North Carolina Outward Bound School

Calling all women ages 30+! 📣 There are a few more spots available on our upcoming Blue Ridge Mountains Backpacking and Rock Climbing expedition for women. Navigate through the lush forests of Pisgah National Forest and find you way back to yourself. Refresh your spirit, reconnect with nature, and reinvigorate yourself as you break away from the noise of your daily routine. #TheTimeIsNow 🗓️ Dates: 9/21/2024 - 9/28/2024 🌟 Scholarships are available 🔗 Find out more: https://ow.ly/E2Rg50T31uo

This year, North Carolina Outward Bound School is embarking on the first year of our seven-year strategic plan. In the wake of a global pandemic, significant disruption to the education system, and the evolving social-emotional needs of individuals, it has become clear: NCOBS’s programs and courses are a beacon of hope in these challenging times. NCOBS's strategic plan initiatives focus on five key pathways: Staff, Programs, Culture, Sustainability, and Impact. Take a glance at our Program Pathway to learn more about how we are innovating and expanding our program offerings to better meet the needs of our students, clients, staff, and local community.

It is a very exciting time at North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS). Building on our 57-year legacy of changing lives through challenge and discovery, we are launching our new strategic plan, and we need you, our valued friends, to be a part of it! Our new strategic plan outlines a bold vision for impact. We envision a world where the next generation of leaders have the skills and fortitude to navigate the complex problems of the day with perseverance, confidence, collaboration, and compassion. Building on our enduring educational model and the Four Pillars, NCOBS meets its alums where they are, empowering them to face challenges and pursue personal growth and individual excellence. The strategic plan initiatives focus on five key pathways: Staff, Programs, Culture, Sustainability, and Impact. Our mission is needed now more than ever, and with your support, we are ready to take our mission and programming to the next level. Please DONATE today at https://lnkd.in/eX5bJ2JZ to help us sustain our strategic plan. We are thankful for your commitment to our students, and we look forward to continuing this journey together.

Did you know that Outward Bound is an accredited American Gap Year Association program? In fact, Outward Bound is the longest running program in this elite group dedicated to providing supportive, meaningful, and high-caliber educational experiences to students. As a leader in experiential education, North Carolina Outward Bound School's semester programs are designed to offer transformative learning experiences that go beyond traditional classroom settings. While immersed in the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Florida Everglades, and peaks of Patagonia, students build resilience, teamwork, leadership skills, and a deeper understanding of themselves and the world. Discover how an NCOBS semester course can shape your gap year journey by exploring our course offerings at the link in our bio! Upcoming Dates: 🍁 Fall: 9.26.2024 - 12.6.2024 🌷 Spring: 1.22.2025 - 4.3.2025 🌟 Scholarships are available

Today marks 57 years of changing lives through challenge and discovery at North Carolina Outward Bound School. On July 6, 1967, NCOBS ran its very first course out of Table Rock Base Camp. 48 young men ages 17-23 were divided into 4 crews to embark on a 26-day expedition in the North Carolina mountains. Their course included elements of backpacking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting and canoeing, mountain search and rescue training, and even firefighting training. Click through the photos below for a peek at our premier expeditions. Though NCOBS courses have evolved over the years, our mission and pillars remain at the heart of every experience. We continue to lead our courses with an emphasis of self-reliance, physical fitness, craftmanship, and, above all, compassion. We are excited to continue providing students with lifechanging experiences for another 57 years and beyond!

The gray wolf is known to be "an austere and beautiful creature, proud yet humble, self-reliant yet communal, fierce, yet graceful. It is a majestic animal: strong, observant, deliberate, and honorable." North Carolina Outward Bound School's Gray Wolf Award is named for Dave Genova, known by many as “Gray Wolf,” who brought this spirit to the NCOBS for more than 20 years. The Gray Wolf Award honors individuals whose belief in the mission and spirit of Outward Bound is conveyed through their everyday actions. This award is given to an individual not immersed within the wilderness experience, yet who impacts the lives of many through their dedication and belief in the philosophy of NCOBS. This year's Gray Wolf Award recipient is none other than our Community Programs Director, Sarah Goldman. Sarah's dedication to the mission and spirit of NCOBS radiates through all of the work she does for the School. She leads with the goal of creating experiences that are inclusive and accessible. She is never complacent and not one to back down from exploring a new opportunity or lending a helping hand. Sarah's leadership and guidance are valued by her team and NCOBS as a whole. Thank you, Sarah, for all of your hard work. We are so lucky to have you as part of our crew!

The Buckley Bearing Award, named for NCOBS Founder Marjorie Buckley, is awarded to field staff who Navigate—providing both direction and leadership to our school. Recipients demonstrate the highest levels of initiative, integrity, and commitment to the ideals and passion of Outward Bound. With compass in hand, these individuals chart a course, which embodies the spirit of Outward Bound and enriches the lives of those who cross their path. We are proud to announce that staff members Willie and Daniel have been recognized as this year's Buckley Bearing Award recipients. Willie is recognized for being a multi-talented leader who wears his heart on his sleeve. He holds a strong dedication to his work, even when no one is looking. Willie has left his mark across the school through his leadership as Logistics Manager and Instructor, and through helping with whitewater days. Daniel holds an impressive knowledge of NCOBS history and a strong commitment to the mission of the School. Daniel is noted as someone who truly lives his values. He has made an impact on the Outward Bound journeys of countless students and fellow staff members. In his role as Instructor, Daniel leads with compassion for his students and an emphasis on both physical and emotional safety. Congratulations, Willie and Daniel, and thank you for all that you do!

This year, North Carolina Outward Bound School enters year one of a seven-year strategic plan. The strategic plan outlines a bold vision for impact: we envision a world where the next generation of leaders have the skills to navigate complex problems with resilience, perseverance, confidence, and collaboration. Building on our legacy and rooted in our course curricula anchored in our Four Pillars - craftsmanship, self-reliance, physical fitness, and above all, compassion - NCOBS alumni will take what they learned on their Outward Bound course to navigate internal and external challenges with rigor, thoughtfulness, and innovation. NCOBS's strategic plan initiatives focus on five key pathways: Staff, Programs, Culture, Sustainability, and Impact. Click through for a closer look at our Staff Pathway vision and goals. Stay tuned to learn more about our programs, impact, culture, and sustainability in the coming months. 💬 Want to hear more about how we are tracking with our strategic plan? Join us for our Virtual Summer Town Hall on Wednesday, July 17 at 5:00 PM. Register to attend on our events page: https://lnkd.in/guXBqJcy

At the end of May, over 90 NCOBS staff members convened at our Cedar Rock Base Camp for our 2024 All Staff Training. After two days informative presentations, thoughtful discussions, and, of course, lots of laughs, NCOBS staff are ready to enter the summer season with strong momentum! We are so grateful for all of compassionate, motivated, and innovative staff members who have been meticulously preparing to welcome students and serve our mission of changing lives through challenge and discovery. With our first courses of the season in the field this week, we are off to a great start. We can't wait to see the positive impact our programs will have on each participant as they explore, grow, and discover their potential in the great outdoors.

Today is our network-wide first-ever 'Crews for Community' Day, a virtual celebration to support increased access to Outward Bound adventures for young people nationwide. Watch this video to learn more about what it means to be #OutwardBoundTogether. Together, we can make adventure possible for more young people at North Carolina Outward Bound School. Join the movement and donate today to support increased access to wilderness adventure: https://lnkd.in/eAhCT5qK