Sunset Island Resilient Base Camp

Resilient Sunset IslandBase Camp Everglades City, Florida

North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS) is a legacy affiliate of the international organization founded during World War II to train survivors of German U-boat attacks. In 1974, seven years after our first courses in North Carolina, NCOBS began offering courses in the Florida Everglades, carrying forward lessons forged in those perilous waters. Today, NCOBS students test their limits in the mangroves and open seas of South Florida, building self-reliance, physical fitness, craftsmanship, and above all, compassion.

Among our bases in North Carolina and Patagonia, Sunset Island Base Camp, set deep within Everglades National Park, is one of our most challenging and inspiring environments. It is also the most threatened. Damaging storms and higher seas jeopardize the very landscape where generations of young people have discovered their strength and purpose.

In true Outward Bound fashion, we are facing this challenge head-on. We’ve engaged an expert engineering firm in this field, Brizaga, to develop a resilient strategy for Sunset Island. Although the scope of this project may seem beyond our reach, like our students pressed to get their entire crew over a 10-foot wall, we believe we can muster the resources to succeed.

The Resilient Base Camp Project is our next great expedition. And we invite you to join us to help preserve this extraordinary place and ensure future generations can continue to learn, grow, and lead.

Marjorie Buckley Founder & Life Director North Carolina Outward Bound School

THE PLAN The Resilient Base Camp Plan is a site-wide upgrade designed to enhance the disaster resilience, operational reliability, and sustainability of the Sunset Island Base Camp. Key components include: Selective Site Elevation Raise critical areas of the camp by approximately 2 feet using native soil fill to protect facilities from storm surge, heavy rainfall, and standing water.

Improve drainage and maintain usability of camping areas by preventing pooling and erosion.

Infrastructure Upgrades Replace outdated structures with hurricane-resistant buildings elevated above Base Flood Elevation (BFE).

Include impact-rated windows, reinforced roofs, and natural ventilation systems for increased durability and energy efficiency.

Planned structures include: Two main sleeping quarters A consolidated storage building A larger, modern student bathroom facility Renovate the Lodge, Fuel Shed, and Sinker to strengthen existing infrastructure.

Public Utility Connections Wastewater System: Transition from a failing septic system to a municipal sewer via directional drilling under the Barron River, ensuring reliable waste management and reducing groundwater contamination risks.

Water Supply: Connect to a public water system to replace the vulnerable artesian well, ensuring a dependable and safe potable water source, particularly during flooding or high-demand conditions.

Rainwater Harvesting System Install collection and filtration systems to capture and store rainwater for non-potable uses such as cleaning.

Support conservation and operational independence.

Energy Dependability Upgrades Develop a solar energy field (minimum 15 kW) with battery storage to power essential camp functions.

Reduce reliance on external power sources and increase energy resilience during outages.

Enhanced Coastal Protection Reinforce the existing riprap seawall by increasing height and stability to defend against wave action and flooding.

Integrate a living shoreline with native salt-tolerant plants (e.g., mangroves, saltgrass) to stabilize soil, absorb wave energy, and support biodiversity.

These improvements will significantly enhance Sunset Island Base Camp’s ability to operate safely and reliably during hurricanes, flooding, and other hazards. By modernizing utilities, elevating key areas, and building more resilient structures, the camp will be better equipped to continue operations in challenging conditions. These upgrades will ensure student safety, minimize disruptions to immersive outdoor learning, and preserve the expedition environment. The enhanced site will also serve as a living classroom, demonstrating sustainable, resilient design and reinforcing NCOBS’s mission through experiential lessons in resilience and stewardship.

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Base camp conceptual upgrades.

HURRICANE IRMA

Sunset Island Base Camp has always been a place of challenge: physically, mentally, and emotionally. But in 2017, Hurricane Irma delivered one of its greatest tests yet. The storm swept across South Florida with devastating force, and Sunset Island was not spared. Structures were damaged, access was disrupted, and the long recovery underscored just how vulnerable the site is to hurricanes and storm surge. Irma was a wake-up call for our base camp community. As seas rise and storms grow more intense, these events are no longer rare as they are recurring more often.

While high tide flooding and precipitation-based events already strain the island, hurricanes remain the most significant and immediate threat. Sunset Island lies squarely within the 100-year floodplain, and Brizaga’s risk assessment confirms the base camp is vulnerable to storm surge from even a Category 1 hurricane. In highercategory storms, floodwaters could overwhelm the site, endangering both infrastructure and the transformative programming that takes place there.

Adaptation is no longer optional—it’s essential. With each storm season, the risks grow. By acting now, NCOBS can repair past damage and safeguard Sunset Island Base Camp from future hurricanes, protect its mission, and ensure students continue to learn the values of resilience, leadership, and compassion in one of the most powerful outdoor classrooms in the country.

COST ESTIMATE The following cost estimate outlines the anticipated expenses associated with implementing the Resilient Base Camp Project at Sunset Island. It includes projected costs for utility connections, site elevation, infrastructure upgrades, and sustainability enhancements. These figures are based on current design concepts and industry benchmarks and are intended to support planning and budgeting efforts.

Solution

Comprehensive Site Elevation

Details

Cost Estimate

3,704 Cubic Yards

$

262,984

Water and Wastewater Connection to Public Systems

New System

$

850,000

Four New Buildings (Sleeping Quarters & Bathrooms)

Four Buildings

$. 3,132,000

Three Improvements to Existing Buildings

Three Buildings

$ 1,194,000

Rainwater Collection System

2,500 Gallon System

$

162,000

Generator and Solar Backup System

15 kW System

$

155,500

Seawall Repairs

165 Linear Feet

$

446,000

Living Shoreline

350 Linear Feet

$ 1,537,500

Contingency

15% Contingency

$ 1,160,998

Staff and External Support

$ 1,100,000

TOTAL

$ 10,000,982

Project Management and Staff Project Support

EXPLORING THE OPTIONS Multiple alternatives were carefully evaluated during the planning process, including abandoning the Sunset Island Base Camp entirely and pursuing a partial hardening approach that would reinforce only select areas and systems. While these options offered some benefits, they also posed significant drawbacks in terms of long-term viability, operational continuity, and educational value. Ultimately, it was determined that the Resilient Base Camp Project, which is a comprehensive upgrade of the entire site, was the most effective solution. This approach ensures that the camp can continue to serve its mission safely, sustainably, and reliably for years to come, while maximizing the return on investment and minimizing future disruption.

ABOUT NCOBS North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS) was founded in the mid-1960s by a small group of public-spirited North Carolinians, with Marjorie Buckley often described as “the founding spirit” of that pioneering cohort. The Linville Gorge Wilderness in Pisgah National Forest was chosen as the ideal setting for a rugged, immersive learning environment. NCOBS received its charter from Outward Bound USA and ran its first course at Table Rock Base Camp in 1967. With a team of seasoned instructors from across the global Outward Bound network, the school quickly became a national leader in experiential, adventure-based education.

Today, NCOBS serves more than 3,000 students annually through a diverse array of courses focused on leadership, teamwork, and personal growth. These programs span a variety of environments—from the Appalachian Mountains and North Carolina’s Outer Banks to the Florida Everglades and Patagonia. NCOBS reaches youth, adults, veterans (including 55 veterans who attended courses in the Everglades in Fiscal Year 2026), law enforcement officers, and professionals through both wilderness expeditions and community-based initiatives, carrying forward its enduring mission: to change lives through challenge and discovery.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Bea Armstrong Executive Director barmstrong@ncobs.org (828) 239-2110