From Desk Jockey to Outward Bound Instructor

The day Aaron Bonfante’s life changed began in the usual manner, with a busy morning in his office at Commerce Square, the high-rise office building complex in Center City Philadelphia where he worked as an auditor with a global accounting firm. Then, just after a lunch spent daydreaming about rock climbing, something caught his eye…. READ MORE >

POBS Creates New HR Team: Welcome Kristy and Shanna!

After eight years serving graduate students and alumni at the University of Pennsylvania, Kristy Crocetto began searching for a job with a smaller non-profit that had ties to nature and education. Then she saw an ad that said the Philadelphia Outward Bound School was looking for a new Associate Director of HR and Culture. “I… READ MORE >

POBS is on TikTok! Here’s Why…

Here at the Philadelphia Outward Bound School, most of our students are middle and high school age, and it makes sense for us to “meet them where they are at.” And where they are at is on social media, mostly Instagram and now more increasingly, TikTok. And the truth is, for all its lip-syncing teenagers,… READ MORE >

POBS 2021 Annual Report

The POBS 2021 Annual Report highlights our accomplishments over the past year and demonstrates our impact through both data and storytelling. It’s chock full of fun facts, photos, updates and stories. You’ll learn a lot just by reading our Executive Director’s message on the first page. But don’t stop there – take a moment and… READ MORE >

A Look Back at 2021

What a year! 2021 had its challenges but at POBS we know the best growth and discovery comes from supporting each other through any challenge. This year we experienced that growth, discovery, adventure, and many great memories. As we look forward to the wonderful opportunities and plans for 2022, we also want to take the… READ MORE >

POBS alum Jonathan Sim Receives Infinite Potential Commendation

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award celebrates POBS alum Jonathan Sim with the Infinite Potential Commendation One of the world’s leading youth achievement programs, the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, has selected Jonathan Sim and four other US participants out of a pool of 1,000 students in recognition of their perseverance, creativity, and high level… READ MORE >

The Discovery Center: In the Community, For the Community

Beyond serving as base of operations for the Philadelphia Outward Bound School and Audubon Mid-Atlantic, The Discovery Center strives to make the natural space around the Strawberry Mansion Reservoir accessible to surrounding neighborhoods, and provide outdoor opportunities and educational programming to community members. The Center also serves as a place where local community organizations can… READ MORE >

We’re Thankful For…Leadership Philadelphia!

In this season of giving thanks we want to acknowledge and show gratitude to all of those in our community we have the pleasure and privilege of working alongside. To kick off this series of thanksgiving posts, we’d like to express our gratitude for our longstanding partnership with Leadership Philadelphia.  We have had a meaningful… READ MORE >