FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Outward Bound?
Founded in 1941, Outward Bound is a non-profit educational organization that changes lives, builds teams and transforms schools. Many people know Outward Bound for its wilderness programs, but few know that Outward Bound’s founder, Kurt Hahn, was a renowned educator. Outward Bound has a growing presence in public schools across the United States through Expeditionary Learning.

How does New York City Outward Bound fit into the overall Outward Bound organization?
NYC Outward Bound is an autonomous 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which operates pursuant a charter from Outward Bound USA. NYC Outward Bound is part of an international network of Outward Bound wilderness schools and urban centers in more than 30 countries. Founded in 1987, NYC Outward Bound offers an urban analogue to Outward Bound's wilderness courses by bringing the lessons and activities of Outward Bound into the heart of the City and its public schools. Our organization partners with New York City public schools to help them become places where everyone is regularly challenged and supported to achieve at his/her highest possible levels and where academics, community and character all count.

What is NYC Outward Bound’s mission?
To effect positive and lasting change in the lives of New York City’s young people and in their public schools.

What is Expeditionary Learning?
Expeditionary Learning is a school reform model based on the educational insights of Outward Bound founder Kurt Hahn and other leading educational thinkers, from William James and John Dewey to Howard Gardner. There are currently more than 150 Expeditionary Learning schools in 30 states and the District of Columbia; the majority are in low-income communities. Through rigor, support and real-world learning Expeditionary Learning schools prepare all students for success on high stakes tests and engage them as critical thinkers, problem solvers, and active citizens.

In New York City, Expeditionary Learning is delivered by NYC Outward Bound. This gives NYC Outward Bound a special capacity in its work with its network schools to utilize a nationally recognized education model along with the national resources that the Expeditionary Learning national organization has to offer around the delivery of that model, supplemented and strengthened by the local knowledge, expertise and resources that NYC Outward Bound has to offer.

What does it mean for NYC Outward Bound to partner with the NYC Department of Education in running our schools? While the NYC Department of Education is legally responsible for our network schools, they are jointly run with us and we hold ourselves accountable for their performance. Day-to-day operational matters are the province of the principal and school staff, but NYC Outward Bound is involved in setting and shaping overall school strategy and direction, and in all significant school decisions, especially the hiring and firing of the principal.

Are the schools in NYC Outward Bound's network charter schools?
All of our network schools so far have been district public schools. In 2012 we plan to open our first charter school. Nationally, the Expeditionary Learning school model has proven to work well with either type of public school.
 
What level of financial support does NYC Outward Bound provide to the schools in its network?
Our package of supports and services average $250K per school and include extensive professional development for teachers both on and off site, and culture and character-building Outward Bound programming for students. Schools pay for roughly 30% of the package and NYC Outward Bound covers the balance.

How large is the staff and board at NYC Outward Bound? NYC Outward Bound has 25 full-time staff members and 30 seasonal field staff members, who work on a part-time basis each year. The organization is governed by a 25-member volunteer Board of Directors and an Advisory Council of 9 members. Both the Board of Directors and Advisory Council are composed of New York City business, education, and civic leaders.

How is NYC Outward Bound funded?
The 2010-11 budget is $5.35 million. Activities are funded through a diverse mix of public and private dollars. Funding comes from the following sources: Government 21%, Corporate/Foundation 41%, Course Fees 11%, Individuals 5%, Events 20%, and Other 2%

How many participants experience NYC Outward Bound programs each year?
Annually we serve more than 5,000 young people and about 1,000 educators from over 50 schools and other youth-serving organizations.