PHILADELPHIA OUTWARD BOUND CENTER

POBS PROVIDES PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON STUDENTS FROM PUBLIC, CHARTER, AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA, NEW JERSEY, AND NORTHERN DELAWARE. POBS ALSO OFFERS SPECIALIZED COURSES FOR EDUCATORS, VETERANS, AND GRIEVING TEENS. OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, POBS HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY, FROM SERVING 48 YOUTH IN 1993 TO SERVING OVER 7,500 YOUTH AND ADULTS IN 2024. APPROXIMATELY 80% OF POBS STUDENTS COME FROM LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN PHILADELPHIA, AND 75% ARE ENROLLED IN SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA MIDDLE OR HIGH SCHOOLS. POBS SINGLE-DAY AND MULTI-DAY OUTDOOR EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS ENGAGE PARTICIPANTS IN CHALLENGING ACTIVITIES THAT DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND BUILD CHARACTER, PREPARING STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL, IN THEIR CAREERS, AND IN LIFE. IN 2024, OVER 7,500 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS, INCLUDING: - INSIGHT COURSES ARE ONE-DAY SESSIONS AT THE DISCOVERY CENTER'S AERIAL TEAMS CHALLENGE COURSE WHERE PARTICIPANTS OVERCOME FEARS, LEARN TO WORK TOGETHER, AND LEAVE WITH A GREATER APPRECIATION OF THEIR POTENTIAL - PEER LEADERSHIP EXPEDITIONS ARE WEEK-LONG COURSES THAT ENGAGE PARTICIPANTS WITH PEERS IN CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP AND PERSONAL SKILLS. - "GET OUT AND LEAD" IS A MERIT-AWARD BASED 10-DAY EXPEDITION FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE PA WILDERNESS. - YOUTH LEADERSHIP CORPS IS A MERIT-AWARD BASED 14-DAY EXPEDITION FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT FEATURES BACKPACKING, CANOEING, AND ROCK-CLIMBING IN THE PA WILDERNESS. POBS SPECIALTY PROGRAMS. - GRIEVING TEENS ARE SPECIALTY EXPEDITION COURSES FOR YOUTH AGES 14-17 WHO HAVE SUFFERED A TRAUMATIC LOSS. - IN 2023-24 POBS AND AUDUBON MID-ATLANTIC PILOTED A 10-WEEK PAID INTERNSHIP PROGRAM TO EXPOSE FIVE PHILADELPHIA STUDENTS TO NATURE AND THE OUTDOOR INDUSTRY THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES IN LOCAL CONSERVATION, WATERSHED PROTECTION, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND CAREER EXPLORATION. POBS ALSO ORGANIZES PROGRAMS TARGETED AT SUPPORTING SPECIFIC ADULT POPULATIONS, INCLUDING: - EDUCATORS EXPEDITIONS DEVELOP EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATIONAL SKILLS THAT TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS TAKE BACK INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS. - OUTWARD BOUND FOR VETERANS EXPEDITIONS HELP VETERANS BUILD PEER NETWORKS AND ASSIST IN POST-DEPLOYMENT ADJUSTMENT TO LIFE AT HOME. A TOP PRIORITY FOR POBS IN 2024 HAS BEEN TO DEEPEN PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND MEMBERS FROM STRAWBERRY MANSION, THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT SURROUNDS OUR HEADQUARTERS IN THE WORLD-CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FACILITY, THE DISCOVERY CENTER, IN EAST FAIRMOUNT PARK. THE CENTER ENABLES POBS TO MEET RISING DEMAND FOR ITS PROGRAMS AND SERVE MORE STUDENTS THAN IT HAS YET IN ITS HISTORY. THE DISCOVERY CENTER IS A JOINT VENTURE WITH NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY AFFILIATE AUDUBON MID ATLANTIC, AND IS ONE-OF-A KIND CENTER FOR NATURE CONSERVATION AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. OVERLOOKING A 37-ACRE LAKE, THE DISCOVERY CENTER FEATURES INDOOR AND OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS, EXHIBITIONS, TRAILS, HIGH ROPES COURSE, CLIMBING WALL, AND BIRD WATCHING LOOK-OUTS. THE DISCOVERY CENTER IS OPEN YEAR-ROUND TO THE PUBLIC AND IN 2024 POBS AND AUDUBON ORGANIZED 12 WEEKEND EVENTS DESIGNED TO INTRODUCE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO THE ORGANIZATIONS' RESPECTIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING.