Campaign Report for North Carolina Outward Bound School

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NORTH CAROLINA OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL

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ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN

ENDURING IMPACT:

OUR LEGACY AND OUR FUTURE

A Letter From Our Honorary Campaign Chairs To our NCOBS family, As we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of this extraordinary organization and prepare for the next 50 years of transformational educational experiences, we have chosen to mark this moment by investing in the enduring impact of the North Carolina Outward Bound School. The 50th Anniversary Campaign is dedicated to the principle of leadership through service, which has been instilled from the start.

Our campaign is bold and we seek no less than the best we are capable of—to serve more students than ever before with high-quality programs that change lives and, one individual at a time, forge stronger communities, improve the culture of schools, ignite teachers, and transition veterans into civilian life. Decades of research on program outcomes support our conviction and abiding faith in the enduring impact of the Outward Bound experience.

Our thanks extend to the incredible NCOBS staff members who have served with such commitment and tenacity all along this journey, to dedicated volunteers on our boards throughout the years, to generous supporters who have already joined this effort and who have so faithfully provided the resources to create the enduring impact we now enjoy and, most of all, to every student who has said “yes” to the challenge of Outward Bound.

With gratitude and commitment To Serve, to Strive and Not to Yield,

Marjorie B. Buckley NCOBS Founder Board Member 1966-2012 Former Board Chair Life Director

Rufus M. Dalton Board Member 1967-Present Former Board Chair

Arthur M. Blank Board Member 1984-2008 Former Board Chair Life Director

Nelson Schwab III Board Member 1985-1995 Former Board Chair

TO SERVE, TO STRIVE AND NOT TO YIELD

A TRADITION OF ENDURING IMPACT In the midst of chaotic political and cultural changes in the 1960’s, visionary leaders founded the North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS) with a driving call to action: To Serve, To Strive and Not to Yield.

Early recruitment materials promised an opportunity to attend a school that “presents a set of demanding conditions which enable the student, possibly for the first time, to break free of diffidence, fears, and misconceptions

and to enter upon a fuller existence based on sound values, self-knowledge, and independence of spirit.”

“FROM MY LIFE EXPERIENCES, THERE ARE NOT MANY THINGS IN THIS WORLD THAT WORK AS CONSISTENTLY, EFFECTIVELY, In the summer of 1967, the first AND WITH UNPARALLELED crews hiked into the Pisgah National Forest from Table Rock INTEGRITY OVER SUCH A LONG Base Camp for the experience PERIOD OF TIME AS OUTWARD of a lifetime. Now, with more BOUND. YOU ARE CHANGING than 100,000 alumni, we honor the potential of the individual LIVES FOR A BETTER EARTH.” to create positive change and the enduring power of the NCOBS experience to ignite the best of the human spirit.

David, Alum & Parent of an Alum

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THE DEMANDS OF THE PRESENT The 21st century presents complex economic, environmental, and cultural challenges unparalleled in our history. The importance of supporting young people to discover their strength and their capacity for leadership and collaborative problem solving has never been greater. NCOBS courses help build confidence, teamwork, leadership, and compassion for all participants. Our students are high potential youth, college students, educators, military veterans, struggling teens, and adults from all walks of life. As alumni, they become better equipped to participate in their communities as responsible citizens—whether at home, at school, or in their neighborhoods—because of their NCOBS experience.

COURSE AREAS BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS, NC OUTER BANKS, NC ATLANTA, GA EVERGLADES, FL CENTRAL RIVERS, FL PATAGONIA, SOUTH AMERICA

ACTIVITIES BACKPACKING ROCK CLIMBING CANOEING KAYAKING SERVICE PROJECTS LEADERSHIP TRAINING WILDERNESS MEDICINE

PROGRAM TYPES CLASSIC EXPEDITIONS GAP YEAR/SEMESTER VETERANS EDUCATORS FAMILIES UNITY PROJECT PROFESSIONALS STRUGGLING TEENS (INTERCEPT) FAMILIES IN NEED OF SERVICES (FINS) INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT

ENDURING IMPACT FOSTERED BY ADAPTATION AND COMMITMENT From our original, iconic Table Rock Base Camp we have expanded our program areas to the Cedar Rock Base Camp, also in Pisgah National Forest, and to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the Everglades and central rivers of Florida, Metro Atlanta, and the mountains of Patagonia. To our core wilderness programs, we have added custom courses designed to meet the unique needs of youth, educators, corporate leaders, military veterans, and other adults. NCOBS is changing lives and impacting communities 360 program days a year.

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“I REGARD IT AS THE FOREMOST TASK OF EDUCATION TO ENSURE THE SURVIVAL OF THESE QUALITIES: AN ENTERPRISING CURIOSITY, AN UNDEFEATABLE SPIRIT, TENACITY IN PURSUIT, READINESS FOR SENSIBLE SELF-DENIAL, AND ABOVE ALL, COMPASSION.” Kurt Hahn, Founder of Outward Bound

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ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN

The goal of the campaign, Enduring Impact: Our Legacy and Our Future, is to secure another 50 years of transformative education for our students and staff by increasing the number of people who experience NCOBS programs while expanding in a sustainable manner.

GOAL

$10.2M5

With commitments from long-time and new supporters, we are undertaking a bold campaign to address three key priorities.

KEY PRIORITIES FOR FUNDING

50th ANNIVERSARY SCHOLARSHIP FUND Secure endowments to support scholarships for youth, veterans, and educators in perpetuity, increasing by 20% the number of scholarships NCOBS can award annually for wilderness programs.

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BASE CAMP AND FACILITIES ENHANCEMENTS Raise capital funds for important facility renovations and enhancements to support programming and maintain and improve staff housing.

FIELD STAFF SUPPORT FUND Establish a field staff training and professional support endowment with the goal of preserving and protecting the School’s greatest asset, our field instructors.

ENDURING IMPACT INTO THE FUTURE Our vision is to enhance the role of the North Carolina Outward Bound School as the leader in experiential education. We aim to support our passionate staff while expanding access to ever more compelling NCOBS experiences for students of all ages and backgrounds.

CAMPAIGN PROGRESS REPORT GOAL

COMMITMENTS TO DATE

50th Anniversary Scholarship Fund

$6,705,000

$6,610,580

$94,420

Base Camps and Facilities Enhancements

$1,910,000

$1,715,000

$195,000

Field Staff Support Fund

$1,000,000

$336,320

$663,680

PRIORITY

$369,485

Campaign Undesignated Campaign Expenses Total Campaign

REMAINING NEED

$585,000

$585,000

FULFILLED

$10,200,000

$9,616,385

$583,615

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CAMPAIGN GOALS FIELD STAFF SUPPORT FUND The quality of our courses and the culture of our School depend on well-trained, high-performing staff—the dedicated men and women who commit themselves to the demanding work of delivering exceptional Outward Bound courses. Every day on course, our staff eagerly strive to model the four pillars—physical fitness, self-reliance, craftsmanship, and compassion—and live a life of service, while sharing with their students the risks and benefits of facing and accepting challenge.

Field staff members must possess a wide range of skills to work in diverse course areas with the many populations we serve. With expansion planned for all program areas, and particularly for veterans, educational partners, urban youth, and struggling young people, we must invest more to ensure instructor success.

By securing adequate funding for ongoing professional development, including instructor expedition funds, we can provide continual learning opportunities for staff that stretch them in meaningful ways and provide lifelong skills for careers during and after Outward Bound. Encouraging and enabling field staff to remain in their chosen profession will also address and improve staff retention, a system-wide issue for Outward Bound schools in the United States.

OVERVIEW

STAFF SUPPORT GOAL: $1,000,000 SECURED COMMITMENTS: $336,320

Establish a field staff training and professional support endowment with the goal of preserving and protecting the School’s greatest asset, our field instructors. $100,000 will be used over the next two to four years to launch this initiative while the endowment is established.

Field Staff Support Fund Endowment proceeds will support high-quality career development opportunities and other rewards designed to incentivize longer-term commitments among senior field staff. Increasing the average tenure of staff leaders elevates the professionalism of the staff community as a whole, thereby enhancing the quality of the experience for students.

STAFF PROFILE Trish Haitz has dedicated more than 15 years of her life to the conviction that NCOBS offers unique and transformative life experiences. During her long tenure as instructor, course director, and administrator, Trish has worked with thousands of students and fellow instructors to enrich their personal and professional growth.

She is the consummate professional—maintaining high standards and expectations for herself and others while being supportive, flexible, and fun. Trish applies craftsmanship and creativity to her teaching practice and excels as an insightful facilitator. Through this endowment, we plan to provide enhanced opportunities to help other staff develop and follow in her footsteps.

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CREATING OUTDOOR EDUCATION EXPERTS INITIAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR INSTRUCTORS: Experience leading wilderness expeditions for programs with a similar mission as Outward Bound Personal and/or institutional climbing experience Personal and/or institutional whitewater paddling experience Wilderness First Responder and CPR Certification

USE OF FUNDS: THE EARLY CAREER TRAINING PROCESS

3- to 6-YEAR INSTRUCTORS MOVING INTO MANAGEMENT POSITIONS

KEEPING SEASONED INSTRUCTORS ENGAGED AND INVOLVED

Additional training in: • Enhanced technical skills and risk management • Communication, facilitation, conflict resolution, and group development skills • Outward Bound pedagogy and experiential learning styles

After three or four years of instructing, many of our field staff are ready for and interested in course directing. Course Directors are responsible for ensuring course quality and safety, and supervising and developing instructors in their charge.

Given the somewhat limited advancement opportunities for senior field staff, it is incumbent upon us to provide these individuals with high-quality career development and alert them to opportunities within and outside the school.

THE INSTRUCTORS WERE GREAT AND KEPT US MOTIVATED AND IN LINE. COMING HERE, I DIDN’T THINK I WOULD LEARN MUCH BUT THESE LAST FEW DAYS HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE MOST ENLIGHTENING OF MY LIFE.

Peter, Age 15

CAMPAIGN GOALS BASE CAMP AND FACILITIES ENHANCEMENTS This campaign will improve four of our seven properties and program areas to ensure safety, quality, and maximum efficiency. Our goal is to fortify and enhance infrastructure to support programming and maximize capacity at Table Rock, Cedar Rock and Sunset Island, and to improve the Arthur M. Blank Building, our administrative office in Asheville.

Facility upgrades and enhancements will have a significant impact on programs and will bring our systems and facilities up to current standards.

Upgrades to staff housing will directly impact staff retention by providing appropriate and comfortable living situations for all staff—both permanent and seasonal—allowing them to be more settled, efficient, and focused on course planning and meaningful interaction with students and colleagues. Base camp enhancements and additions will also allow us to reach our maximum course capacity—up to 12 crews at a time at both Table Rock and Cedar Rock and nine crews on Sunset Island.

The sense of community and collegiality is strong at our base camps and in the Town Office. For field staff in particular, we must provide a solid home base from which they can deliver the best course experiences possible.

Students spend time on base while participating in ropes course and rock climbing activities—course components that provide significant opportunities for growth. Program administrators, field instructors, and support staff live at our base camps throughout the year. The strong sense of home, community, and purpose at Table Rock, Cedar Rock, and Sunset Island support and inform our staff members’ work with students on a daily basis.

OVERVIEW

ENHANCEMENTS GOAL: $1,910,000 SECURED COMMITMENTS: $1,715,000

Table Rock: Replace roofing; update guttering, siding, windows, and electrical systems in staff housing; replace water delivery system Cedar Rock: Replace roofing; update siding and windows in staff housing; replace water treatment facility Sunset Island (Everglades City): Update roofing, student bath houses, and septic system; construct additional staff housing; replace dock and ferry boat Asheville Town Office: Replace roof and skylights, improve HVAC system

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ESSENTIAL ENHANCEMENTS TABLE ROCK was founded in 1967 and is located in the Pisgah National Forest on the edge of the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area. This base camp covers 80 acres and includes 22 buildings, a state-of-the-art ropes course, and numerous trails and satellite campsites. More than 1,100 students participate annually on programs based out of this facility.

THE ARTHUR M. BLANK BUILDING, known as the Asheville Town Office, opened in 1995 and is adjacent to Warren Wilson College. This facility includes administrative offices for 30 staff as well as meeting spaces, equipment storage, and kitchen.

In addition, The Town Office houses the Dowd Library, the Outward Bound National Call Center, and serves as the central management and storage location for our River Program.

SUNSET ISLAND, near the Ten Thousand Islands region of Everglades National Park, lies just offshore of Everglades City, FL. We acquired this threeacre property in 1986 and have upgraded and added to the existing lodge and outbuildings that now total nine structures.

Nearly 500 students participate on Everglades courses during the winter program season.

CEDAR ROCK, built in 1986, includes seven buildings on 97 acres of land adjacent to the Pisgah National Forest near the town of Brevard, NC. More than 480 students participate on courses out of Cedar Rock during the summer season.

THE VALUE OF BASE CAMPS CAN BE SUMMED UP IN ONE WORD: COMMUNITY. BASE CAMPS NURTURE OUR COMMUNITY OF PASSIONATE EDUCATORS AND GIVE US A SAFE HARBOR TO SUSTAIN THE FLAME WE CARRY INTO THE FIELD WITH OUR STUDENTS. THEY ARE HOME TO THE INSTRUCTORS WHO RETURN YEAR AFTER YEAR TO GIVE OF THEMSELVES TO KURT HAHN’S VISION. BASE CAMPS ARE THE PLACE WHERE THOUSANDS OF US HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED AND SUPPORTED IN DISCOVERING THAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF MORE THAN WE KNOW.

Corey Winstead, Former Chief Climbing Instructor

CAMPAIGN GOALS 50th ANNIVERSARY SCHOLARSHIP FUND Throughout our history, NCOBS has demonstrated a deep commitment to making courses accessible to participants who would otherwise be unlikely or unable to experience them. For many, these experiences provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain valuable life perspective, discover their inner strength, and emerge as leaders. Scholarships are essential for increasing and diversifying the pool of students who can participate in an NCOBS expedition.

Over the years we have deepened our regional focus in order to provide a concentrated impact on cities and school communities. Regional scholarships provide vital access for students who are selected on the basis of financial need and merit. Courses also build bridges among students from different areas of their communities, serve educators and veterans, and support struggling teens and their families through the Intercept Program.

OVERVIEW

SCHOLARSHIP FUND GOAL: $6,705,000 SECURED COMMITMENTS: $6,610,580

Secure endowments to support scholarships for youth, veterans, and educators in perpetuity, thereby increasing the number of scholarships NCOBS can award annually for wilderness programs by 20%.

REGIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS With five regional scholarship programs in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, NCOBS partners directly with schools to provide transformative course experiences for high-potential, underserved youth. Currently, more than 80 regional students receive support every year from the Annual Fund, and our campaign vision is to fully endow 16 additional scholarships for a total of 96 wilderness course scholarships.

In addition, the campaign will support 82 scholarships for Unity Project students from Charlotte, while Outward Bound Atlanta—in partnership with the American Explorers Program—will provide scholarships for 162 high school students from the city of Atlanta over a three-year period.

“NOT ONLY HAVE I LEARNED OUTDOOR SKILLS LIKE HOW TO SET UP A TARP, TIE CERTAIN KNOTS, COOK OUTDOORS, OR SET UP A BEAR HANG, I ALSO LEARNED LIFE LESSONS. I LEARNED THAT IT DOESN’T TAKE THE LOUDEST PERSON TO BE A LEADER, OR THE STRONGEST TO CARRY THE WEIGHT OF A TEAM.”

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Sophie, Washington, DC Scholarship Recipient

EDUCATORS INITIATIVE PROGRAM Educator programs provide opportunities for K-12 teachers to understand the power of experiential education through traditional wilderness courses and structured follow-up.

Participants see the transformative effect that experiential methodology has on their own teaching practice and classroom community, and learn the importance of challenge and discovery for themselves as well as their students. The campaign will provide, in perpetuity, scholarships for approximately 25-30 public and charter school teachers annually for the year-long Educators Initiative.

“THE EDUCATORS INITIATIVE HAS BEEN THE MOST INSPIRING, THRILLING, AND MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE I’VE HAD ON MY JOURNEY AS A TEACHER. IT HAS IMPACTED NOT ONLY HOW I RUN MY CLASSROOM, PLAN MY LESSONS, AND INTERACT WITH MY STUDENTS, BUT HOW I LIVE MY LIFE.”

Anonymous, Educators Initiative Alum

VETERANS PROGRAMS Enrollment for NCOBS programs for military veterans has increased 2,000% in the past six years. These courses, offered at no cost to participants, draw upon a supportive environment, outdoor challenges, and crew camaraderie to help veterans transition home. Whether paddling in the Everglades or hiking in the NC Mountains, research confirms that our veterans rediscover physical and emotional strengths and develop skills that assist them in adjusting to life after active duty. This campaign will allow us to serve at least 25 veterans on wilderness courses annually.

“THROUGHOUT MY 13 YEARS OF SERVICE I HAVE NEVER BEEN A PART OF A MORE REWARDING SIX DAYS. MEETING OTHER VETS AND SHARING OUR STORIES WITH NO CONTACT TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD HAS ACTUALLY BEEN FUN. GIVING OTHERS LIKE MYSELF THE CHANCE TO WORK AND BE PART OF A TEAM TO ACCOMPLISH A COMMON GOAL IS WHAT ANY SERVICE MEMBER PAST OR PRESENT STRIVES FOR.”

Tim, Veterans Program Alum

STRUGGLING TEEN PROGRAM (INTERCEPT) These programs are designed to help participants from 12 to 22 years of age become more self-reliant and learn conflict resolution, goal setting, communication, and decisionmaking skills. Intercept courses are remarkably effective in helping students transition their lives toward more meaningful and positive directions. Scholarship funds make this program more accessible for families in need.

“SHARING YOUR INNER SELF IS INTIMIDATING, YET REWARDING — A WORD THAT I THINK BEST SUMMARIZES MY OUTWARD BOUND EXPERIENCE. IN THE END I WAS EMOTIONALLY DRAINED AND EXHAUSTED, BUT BEYOND PROUD OF WHAT I ACCOMPLISHED.”

Ethan, Intercept Program Alum

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECOGNITION All gifts to the campaign will be recognized in printed and online materials, unless the donor wishes otherwise. Campaign donors at or above $5,000 will also be recognized in our 50th Anniversary Recognition Garden at the Town Office in Asheville.

Donors below $5,000 will be recognized in campaign materials; both printed and digital.

GIFT AMOUNT

$1,000,000+

$100,000+

RECOGNITION 50th Anniversary bench and naming rights for a base camp or Town Office feature, as agreed upon by donor Prominent recognition in the 50th Anniversary Garden and on all printed materials Naming rights for an endowment fund or a base camp plaque, depending on gift designation Prominent recognition in the 50th Anniversary Garden and on all print materials NCOBS 50th Anniversary commemorative print

$25,000+

Prominent recognition in the 50th Anniversary Garden and on all printed materials

PLANNED GIVING Named after the legendary Founder of Outward Bound, the Kurt Hahn Society honors the extraordinary impact of those who choose to make a legacy gift to North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS).

Members of the Kurt Hahn Society are a select “crew” of supporters who have chosen to link their personal legacy to the transformational impact of Outward Bound. Through their support, Kurt Hahn Society members preserve Outward Bound’s timeless approach to experiential education and character development, ensuring lasting impact on students for generations to come.

You can be are recognized as a member of the Kurt Hahn Society by planning for a future gift to NCOBS, including: • Bequests • Charitable Trusts or Gift Annuities • Life Insurance Beneficiary Designations

• IRA or Retirement Plan Beneficiary Designations • Life Estate (Gift of Personal Residence)

In addition to the satisfaction that comes with having an enduring impact, Kurt Hahn Society Members enjoy special recognition in our annual report and other publications, and in our “Legacy Garden” at the Town Office in Asheville.

DANNY BUXTON PHOTOGRAPHY

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AN INVITATION TO GIVE Few innovative educational ideas have survived for as long as those put forth by Outward Bound Founder, Kurt Hahn. Nor have educational concepts been applied to such a varied set of cultures and environments and found to accomplish the same effect.

Today, we continue to design courses that impel our students to think, to act, to reflect, and to accept responsibility—to “learn from experience.” Outward Bound asks its students to face the seemingly impossible. In confronting these tasks, the student must call upon the support and strength of the group, and must ultimately summon the individual reserves of commitment, perseverance, courage, and compassion that lead to success and self-discovery.

In 2017, the North Carolina Outward Bound School will commemorate 50 years of service. This campaign prepares us to celebrate our 50th Anniversary from a new platform, anchored in legacy, committed to service, and positioned for growth and enduring impact into the next half-century.

We can achieve these goals if we join together To Serve, To Strive and Not to Yield. Please consider the most generous investment you can make to ensure the Enduring Impact of the North Carolina Outward Bound School and the educational experiences we provide.

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NORTH CAROLINA

OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL

2582 Riceville Road, Asheville, NC 28805 www.ncobs.org

Campaign Staff Contacts Whitney H. Montgomery, Executive Director (828) 239-2110 | wmontgomery@ncobs.org Dan Leroy, Director of Development (828) 239-2103 | dleroy@ncobs.org

Kate Mosher, Campaign Manager (828) 239-2154 | kmosher@ncobs.org

NCOBS Board of Directors Aram Attarian Amos N. Beason Susan R. Buckley R. Gordon Caudle Sonji Jacobs Dade Richard J. Daileader Rufus M. Dalton Matthew J. Gould James A. Gray III Senator Kay Hagan David P. Hardy William Hobbs Thomas James Kenneth E. Lawson W. States Lee IV Henry D. McHenry, Jr. Andrew T. Mink Marty O’Keefe Scott Puritz J. Kenton Richards

L. Kent Satterfield Richard K. Schell Robert M. Schwartzberg Benjamin Smeal Michèle Taylor Mitchell Wickham Patricia Wilson Patricia Woodson Nathan Vish Life Directors Arthur M. Blank Marjorie B. Buckley Roddey Dowd, Jr. Scott B. Perper Marjorie H. Whittaker Honorary Directors John C. Huie Dan Meyer

TO SERVE, TO STRIVE AND NOT TO YIELD