Celebrating 25 Years of Jennifer Raymond

On Friday, March 22, all of us at POBS were THRILLED to honor our own Jennifer Raymond for 25 years of service to Outward Bound by throwing a surprise party for her at our Wigard Avenue location in the Wissahickon, AND renaming Goal Pole #1 after her! Not only that, she will be honored at our Gala… READ MORE >

From public school teacher to Outward Bound instructor

A guest blog post by Kerry Lubin When I was a kid, my elementary school didn’t have a physical education teacher, so I ended up going to the library to get books on how to play football and basketball, and I taught myself how to play. Then I taught the neighborhood kids how to play…. READ MORE >

Breaking the Ice, Outward Bound-Style

Icebreakers are cool. But how about four days in the wilderness with your board and staff? To cap-off my first month on the job, I embarked on a 25-mile canoeing expedition down the gorgeous Delaware Water Gap with six intrepid members of the POBS board. Yeah, I know: “work.” With three of our amazing staff… READ MORE >

Meet Erica: Hometown Instructor

“When I first came to The Discovery Center, I immediately had that home-away-from-home moment,” said Erica Wiggins, a lead instructor at Philadelphia Outward Bound School (POBS). Wiggins’ Strawberry Mansion roots run deep – both she and her Mom grew up a few blocks away from what is now The Discovery Center. “The Strawberry Mansion Reservoir… READ MORE >

Northwood native to head Outward Bound School

The Philadelphia Outward Bound School — a nonprofit experiential education organization that serves youth through one-day programs and multi-day expeditions that inspire character development, self-discovery and service — recently announced the selection of Northwood native Justin Ennis as new executive director. Ennis joins the POBS team with more than 15 years of experience in the… READ MORE >

Stick Around for Growth: The Jennifer Raymond Story

An experienced Outward Bound instructor, Jennifer Raymond is the Scholarship and Recruitment Manager for the Philadelphia Outward Bound School, where she forms long-lasting relationships with POBS students. Born in Trinidad, Jennifer Raymond says she is thankful for her upbringing in the Caribbean. “It shaped who I am now and how I interact with students. It… READ MORE >

Life on the Trail: An Instructor’s Perspective

Article and photos by POBS instructor Joe K. To return to POBS as an expedition instructor after a winter of rest means to hit the ground running. Within a day of our spring season beginning, we’re back on the Appalachian Trail. I get to share meals with people I have been missing, and return to… READ MORE >

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 >