Katie’s Korner: A few words from our Executive Director . . .   In 1993, I participated in a high ropes course instructor training.  Among the high ropes course elements on which we trained was The Multi Vine. Imagine, you’re 35 feet above the ground (having arrived at this level after climbing multiple metal staples in the side of… READ MORE >

  Katie’s Korner: A few words from our Executive Director . . .   One of the most common words we hear at POBS is “opportunity.”  We talk about opportunities to reach more students with our mission to change lives through challenge and discovery.  We discuss opportunities to invite more donors to invest in the lives of Philadelphia… READ MORE >

This year POBS introduced a new year-long Apprentice Program. Two alumni of the Youth Leadership Corps program were selected to play a pivotal role in selecting and developing next year’s YLC students. The apprentice program is designed to model Outward Bound’s core value of service. Participants will engage with their schools, neighborhoods and communities in positive ways… READ MORE >

It was mid-morning on Day 5, and these were our final hours together. We were back at Fort Washington State Park, and the students were busy cleaning—water bottles, dinner bowls, equipment—the objects that had been so new to us just five days ago but which had, by now, become a part of us, our routine,… READ MORE >

Lines were drawn in the dirt of the forest floor.  The students examined the final tally, and they assessed how far they had come both as individuals and as a group.  While this task wasn’t the most difficult of their first four days together, it was a significant one.  They were given a minute for… READ MORE >

It was raining hard, the temperature was dropping, and our morning hike had turned into a slog. Attempts at trail games and songs were drowned out by the constant patter of rain against the hoods of our rain jackets. The trail turned to a stream, and our boots were soaked through. No one was talking,… READ MORE >

It was Day 2, and it was hot. We broke camp earlier than expected and made our way north on the Appalachian Trail for what promised to be a long day of hiking. Our destination was a campsite 11 miles away, and for many of us, it would be the longest hike we had ever… READ MORE >

~Matt Norcini, Dean of Student Life “Camouflage!” Jenna’s cry sent us scurrying in all directions around the woods in search of hiding places. It was early afternoon, we had just arrived at camp, and one of our two Outward Bound facilitators had called for a game of Camouflage—essentially, a forest hybrid of hide-and-go-seek and tag…. READ MORE >