2026 SUDC Community Retreat Registration

Primary Registrant Information

Selected Value: 0

Programming Registration

Please review each session below. Only sessions marked “Registration Required” need to be completed. For those sessions, enter the number of attendees from your family.

Thursday, September 17th

Welcome & Check-In: 2:00PM – 4:45PM

Welcome Reception: 6:00PM –7:30PM

A warm gathering to reconnect and ease into the weekend. **Registration: Not Required**

Dad's Night: 8:00PM - 9:30PM

An informal evening located off-site for dads to connect with others who understand this journey at Fair on 4 at the Mall of the Americas.

Family Night: 8:00PM - 9:15PM

An optional family time through a shared experience or creative activity located on-site or off-site. **Registration Required**

Friday, September 18th

Walk/Run at Bass Ponds Trail with SUDCF Team Members 6:30AM – 7:30 AM

Join Liz and Teri for an optional morning walk or run before the day's sessions begin. Whether you're looking for quiet reflection, connect with fellow Retreat attendees, or simply a chance to enjoy the outdoors, all paces are welcome!

Breakfast, Welcome, & Foundation Update: 8:00AM – 9:00 AM

Start the day with breakfast as Tina Lee, CEO and Julia Burgess, President welcomes everyone to the Community Retreat. Hear updates on the SUDC Foundation's recent accomplishments, upcoming initiatives, and what to expect through the day. **Registration: Not Required**

TMI Presentation: 9:30AM - 11:00AM

Experience the power of storytelling as members of the SUDC community share their personal narratives developed through The TMI Project to inspire reflection, connection, and remembrance. **Registration Required**

Sibling Grief Workshops: 9:30AM - 10:30AM

Facilitated by Brighter Days Family Grief Center, three separate age-specific workshops focused on connection and coping. For ages 4-17. **Registration Required**

All-ages Fun Activity: 10:45AM - 11:30AM

A lighthearted experience designed to bring shared joy and laughter. **Registration Required**

Lunch: 12:00PM - 1:00PM

**Registration Not Required**

Grandparents: 1:30PM - 2:30PM

Facilitated by Brighter Days Family Grief Center, a supportive space for grandparents navigating the loss of a grandchild. **Registration Required**

Extended Family: 1:30PM - 2:15PM

Facilitated by Brighter Days Family Grief Center, a space for aunts, uncles, and extended family members to connect and reflect. **Registration Required**

Pet Therapy: 1:30PM - 4:30PM

An informal, comforting space with therapy animals facilitated by The North Star Therapy Animals **Registration Required**

Expressive Journaling Workshop: A Reflective Space for Healing 3:00PM - 4:00PM

Facilitated by Danielle Duffey. Expressive Journaling: A Reflective Space for Healing Overview Led by SUDC mom and grief educator Danielle Duffey, this guided journaling session offers participants ages 16 and older a gentle, reflective space to explore their thoughts and experiences through expressive writing. Shaped by Danielle's own experience of how journaling became a lifeline in her grief, the session centers on open-ended prompts that invite presence, emotional processing, and personal reflection within a warm and supportive group. No prior writing experience is needed—only an openness to begin, or continue, a journaling practice. Learning Objectives In this session, participants will: Create space for reflection and emotional expression through journaling. Explore guided prompts that support meaning-making and self-awareness. Practice grounding techniques that can be carried beyond the Retreat. Foster a sense of connection and shared experience within the group. What to Expect and Take Away You can expect a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere—a circle of fellow Retreat participants, a few writing prompts, and the freedom to engage at whatever depth feels right in the moment. Together you'll move through moments of writing and optional, no-pressure sharing, always at your own pace. You'll leave with a beginning (or a renewal) of a journaling practice you can return to at home, a few grounding tools for the hard days, and the quiet reassurance that comes from being among others who understand. Most of all, you'll take away the reminder that your grief is welcome here, that your words matter, and that you don't have to carry any of it alone.

Havening® Technique Session: 3:00PM - 4:00PM

Facilitated by Melanie Vinton, MA, LMFTA, this interactive workshop introduces Havening Techniques®, a gentle, touch-based approach designed to support emotional regulation and help calm the nervous system. Melanie will explain the science behind Havening and guide participants through practical strategies to reduce stress, build resilience, and promote a greater sense of calm. Participants will learn three simple Havening Touch techniques that they can take home and use anytime they need support, grounding, or emotional balance. Ages 13+ **Registration Required**

Breathwork Session: 4:15PM - 5:00PM

Facilitated by Helen Buron, A guided breathing experience focused on grounding and restoration. **Registration Required**

Dinner: 5:30PM - 6:30PM

**Registration Not Required**

Mom's Night: 7:00PM - 9:00PM

Paint & Gather: A calm evening for connection, self-care, and painting. **Registration Required**

Family Evening Outing: 7:00PM - 9:00PM

Facilitated by SUDC Foundation Staff Members, An optional off-site family experience. **Registration Required**

Teen Night: 7:00PM - 9:00PM

Facilitated by SUDC Foundation Teen Ambassador Members. **Registration Required**

Saturday, September 19th

Breakfast: Honor Dr. Baker | 8:00–9:30 AM

Join us as we honor Dr. Andrew Baker, Chief Medical Examiner of Hennepin County, with the SUDC Foundation's Families First Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of child death investigation and his unwavering compassion and commitment to families affected by SUDC. This special presentation celebrates a leader whose work has advanced both science and family-centered care. **Registration: Not Required**

SUDC Foundation Workshop: Research, Advocacy, and the Pursuit of Answers: 10:00AM - 10:45AM

Presenters: Dr. Lark Perez and moderated by Tina Yun Lee. Families play a critical role in advancing our understanding of Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC). This workshop is designed to empower families and caregivers with a deeper understanding of the research process while highlighting their important role as participants, partners, and advocates in the pursuit of answers. The workshop will include a brief overview of clinical, basic science, and genetic research, with the goal of helping families better understand how scientific discovery advances knowledge of SUDC. Participants will learn how family engagement helps shape research priorities, contributes to scientific progress, and strengthens efforts to better understand and ultimately prevent SUDC. Following the presentation, participants will be invited to engage in an open discussion exploring the questions, challenges, concerns, and opportunities surrounding research participation. Through meaningful dialogue, families will have the opportunity to share perspectives, ask questions, and learn how researchers, clinicians, advocates, and caregivers can work together to advance discovery and move closer to answers. Whether you are new to research or have previously participated in studies, this session will provide practical knowledge, foster thoughtful conversation, and empower families to better understand their role in shaping the future of SUDC research. Presented by Dr. Lark Perez, SUDC father and member of the SUDC Foundation Scientific Advisory Board, this session is offered in honor of his son, Atley John Perez.

Development Team Presentation: Honoring Your Child: 11:00AM - 12:00PM

**Registration Not Required**

Art Session: 10:00AM - 11:45AM

Facilitated by Shelly Kolwinska, Director of Programs, and the Child Loss Foundation team, this hands-on workshop offers participants an opportunity to create something personal in honor of your child. Together, you'll create personalized remembrance bracelets and spin art keepsakes, each reflecting the unique life and enduring love for your child who is deeply loved and deeply missed. Join us for a supportive, creative experience that encourages remembrance, reflection, and connection. **Registration Required**

Keynote Lunch Presentation: Expanding the Search for Answers - The Critical Role of Genomics in Advancing SUDC Research: 12:30PM – 1:30 PM

Join Dr. Robert Nussbaum, MD, FACP, FAGMC, member of the SUDC Foundation Scientific Advisory Board, as he explores how advances in whole genome sequencing are transforming research into rare and unexplained conditions. Learn how genomic discoveries are shaping the future of SUDC research, expanding our understanding of potential underlying causes, and creating new opportunities to advance scientific discovery, risk assessment, and future prevention efforts. This presentation translates complex science into meaningful insights for families. **Registration Not Required**

Art Therapy (all-ages) : 1:30PM - 2:30PM

Facilitated by Kristin Kane, LMFT, TR-BC, this guided art therapy workshop offers a supportive space to explore grief through creative expression, reflection, and connection. Through simple, hands-on art activities, participants will be invited to express emotions that may be difficult to put into words while fostering self-awareness, self-compassion, and resilience. No artistic experience is necessary. **Registration Required**

Sound Bath: 1:30PM - 2:30PM

Facilitated by Devin Henrickson, a trauma therapist and sound practitioner, this immersive sound bath offers a calming, restorative experience designed to promote relaxation, reflection, and emotional well-being. Participants will rest comfortably while listening to the soothing sounds of singing bowls, chimes, and other resonant instruments, creating space for deep rest, mindfulness, and renewed connection. No prior experience is necessary. **Registration Required**

Free Time: 2:45PM - 4:45PM

Unstructured time for rest or reflection.

Family Walk at Bass Ponds Trails with SUDCF Team Members Liz & Teri: 2:45PM - 4:45PM

**Registration Not Required**

Celebration of Light: 5:00PM - 6:00PM

A gentle gathering to connect and celebrate lives held close. **Registration Not Required**

Dinner: 6:15PM - 7:15PM

Community dinner prior to remembrance. **Registration Not Required**

Post-Memorial Gathering: 7:30PM - 8:30PM

A communal space to honor and remember children gone too soon. **Registration Not Required**

Sunday, September 20th

Brunch: 8:30–11:30 AM

**Registration: Not Required**

Photo & Video Waiver

By submitting this form and participating in online and/or in-person activities as part of the SUDC Foundation Community Retreat, I hereby grant permission to the SUDC Foundation and its representatives to take photographs and video recordings of myself and any other family attendees I have registered in this form, including legally dependent minors. These recordings may include our images, recorded voices, and names. I further grant to the SUDC Foundation, its servants, agents, employees, and representatives the right to reproduce, use, exhibit, display, broadcast, distribute, and create derivative works of these images and recordings in any media now known or later developed. I acknowledge that the SUDC Foundation owns all rights to these images and recordings. I hereby waive any right to inspect or approve the use of the images or recordings or of any written copy. I further waive all moral rights and any right to royalties or other compensation arising from or related to the use of the images, recordings, or materials. I hereby release, defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the SUDC Foundation, its trustees, officers, employees, agents, and representatives from and against any claims, damages, or liability arising from or related to the use of the images or recordings, including but not limited to claims of defamation, invasion of privacy, rights of publicity, or copyright infringement. I affirm that I am 18 years of age or older and competent to contract in my own name. This consent is binding on me and any minors included in this registration, as well as my heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns.

Disclaimer & Participation Guidelines

I agree to follow all SUDC Foundation guidelines and all applicable laws while attending retreat events and activities. I understand and agree that failure to follow Foundation guidelines or applicable laws is sufficient grounds for exclusion from the retreat at the sole discretion of the SUDC Foundation. I consent in advance to immediately leave the retreat, without protest or refund, upon request by the SUDC Foundation. All retreat guidelines, applicable laws, and event details are subject to change based on local and national public health guidance, venue rules, and instructions from governing agencies or authorities to ensure the health and safety of all participants.

Health, Safety & Liability Clause

As a condition of participation in the Community Retreat, I hereby agree to assume full responsibility for, and to indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the SUDC Foundation and each of its trustees, officers, employees, agents, volunteers, vendors, and affiliated partners from and against any and all claims, demands, damages, judgments, and liabilities of any nature whatsoever, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, resulting from or arising out of my participation or the participation of any family members I have registered. This includes, but is not limited to, claims related to exposure to COVID-19, COVID variants, or any other infectious disease or illness. I understand and agree that the SUDC Foundation does not assume any responsibility or obligation to provide financial, medical, health, or disability assistance in the event that I or a family member becomes ill or injured during or as a result of participation in retreat activities.

Travel & Event Cancellation

I understand that when making travel arrangements, it is recommended that bookings be refundable. While it is the Foundation’s intent to proceed with the retreat, circumstances beyond its control may require modification or cancellation. In the event of retreat cancellation by the SUDC Foundation for any reason, the Foundation’s sole liability shall be limited to the refund of retreat fees paid, minus any reasonable administrative or convenience fees. The Foundation is not responsible for any travel-related costs, penalties, or losses incurred.

Consent to Contact

If applicable, I give consent to the SUDC Foundation to contact my adult extended family member(s) who will be attending the 2026 SUDC Foundation Community Retreat.
Clear Signature
By submitting this registration, I confirm that I have carefully read and fully understand all provisions of this consent, waiver, indemnity, and release. I agree to these terms on behalf of myself and any family members, including minors, whom I have registered.
Skip to content