In 2022, we introduced new course cameras to allow our students to capture their experience on expedition. The results were outstanding — hundreds of photos rolled in from the field and we posted them on our website so students could share, download and preserve their Outward Bound memories. Our instructors got involved too, and snapped… READ MORE >
One day in pre-Covid times, Taj Murdock took a break from cutting hair at his barbershop in North Philadelphia and strolled over to The Discovery Center in Fairmount Park to, as he put it, “get my nature on.” It was there that he met Kim Glodek and learned about the Philadelphia Outward Bound School (POBS),… READ MORE >
From a student in 1993 to teacher in the 2010s and now vice-principal, Danielle Merritt’s 30-year Outward Bound journey continues Danielle Merritt had no idea her Outward Bound course in 1993 was the very first expedition of the recently formed Philadelphia Outward Bound School (POBS), but she remembers her experience to this day. “So many… READ MORE >
“Never quit on a bad day,” says Madeline Troyer, a Field Instructor for the Philadelphia Outward Bound School (POBS). That’s the mantra which anchored Troyer as she trekked all 2,190 miles of the Appalachian Trail (AT). It took Troyer 128 days of continuous hiking and camping underneath the stars to walk from Springer Mountain in… READ MORE >
The Philadelphia Urban Expedition was designed in the early days of the Philadelphia Outward Bound School (POBS) to offer participants a complete Outward Bound course within the rich cultural, historical and natural environment of one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. As Nancy Goldenberg, one of the founders of POBS, explains, “We… READ MORE >
If you’ve ever been to our headquarters at The Discovery Center, you’ve likely noticed the large wooden structure with ropes and wires and wondered what it is and how it’s used. That is the James McLane Family Challenge Course, our high-element aerial teams course (ATC). The ATC is our “classroom” designed to foster lessons in… READ MORE >
Time spent in the wilderness gives students a much needed break and a valuable opportunity to reflect on who they are and who they want to become. We often ask students to reflect on their course experience and write about it. A student recently sent us the letter below (edited for brevity and privacy). Dear… READ MORE >
For many, experiential education is not a preordained career path; it’s often found through one’s lived experiences. According to Emily Della Fera, a 29-year old Center-Based Faculty Instructor, that’s the kind of path worth taking. “You learn from the bad ideas just as much as you learn from the good ones,” said Della Fera with… READ MORE >