I Am Outward Bound

I AM OUTWARD BOUND

910 Jackson Street Suite 140 | Golden, Colorado 80401

ACHIEVING OUR VISION

VISION

Outward Bound is a non-profit educational organization. Outward Bound USA exists to advance the educational vision of Kurt Hahn, the mission of Outward Bound in the U.S. and to provide services and funding in support of the eleven regional Outward Bound Schools in the United States.

Outward Bound Schools deliver transformative learning expeditions and actively engage with students, parents, partners and donors in the communities they serve. Experiential education empowers young people to uncover their strengths, confront their fears and cultivate the qualities that are required of leaders: empathy, compassion, resiliency.

With foundational support, we employ the best Instructors in experiential education. Individuals who are fiercely committed, not just to the idea of a more compassionate and resilient world, but to the realization of it.

We partner with local youth organizations and schools, from San Francisco to New York City. These partnerships expand opportunities for quality education to underserved populations and build stronger, more equitable communities.

Read the personal stories that follow to see the positive difference that Outward Bound students make.

Photo (Front Cover ) by Dalton Johnson, courtesy of Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School Photo (left) by Charis Nichols

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OUR VISION

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RYAN | AGE 17

 Boca Raton, Florida

Northwest Outward Bound School

I AM EMPOWERMENT When Ryan isn’t earning her black belt in Taekwondo, she’s managing her high school’s chapter of Best Foot Forward, a non-profit that provides academic support and resources like job application guidance for foster care youth. She feels a responsibility to

“ I EMPOWER FOSTER CARE YOUTH TO

PURSUE BETTER FUTURES.”

“Spending a whole month with people you’ve never met, you really get to know them, not just where they come from or what their life is like, or what their favorite color is. You cook each other’s meals, you set up each other’s shelters, you make sure their water is safe to drink— that’s a lot to put on a group of strangers, but you become closer with each other. That’s how I feel when I volunteer and build relationships with foster care kids.”

— RYAN | Empowers through Best Foot Forward

support her community, and feels more connected to it when she volunteers.

WATCH RYAN’S STORY 

www.outwardbound.org/I-Am-Outward-Bound/Stories/ 3:50

MAIN PHOTO

Ryan having completed a summit attempt on her Northwest Outward Bound School expedition.

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Photos courtesy of Ryan Dudak

VIDEO CLIP

In this video, Ryan gives us a peek into her life and how she’s creating a positive impact in her community.

TOP RIGHT PHOTO

Ryan (front row, middle), founder and president of the Best Foot Forward Club at her high school.

I AM EMPOWERMENT

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BRENDIS GONZALEZ | AGE 24

 New York City, New York

I AM LEADERSHIP Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (WHEELS)

New York City Outward Bound School student, Brendis returned to Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School to teach second and third grade. She integrates the natural world into her classroom lessons because she hopes it will help empower them to pursue life with tenacity and a greater understanding of their world.

Brendis’ students support and challenge one another, transcending their differences in life and learning styles.

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WHEELS TAUGHT ME TO THINK OF MYSELF AS PART OF A

CREW, NOT JUST A PASSENGER IN THE WORLD. I WANT TO

TEACH MY STUDENTS TO TRUST THEMSELVES AND TO NOT BE

New York City Outward Bound School

Inspired by her own experience as a

“WHEN I WAS A STUDENT,

AFRAID OF THE UNKNOWN.”

“Miss Gonzalez has impacted my life at WHEELS by helping people work with each other who aren’t at the same level of learning. Miss Gonzalez made sure that everyone worked well no matter if they learned differently or not; and she made sure nobody made fun of anyone

WATCH BRENDIS’ STORY 

www.outwardbound.org/I-Am-Outward-Bound/Stories/ 3:50

because of how they learned.”

—WHEELS STUDENT, 2ND GRADE MAIN PHOTO

Brendis Gonzalez, 24-years-old, second grade teacher at WHEELS

VIDEO CLIP

In this video, Brendis gives us a peek into her life as a second grade teacher in New York City, and how she’s creating a positive impact in her students’ lives.

Photos courtesy of Brendis Gonzalez

TOP RIGHT PHOTO

Brendis Gonzalez (back row, center) with her second grade class outside of the Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School in New York City.

I AM LEADERSHIP

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STEVE | AGE 25

 Virginia Beach, Virginia

Northwest Outward Bound School and Colorado Outward Bound School

I AM RESILIENCY Steve is an Aviation Rescue Swimmer for the U.S. Coast Guard in the Underwater Egress Training Division where he teaches approximately 3,000 Navy men and women, a year, to safely exit from a sunken aircraft or

“I LOVE BEING ABLE TO HELP THE STUDENTS WHO DON’T HAVE THE BEST WATER

CONFIDENCE. I TEACH THEM HOW TO OVERCOME THEIR

FEARS, AND POSSIBLY SAVE THEIR LIVES ONE DAY.”

vessel after a crash. He believes that a person has to be both tough and compassionate to overcome life’s obstacles.

WATCH STEVE’S STORY 

www.outwardbound.org/I-Am-Outward-Bound/Stories/ 3:50

MAIN PHOTO

Photo shows Aviation Rescue Swimmer rappelling out of a helicopter to practice rescue techniques.

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VIDEO CLIP

In this video, Steve gives us a peek into his life as an Aviation Rescue Swimmer, and the positive impact he’s creating in the lives of Navy men and women.

Photos courtesy of Steve Byerley

TOP RIGHT PHOTO

Steve, right, with fellow U.S. Coast Guard.

I AM RESILIENCY

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WILDERNESS EXPEDITIONS Outward Bound continues to be the leading provider of experiential and outdoor education leadership programs for youth, teens and adults.

Challenge, adventure and teamwork combine to create an ideal platform for building character and teaching leadership. Students accomplish things they never thought possible and return home as more resilient and compassionate citizens.

Outward Bound alumni are people of strong moral character who are not only inspired to make the world a better place but feel a responsibility to do so. Students of all ages, from 12 to 62, return to their communities with the agency to foster lasting, positive change.

POLICE YOUTH CHALLENGE The Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School’s Police Youth Challenge (PYC) seeks to uproot biases between the city’s officers and its youth. The program addresses community challenges through positive relationship building and conflict resolution using constructive, non-violent methods. The results are powerful. 47% of officers surveyed made significant positive change in their responses regarding stereotyped beliefs of youth after PYC, and 64% of youth left the program thinking police are trustworthy, friendly, helpful and fair instead of scary, aggressive, racist and rude.

This is possible through foundational support and partnerships with

TRIBAL YOUTH PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM The Northwest Outward Bound School partners with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs to provide pathways for tribal youth to become outdoor educators and access to other leadership opportunities within the outdoor industry.

Youth members of the Warm Springs, Wasco and Paiute tribes are granted fully-funded scholarships to participate in rafting courses on the Deschutes River in central Oregon.

Working with tribal leaders, this program gives young people of underserved communities an opportunity to discover who they are and what they can achieve.

local and regional organizations. Together, we share a common purpose: a commitment to breaking down barriers to opportunity and expanding the experience of transformative education.

OUT THERE ADVENTURES FOR LGBTQ YOUTH OUT There Adventures (OTA), a Seattle based non-profit, partners with Outward Bound to foster positive identity development, individual empowerment and improved quality of life for queer young people. When LGBTQ youth may not have supportive or safe spaces, this program is designed to be an open and affirming experience for building community in the equalizing wilderness.

9,000

students enrolled in local school partnership programs

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10,000

students enrolled in community partnership programs

14,000

students enrolled in one-day community programs

Photo courtesy of Outward Bound California

VETERANS Veterans service members and veterans take part in Outward Bound wilderness expeditions that address and prevent mental health challenges associated with combat and veteran transitions. Veterans are able to validate their experience and feel less isolated while transferring their commitment to service from their nation to their families and communities. After graduating their course, veterans’ depression and anxiety symptoms decrease by 8%, their sense of social connection increased by 10% and their interest in gaining insight in themselves increased by almost 20%. The program’s astounding impact is evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively through a partnership with the University of Texas-Austin.

WE ARE COMMUNITY

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WE WORK TOGETHER A FOCUS ON CHARACTER

A PARTNERSHIP APPROACH

In school, children are taught math, history, reading comprehension—all subjects they need to be educated individuals. However, most children aren’t taught emotional intelligence, the ability to recognize, evaluate and react to their emotions and to the emotions of others. Outward Bound’s educational approach places character and intellectual development on equal footing.

For this reason, Outward Bound partners with a growing number of public and private school systems in major U.S. cities such as New York and Boston Public Schools, the School District of Philadelphia and Baltimore, in Omaha and Minneapolis. Partnered with likeminded youth-serving organizations nationwide, Outward Bound creates custom-designed programs that supports the community’s particular needs and learning objectives.

Outward Bound students fill an important gap in their education.

They learn self-awareness and self-management, effective communication and conflictresolution, empathy and compassion.

They’re given opportunities to learn, practice and finally implement noncognitive skills, witnessing first-hand the importance of these skills and the power of them.

Reflection, perseverance, boldness of spirit and a compassionate nature toward others are cultivated qualities.

Much like critical thinking or problem-solving, character

Together, we are equipping today’s youth with the learning experiences they need to become leaders.

500+ education partners nationwide

development requires practice and the support of educators.

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Photo courtesy of New York City Outward Bound School

WE WORK TOGETHER

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EDUCATIONAL MODEL & THEORY OF CHANGE Outward Bound is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to developing people of moral character who are inspired to make the world a better place.

We believe that values are experienced concretely rather than taught abstractly; that when the makeup of a crew crosses racial, economic or religious lines, differences are celebrated, appreciated and valued.

When we’re more comfortable in the language of emojis to represent our feelings than we are with speaking about them, it’s not all that shocking to learn that the leading cause of depression among young people is related to smartphone and social media usage. But despite deep-seated divisions in our nation and disturbing news like this, we feel an increasing responsibility in the integrity of our humanity, in each other and in our communities.

The idea that “you are needed,” no matter who you are, is a critical ingredient to the success of Outward Bound programs. This emphasis on inclusiveness and interdependence sets an Outward Bound expedition apart from any other learning experience; students are “crew, not passengers.” An awareness and respect for the needs of our peers is not optional, it’s necessary, and it’s this attitude and these values that Outward Bound students take with them as they make their own way through a life of learning, adventure and service.

The positive outcomes our students experience—whether they are of middle or high school age, young or mature adults—manifest in a desire to make a positive difference in their own lives and in the lives of others. Strangers become life-long friends. Small accomplishments become life-long habits. Through shared challenges, adversity, failure and success, students discover new perspectives on the world in which they live and a passion for leaving it better than they found it.

The positive outcomes our students experience—whether they are of middle or high school age, young or mature adults— manifest in a desire to make a positive difference in their own lives and in the lives of others.

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WE CREATE IMPACT

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OUR FRAMEWORK FOR THE PRACTICES THAT HELP CHILDREN THRIVE

WHEN 2,800 STUDENTS

WERE ASKED IN A COURSE

END EVALUATION, ‘AFTER MY

COURSE, I AM MOST LIKELY TO…’, AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY RESPONDED THAT THEY ARE

MORE LIKELY TO BE A LEADER, ASSIST PEOPLE IN NEED,

ACCOMPLISH THEIR GOALS,

BELIEVE IN THEIR ABILITY TO

SUCCEED, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS, AND

SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES.

SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT Physical and emotional safety of our students is at the center of everything Outward Bound does. Highly skilled Instructors use group facilitation methods, a high awareness of individual and group needs and industry leading technical skills to guide students through learning experiences in challenging settings.

LEARNING THROUGH EXPERIENCE Outward Bound students navigate relevant experiences that promote skill mastery and emphasize reflection. This focus on experiential education allows students to learn from struggles and failures, as well as successes. For many students, outdoor learning environments are unfamiliar and daunting. By moving out of their comfort zone, students discover and develop new strengths and self-confidence.

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Photo courtesy of Colorado Outward Bound School

Developed in partnership with The NOAM Institute.

LEADERS IN SAFETY AND EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION DEVELOPING WORLD CLASS INSTRUCTORS Outward Bound is known and respected for developing leaders in the field of outdoor education and youth character development. With the increased sophistication of learning methods and an emphasis on social emotional learning and demonstrated outcomes, the Outward Bound Professional Learning Lab was created to codify Outward Bound’s best practices and increase the professional development of its Instructor staff.

The Outward Bound Professional Learning Lab is a collaborative effort of the Outward Bound network in the U.S. with 35 senior educators from the Outward Bound Schools across the U.S. and a core OBUSA staff. Outside partners bring expertise in specialized areas of curriculum design, outcomes research and equity, and diversity and inclusion.

The Lab produces professional learning sessions so Outward Bound Instructors can continually improve their knowledge and skills, and so that Outward Bound can measure the impact of programs on the students that it serves.

We need more Outward Bound graduates in the classroom, the boardroom, the campus and the corridors of leadership. We need more students who are strengthening their communities and their world, equipped with the desire to act with integrity and compassion.

WE CREATE IMPACT

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YOU ARE NEEDED Greetings!

Today’s world is complex: fast-moving, ever-changing, and interconnected — beset with hope and beauty, struggle and strife. And despite forces that aim to discredit and divide, at Outward Bound, we strive to build community, uncover purpose and create meaning.

You may already know Outward Bound as the premier provider of outdoor experiential education, often in remote and wild places across the USA. You may have experienced Outward Bound firsthand as a student or a family member or friend of a student. And, you may already realize that Outward Bound is so much more than the adventure. Outdoor experiences are only part of the equation. It’s what we discover about ourselves through Outward Bound that makes the difference.

And through this discovery, Outward Bound seeks to change the narrative. We aim to inspire compassion and engagement for a more equitable society.

The realization that our lives are interdependent — that we are all needed — is at the heart of any expedition. From there, and through the voices of our students, the true impact of Outward Bound occurs in homes, schools, neighborhoods and communities. We ask you to join our community, to invest in our collective future. We ask you to contribute your foundational and financial support so, together, we can continue to build compassionate leaders with limitless possibilities.

You are needed . . . to serve, to strive and not to yield.

JOSH BRANKMAN Executive Director, Outward Bound USA

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YOU ARE NEEDED

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Outward Bound USA 910 Jackson St, STE 140 Golden, CO 80401 (866) 467-7651

Outward Bound USA - Advancement Office 119 West 24th St, 4th Floor New York, NY 10011 (718) 463-4484

WE ARE OUTWARD BOUND Outward Bound is a non-profit educational organization.

Outward Bound USA exists to advance the educational vision of Kurt Hahn, the mission of Outward Bound in the U.S. and to provide services and funding in support of the eleven regional Outward Bound Schools in the United States.

Outward Bound Schools deliver transformative learning expeditions and actively engage with students, parents, partners and donors in the communities they serve.

Learn more at @OutwardBoundUSApage

Photo by Charis Nichols

WWW.OUTWARDBOUND.ORG @OutwardBoundUSA

@OutwardBoundUSA