Text, graphics, and video by Emily Della Fera, Associate Director of School District Partnerships In 2024, POBS participants didn’t just conquer physical challenges; they grew as individuals. Students reported improvements in courage, teamwork, and self-awareness — proof that the power of adventure creates lasting impact. Measurable moments include: We served 7,325 participants across 123 schools,… READ MORE >
by Katie Newsom, Former Executive Director of the Philadelphia Outward Bound School I will never forget my first Advisory Board meeting with the Philadelphia Friends of Outward Bound (PFOB). It was September of 1997, and we met in the meeting room of the Fairmount Park Horticultural Center. Ludlow Miller was the Board Chair of this… READ MORE >
Text and photos by Ritam Chakraborty, POBS Expedition Program Coordinator Top banner image: A view from one of the many summits in Harriman State Park In mid-November, after wrapping up our expedition and overnight programs for the season, our Expedition Team set out on a recon trip to Harriman State Park. Earlier this year, we… READ MORE >
Our Favorite Photos of 2024 This past year, students and instructors used course cameras to capture their experience on expedition and day programs. 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. View… READ MORE >
POBS First Day of Giving a Huge Success (Thanks to YOU!) POBS held its first-ever Day of Giving on October 24, with a goal of reaching an unprecedented 155 gifts in a single day. Thanks to a legion of volunteers, donors, and advocates, we surpassed that goal, receiving gifts from nearly 200 donors to our Day of… READ MORE >
Outward Bound Offers Relief for the “Anxious Generation” This month we have a special guest blog post written by Matt Norcini, who writes that as parents and educators, limiting “screen time” for young people is only one piece of the puzzle in confronting what is troubling the Anxious Generation. The challenge is finding ways to… READ MORE >
Guest Blog Post by Matt Norcini Matt Norcini is the Head of Upper School at Springside Chestnut Hill (SCH) Academy in Philadelphia and the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Philadelphia Outward Bound School. The perennial anticipation of teacher assignments, foraging of school supplies, and frantic last-minute completion of summer assignments are nothing… READ MORE >
With heavy hearts, we mourn the passing of Michael C. Stanley, known affectionately as “Mike” to so many in the Outward Bound community. Mike passed away peacefully on August 1, leaving behind a legacy of service, passion, and inspiration that will forever be cherished. Mike’s journey with Outward Bound began later in life, after spending… READ MORE >