (delicious in Thai) Thai dishes curated by the chef at JJ Thai Cuisine, and learning how to make a Thai classic – Som Tum (shredded papaya salad).

Why I am passionate about it: 

I lived in Thailand for a year after college teaching English and traveling around Southeast Asia. During this time I fell in love with the beautiful country, rich culture, welcoming people, and delicious (Aroi) food.

I have been back multiple times over the last 10 years and each time there I find a sense of peace that is hard to find anywhere else. One way I find a little bit of that peace here in the US is by enjoying a special Thai meal with those close to me. Now I am extremely excited to share this experience with my colleagues!

The Philadelphia team met up at Triple Bottom Brewing where they learned the basics of calligraphy from Rachel and Anna at Tallulah Ketubahs, practiced some beautiful lettering techniques, and enjoyed the brewery’s delicious beer and dinner from Honey Grow.

Why I am passionate about it: 

Have you ever noticed how lovely some of our friend’s handwriting is?  Have you ever wished your own messages came across more “thoughtful, beautiful, classy?” This event provided the chance to learn the basics of the art of calligraphy.

I’m also really excited about the event space.  Triple Bottom Brewing at 9th and Spring garden is a new mission-driven brewery with values that resonate with any Vynamic team member.  As their name suggests, they have a “triple bottom line.”  They’re not just about profits, but also take action in support of the environment and the community.  And their space is gorgeous!  Learn more here: https://triplebottombrewing.com/mission

The Philadelphia team had an incredible time at our Fall Thrive Live Kickball: Vynation v. Vynation event. We split into two teams, red and blue, for an extra-innings kickball showdown at a local park, followed by a family-style meal of some of Philly’s finest offerings.

Why I am passionate about it: 

Kickball is a fun sport that is simple enough for everyone to play, but still allows for competitive spirit to thrive. It’s a schoolyard game that most of us stopped playing years ago, so it was a refreshing and enjoyable way to spend an evening with friends.

The Philadelphia team toasted the end of summer at our 3rd annual Thrive Live Summer Soiree: a fun evening filled with drinks, food, games, and great company at Independence Beer Garden.

The Philadelphia team got together for the very first Thrive Live event to include families. The Vynamic office was even more lively than usual that evening when an army of shorter Marvel fans began to arrive and take over all of the whiteboards in the Vynamic office. The Marvel exhibit at the Franklin Institute was a fantastic display of memorabilia from both the comics and the movies. There was a little something for everyone (from passionate enthusiast to casual fan) in this new exhibit, as it celebrates the 80th anniversary of Marvel Comics. Everyone spent time moving through the exhibit and then met back at the Vynamic office for dinner, dessert, and more whiteboard drawing!

Why I am passionate about it:

Superheroes are a family affair in my house. I am a mom of three boys and we have been in deep in the Marvel world since the beginning. I have seen all the movies multiple times with my kids, except for the last two, so don’t spoil it for me. We love the characters and the stories.

As I watch these movies with my kids I look for key messages to highlight. There are so many, but the one I love the most is “Be You”. Big, small, fast, smart, whatever. Marvel shows us, again and again, that we all contribute to something bigger. We all are valuable in our own ways. We don’t need to change for others. All of this in the context of ‘we are part of a team’. It’s an awesome message for my kids. For the last 12 years, I have been hosting what we affectionately call “Snuggle Time” every night in our household. We all jump into bed and more often than not a Marvel movie is the backdrop. We catch up on our day, and I learn what “being you” means for each of my sons. I treasure the experience.

This Thrive Live was all about about leaving our mark on our home city of Philadelphia! This event started with an evening tour of local murals, giving us a deeper appreciation and understanding of how local artists use building walls to share amazing stories. Then, the team got hands-on, spending the rest of the evening helping to paint a mural titled “Harper St. Garden” that will be revealed in the city this summer!

Why I am passionate about it:

To put it simply, Philadelphia is just different. We are a city with a chip on our shoulder but, known for our friendly attitudes. We are a city of diversity, but with a sense of community. We are a city who values art, culture, and sport and a city that does everything to the fullest. From the moment I moved here to attend college, I knew Philadelphia would have a strong influence on how I grew and continue to grow as a person. From attending local concerts and food/art festivals to rushing to city hall to celebrate a Super Bowl victory, this city has taught me how to be a holistic person and take advantage of all the great things around me.

The culture of Philadelphia has shaped Vynamic’s culture, and this time we got to return the favor by joining Mural Arts Philadelphia for an amazing opportunity…helping create a mural that will be revealed in Philly this upcoming summer!

The Boston team learned all about Cheese and Wine at a “Say Cheese” Thrive Live event. Vynamic welcomed David Robinson, a cheesemonger at Formaggio in Boston’s South End. We learned about the history of cheese, cheese making, good wine pairings with cheese, and probably the most intriguing of all: the life and travels of a cheesemonger!

Why I am passionate about it:

I love entertaining, and have always wanted to be able to learn more about cheese and wine pairings to be able to better entertain friends and family. As it turns out, I’m not the only one at Vynamic who shares this interest. Not only was the team able to learn about different cheeses and wines, but we also learned a lot about the history of cheese and the life and travels of cheesemongers. I think we all left with a dream to travel the world tasting cheese!

Recently, Vynamic met up to build our skills at a sport many find inaccessible – golf! While golf is a well-known game, it is often daunting for those who have never played. Getting together in a common space with friendly faces, we were able to get a great introduction to the game.

After arrivals, we settled in to some instructor-led practice that helped us build and refine our skills. A majority of those who attended were new to the sport, and were able to receive some dedicated time with a Golf pro to learn individual swing mechanics. After fueling up with some healthy fajita dinners, we broke into teams and engaged in some friendly and rousing competition. Amazingly, the top two teams actually tied, and everyone was able to build their familiarity and comfort level with the game.

Why we are passionate about it:

Golf is a sport I have always struggled with. My parents never taught me to play, and what I do know I have only picked up in bits and pieces over the years. As many golfers know, formal and focused training is the key to developing proficiency in this highly enjoyable game. TopGolf is a super-accessible way for those new to the game to gain instruction in the basics and mechanics, and to feel the thrill of hitting a ball far and straight.

On February 21st , Vynamic shared communal meal built around culture and conversation to celebrate diversity – the differences and similarities – that help Vynamic thrive. Muhibbah is a Malay term that describes the pure harmony of multiple races, religions and cultures coming together in the spirit of peace and tolerance. This word is used in Malaysia to characterize celebrations shared between those of different backgrounds.

After hearing some brief remarks from Sarvida chef/owner, Lou Boquila, about Filipino culture and cuisine, we dove in with both hands (literally!) to an amazing meal of sinangag (garlic rice), pinakbet (vegetable stew), roasted chicken, fried pompano, fried pork belly, lumpia (spring rolls). As team members share the meal, we conversed about our backgrounds, inspirations, and what we can each do to create an inclusive environment in our lives and at Vynamic.

Why we are passionate about it:

I am passionate about connecting people with different backgrounds to create a broader and more inclusive dialogue. My husband and I attended The Muhibbah Dinner Series to support SEAMAAC and I was truly inspired at the fellowship and depth of conversation that a shared meal could bring. Muhibbah dinner brings my two passions together: fostering a diverse and inclusive culture and eating!

Recently, Vynamic hosted 3 local sound and energy workers for a sound journey. 22 members of Philadelphia Vynation settled into the Learning Center for some breath work followed by 90+ minutes of sound meditation guided by drums, gongs, flutes, guitars, singing bowls, and more. After finding some zen or we reconvened in the Balance Bar to enjoy dinner from Real Food Eatery.

Team members enjoyed getting to share a different way of finding some calm with the team, and it was fun to share reflections on the experience while dining after our journey. While many of our team members had never experienced something like this, there was a huge expression of gratitude for the experience across the participants.

Why we are passionate about it:

I often struggle to “turn my brain off,” and I’m always looking for ways to find some inner calm. About a year ago I started attending my friend’s monthly sound meditations and was truly blown away by the experience. Instead of more traditional meditations where I’d constantly be processing words, instructions, mantras, etc., I instead found myself quickly melt into my mat, floating in the state between awake and asleep, truly feeling the sounds around me. To my surprise, 2 hours flew by in what seemed like minutes, and the feeling of calmness persisted. Given the positive feedback from what we did during last year’s Healthiest Day meditation sessions, I was so excited to have the opportunity to share this experience with Vynation.

The Boston V-Team came together for a mixology course hosted by DrinkMaster Bartending School, a small academy for bartenders in training. Throughout the evening, we learned the essentials of craft cocktail making from trained bartenders and broke out into four teams to battle it out in a lighthearted trivia competition.

The team learned and practiced the techniques behind preparing drinks like the Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned and a 1930s Havana Daiquiri. While no real ingredients were used – to cut down on the novice mess – the professionals blended up 4 signature drinks for everyone to enjoy. Each team member put their own spin on crushing ice, shaking, and straining before presenting their creation to their “customer.”

Why we are passionate about it:

At Vynamic, one of our five values is LEARNING. We constantly feel empowered to learn new things. To put this into action, the Boston team wanted to jump on the ever-rising craft cocktail wave. We love coming together and picking up new skills – especially if food, drink, and a competition are involved!

The Philadelphia team enjoyed a fun evening of candle making at Wax+Wine, a family run business in Center City Philadelphia. The night kicked off with delicious pizza and a chat about the application of aromatherapy. Aromatherapy uses plant extract and oils to balance out the mind – body connection and enhance your surroundings, thereby improving psychological and physical wellbeing. As the night progressed, Vynamic team members learned how to mix and pour their own candles. Each team member visited the Scent Cellar and sampled over 75 unique scents, from Oatmeal Cookie to Pine Cones to Seashore, and so much more! A few folks even won a free candle for with their perfect hot wax pours!

Why we are passionate about it:

Our healthy culture encourages each of us to continuously learn, grow, and thrive. Coming together to develop a new skill, build something from scratch, and unlock our creative sides allowed us to do just that! What’s better than coming home to unique scent of lavender and honeysuckle filling the air…!

The Boston team enjoyed a fun evening of dumpling making at Mei Mei, a family run business started by three siblings (hence the name “Mei Mei” which means little sister in Chinese).  The night kicked off with a Skills & Thrills, where each team member shared fond food memories from their childhood.  Then we learned the history of this quaint food truck turned restaurant and how to make several delicious menu items including scallion pancakes and traditional Chinese dumplings!  Each team member put their chef hat on crafting unique shapes for the dumplings and stuffing them with a variety of locally sourced fillings. The evening was filled with laughter, creativity, education and full bellies and left us wonton more!  The team even took home goodie bags of their dumplings to cook later.  Bring on the next dumpling party!

Why we are passionate about it:

Food really connects people.  It’s a bridge that helps engage people from different cultures and ways of life.  We’ve had fond memories of food with our families and enjoy the art and creativity of cooking.  Our Boston team really enjoys getting our hands dirty and building something together. What better way to bring us closer together than through storytelling and food.

A group of Vynamic coworkers took a professionally guided kayak tour of the Schuylkill River. We took off from the Walnut Street Dock and kayaked up river to Fairmount Water Works. We learned about the history of the river, including the establishments of Philadelphia’s second municipal waterworks and the incredible efforts that have been made to revitalize it after suffering significant pollution. We then turned around and enjoyed a beautiful sunset view of the Philadelphia skyline from the water.

Why I’m passionate about it

I grew up doing water sports, everything from sailing to water skiing and even some boogie boarding. I never thought I would be able to enjoy these types of activities in Philly, but due to significant efforts in the last few decades, the Schuylkill River has been cleaned-up and revitalized. The Schuylkill River Banks are now a beloved community space where locals and tourists alike come to run, bike and enjoy the outdoors. I’m was really excited to be able to head back out onto the water and get to enjoy the river in a new way!

Going Clean with Dr. Bessette Naturals A group of Vynamos learned all about the art of saponification in a hands-on class where they created their own custom bars of soap. After learning about the history and process of soap making, each team member was able to mix all natural colorants, essential oils, and skin care nutrients to make their very own soaps and packaging. What better way to be healthy than to have fun learning about the benefits of using all natural ingredients and how you can live healthier in the choices you make every day.

Why I’m Passionate About It

I love learning how to make things from scratch! Particularly for items I would normally buy at a store. It was so great to see everyone’s creative sides come out and I was so excited to be able to gift my one-of-a-kind soaps.

A group of Vynamic team members enjoyed a fun and informative evening at Honeygrow’s headquarters in Fishtown.  Honeygrow’s founder held a Q&A session where he shared his background, journey through entrepreneurship and his values and how that is reflected in his business decisions. Following the Q&A session, the team viewed a wok demonstration and was able to get hands on with making their own stir-fried noodle dish. While the team was eating and enjoying their dinner, we also included a Diversity & Inclusion component where team members shared stories about foods, utensils, or tools that are unique to their culture or background.

Why I’m Passionate About It

Growing up, my mom always cooked with a wok. She made everything from fried eggs to stir-fries, and noodle dishes in the wok. She was such a great chef and everything she made was magically delicious. However, most of the dishes were not very healthy – it often was fried or high in carbs. When Honeygrow came on the market several years ago, I was excited because it resembled the food that I love and grew up eating, but in a healthier way – with locally sourced ingredients and a higher focus on quality and health.

A group of Vynamic artists gathered at East Falls Glassworks studio to create and shape their own custom ornaments. The team learned about the glass blowing process, the tools used, and a few different techniques. Each team member picked a unique color combination to incorporate into their ornament and went through the process of gathering the glass, blowing into the pipe, and shaping their own unique ornament.

Why I’m Passionate About It

East Falls Glassworks is in my neighborhood, a community full of artists and their studios. My wife and I participated in classes and periodically stopped in the glassworks studio to see new pieces. Glassblowing is such a fun and rewarding experience. I have such an appreciation for the process and creativity behind glassblowing and am so excited to share it with Vynamic!

A group of Vynamic woodworkers gathered at a professional woodshop for a hands-on class where they created their own custom cutting board. The team learned how to prep and construct rough, unfinished boards and finished them with various woodworking tools. Each team member took home the hand-made cutting board that he/she created.

Why I’m Passionate About It

I took “Construction” in high school and loved my teacher and the class in general! I think there is something so special about creating something yourself (especially when you get a lot of practical use out of your creation). I have always wanted to get back into woodworking – I definitely plan on taking additional classes!

A group of Vynamic bakers gathered at a professional pastry kitchen to learn how about what goes into baking a pie before crafting a sweet treat of their own. The team learned from a professional pastry chef teach how to make a savory dough, how to make a sweet dough, and how to make pot pies and sweet pies.

Why I’m Passionate About It

I adore baking. It’s my stress-relief, my way to show appreciation, and the one place in life where I make sure I take my time. It combines my love of rules with my love of sharing with others, and this is an opportunity to showcase both! My reasoning for landing on pies versus any other type of pastry is the reality that they’re simple to make, can incorporate seasonal fruits (and vegetables!) and are a staple in my household (my dad makes pies for EVERY holiday).

A group of Vynamic climbers went to an indoor rock climbing facility, were trained in rock climbing, and spent the evening concurring the different rock climbing walls.

Why I’m Passionate About It

I love fitness and love trying out new work outs! Fitness reminds me that setting goals and working hard towards them do yield results – and I can carry that through to goals in my professional life. Fitness also helps keep me grounded, relieves stress, and is time I can spend on myself. Rock Climbing, in particular, is a great work-out where you can pick a wall to climb up as your goal and continue to practice until you make it to the top, and what a great feeling when you make it to the top.

Vynamic spent the evening at Greensgrow Farm in Kensington learning about urban agriculture, creating delicious snacks during a pickling workshop, and eating a locally sourced food-truck dinner under the stars.

Why I’m Passionate About It

I live across the street from Greensgrow, and it’s one of my favorite places in the city.  Not only do they grow and sell delicious organic produce, but also support a small food-business incubator, have created a SNAP-eligible CSA serving almost 300 families, and engage the neighborhood in becoming more green.  The farm is a great example of how to responsibly revitalize a former industrial site into a true community resource.

The Vynamic Team learned about indoor sky diving and got to experience it for themselves at iFly in King of Prussia, PA. We ended the night with a show of tricks put on by the professionals and dinner together as a team.

Why I’m Passionate About It

I love the idea of trying new things and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. iFly felt like the perfect opportunity to safely experience that adrenaline rush without having to jump out of a plane! Ironically, 3 months later, inspired by iFly, I did the real thing in New Zealand and it was one of the most thrilling experiences to date.

The Vynamic team put their minds and bodies to the test, questing in the only Boda Borg facility in the US. We worked together in small teams to crawl through tunnels and escape Alcatraz, win a quiz game show, survive a treacherous jungle and even dance our way out of a disco! There was failure but with each failure we came closer to ultimate success.  With each quest we conquered and room we escaped, we learned that when we work together, we can overcome anything!

Why I’m Passionate About It

I love experiencing the thrill of cracking a code or solving a puzzle.  It’s the reason I decided to study engineering and continue to enjoy working in consulting.  What better way to conquer a challenge than with your colleagues and friends!  Whether it’s physical or mental, working together as a team to navigate challenges allows you to be the most vulnerable and truly lean on one another to be successful.