Tue, Oct 27
3:30pm – 9:00pm(ish)
Register for your top 3 choices here!
Here’s what you need to know:
- All sessions include dinner.
- Each session is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Fri, Sep 18 is the deadline to register your session preferences (you rank your top 3).
- While we try to give you a break after the day’s meetings, some CYOAs will have to start on the earlier side. Please make note of the lobby departure times when making your choice.
A Taste of Philly Food Tour
Capacity: 30
Dinner: Along the way!
Hop on a trolley and eat your way through Philadelphia’s world-class food scene!
This year’s route ventures beyond the usual Center City spots, taking you through some of the city’s most exciting neighborhoods. Think mom ‘n pop shops that locals gatekeep and family-run kitchens that consistently top the rankings.
And along the way, expect a storytelling journey hearing heartfelt, personal stories from the chefs, families, and neighborhoods behind some of the international flavors and beloved institutions, all tying back to the heart of Philly’s brotherly love and sisterly affection, as we tour corners of the city most visitors never see.
Leaves from the hotel lobby at 3:45pm.
Inside the Union League: A Walk Through American History
Capacity: 15
Dinner: Dandelion
Step inside one of Philadelphia’s most storied and exclusive institutions with private access to the Union League of Philadelphia. Founded in 1862 to support the Union and the policies of Abraham Lincoln, the League has played a remarkable role in Philadelphia and American history.
Begin with a guided tour of the historic League House, exploring its architecture, traditions, and collection. Then, go beyond the tour with an exclusive archival show-and-tell featuring rare artifacts tied to pivotal moments in American history.
Highlights may include a signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, the only surviving handwritten eyewitness account of Lincoln’s assassination, a piece of the shirt Lincoln was wearing when he was shot, life masks of Lincoln, and the sword associated with the end of the Civil War.
Leaves from the hotel lobby at 4:00pm.
Beyond Bread: AI Inside a Modern Bakery
Capacity: 12
Dinner: Pizza onsite!
In 2024, Council 7 visited Merzbacher’s Bakery and walked away inspired by founder Pete Merzbacher’s refreshingly practical approach to AI: forget the hype and use it to solve real business problems.
Two and a half years later, both the business and the technology have changed dramatically. Pete has doubled the size of Merzbacher’s through acquisition, and AI is now woven into how his team works, from improving productivity and production workflows to capturing the knowledge of indispensable employees.
This experience starts on the bakery floor, where you’ll tour the facility, see the team in action, and hear the story behind the company’s growth. Then, head upstairs for an interactive conversation with Pete featuring live demonstrations of the AI tools he’s built, what’s worked (and what hasn’t), and where he’s finding the greatest leverage today.
And because it’s a bakery, you’ll also get to taste Merzbacher’s award-winning breads and enjoy pizza made with dough fresh from the bakery.
Whether you’re deep into AI or still figuring out where it fits, this is a chance to see what practical AI adoption looks like inside a real, growing business.
This group departs from the lobby at 3:30pm.
The Drive to Win: Simeone Automotive Museum
Capacity: 15
Dinner: El Rey
Join Kevin Kelly, Executive Director of the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, for a private tour of one of the world’s most celebrated collections of racing sports cars, and a conversation on one of the most enduring forces in business and leadership: competition.
Using the Museum’s collection of historic racing sports cars as a backdrop, Kevin will explore how manufacturers such as Ferrari, Shelby, Porsche, and Jaguar responded to competitive pressure through innovation, calculated risk, decisive leadership, and continuous improvement.
Leaves from the hotel lobby at 3:45pm.
American Prometheus: Benjamin Franklin and Philadelphia Enlightenment at the Rosenbach Museum
Capacity: 15
Dinner: Dandelion
Explore Benjamin Franklin’s remarkable life and legacy through a private, hands-on tour at the Rosenbach Museum.
Long before becoming a leading statesman of the American Revolution, Franklin was a successful printer, renowned scientist, and one of the most famous Americans in the world. Through rare books, handwritten letters, historic prints, and personal artifacts, discover how this quintessential Philadelphian helped shape not only a new nation, but the intellectual world of his time.
A special highlight of the tour is the opportunity to see the only surviving copy of Franklin’s first Poor Richard’s Almanack from 1733.
This experience offers rare access to important objects not typically on public view, with opportunities to see and even handle select pieces from the collection.
Leaves from the lobby at 4:00pm.
Art as a Path Forward: Mural Arts Tour of Philly
Capacity: 15
Dinner: El Rey
What if a wall could tell the story of an entire community—and creating that art could change the trajectory of a life?
On this walking tour experience with Mural Arts Philadelphia, explore the city’s vibrant mural landscape and discover why Philadelphia is known as the Mural Capital of the World. Learn how public art has transformed neighborhoods, given communities a voice, and inspired a mural movement recognized around the world.
You’ll also explore the deeper impact behind the art: how creativity can create opportunities for mentorship, skill-building, and connection, including for people at risk of incarceration. See how a mural can become more than a painting on a wall—it can be a catalyst for community and a turning point in someone’s life.
Leaves from the hotel lobby at 3:50pm.