A commitment to service is one of the fundamental pillars of the Outward Bound philosophy.
In our view, service goes beyond mere acts of volunteerism or charity. Acts of service in our programs are designed to challenge participants to transcend their personal boundaries and prioritize the needs of others.
Whether our service activities are community projects, conservation efforts, or social initiatives, these experiences are integrated into Outward Bound programs with the goal of making positive changes in our own lives and in the world at large.
Below are a few ways our students and community members join us in service:
Service While on Course
POBS expeditions take place in natural settings, providing an ideal platform for students to actively contribute to environmental conservation efforts, also known as Leave No Trace. Students may engage in activities such as trail maintenance, habitat restoration, or litter clean-up. These actions help instill a sense of responsibility towards the environment and create a tangible impact on the local ecosystem. See related article: Service in the Wild.
Service Projects in the Community
Students and POBS Alumni may collaborate with community organizations or engage in projects that address local needs.
This may involve activities such as assisting with community gardens, participating in infrastructure improvement projects, or supporting initiatives focused on education, healthcare, or social welfare.
The Discovery Center hosts weekly volunteer opportunities that anyone can sign up for.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT POBS - GROUP SERVICE PROJECTS
The Philadelphia Outward Bound School offers service opportunities for groups to give back to their communities. Outward Bound will work to design a custom service project that addresses the specific needs at hand. With the program demand at an all time high, our program locations are always in need of help from our service partners.
YOU ARE NEEDED
Service is among our core principles and thus we always seek for our partners to give back. Service to Outward Bound helps us to focus more of our attention and resources to continue to provide life changing experiences for the people we serve in our community.
LOCATIONS
Service projects can be delivered at our Aerial Teams Challenge Course at The Discovery Center, our Wissahickon Valley High Ropes Course, or at the Lilac House where our staff live between programs. We also offer many opportunities to volunteer at any of our events, whether it be our largest fundraising event of the year or a community Discovery Day.
SUBMIT REQUEST FORM
If you are part of a group that would like to give back to the community, contact Philadelphia Outward Bound School today!
“We are crew, not passengers, strengthened by acts of consequential service to others.”
- Kurt Hahn
FOCUS AREAS
- Fostering Stewardship for our communities
- Improving our program spaces and tools
- Expedition Gear Care and Cleaning for future students
- Beautifying Public Spaces for surrounding communities
- Providing a way to give back that is not only impactful, but enjoyable
PARTNER TESTIMONIAL
“We love supporting Outward Bound because of their mission to educate people about the outdoors and we always have fun with their active volunteer events. We’ll definitely be back whenever we can!”
-Michael G, SEI Investments