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Organizational Development

“Outward Bound has offered us resources to be used in advisories… The result is that teachers feel less overwhelmed by the advisory program, students see advisory as an enriching environment where they build social and academic skills, and the climate of the school is enriched by the connections between advisors and students.”

—Nina Dibs, project coordinator, advisory groups, EBC Bushwick High School

Public schools often turn to us for help in meeting their organizational objectives, such as building an effective school community, creating a shared vision and action plan, and strengthening leadership teams. We offer customized one-day or multi-day programs for faculty, school leadership teams, district staff and parents. NYC Outward Bound is an approved vendor for New York City Department of Education School Leadership Teams.

Our programs are highly flexible and designed to respond to the special needs of individual schools. All have their roots in Outward Bound’s distinctive and successful experience-based methodology. While based on organizational development theories, such as how to implement shared decision-making, our methodology also allows participants to try out and practice new skills in team-based situations similar to those they encounter at work.

Each program takes a four-phase approach to meet the school’s goals:

  • Assessment questionnaires and/or meetings to determine program scope, goals and design

  • Program and approach is designed to meet individual, team and school objectives

  • Programs may be delivered at the school or off-site. Activities range from facilitated discussions to experiential problem-solving initiatives and activities like sailing.

  • Follow-up work with participating groups helps ensure that key learnings and behavioral change are incorporated into the school’s working culture.

Other programs we offer help schools develop, and put into practice, various tools, techniques, skills and approaches that allow staff members to work together more effectively to benefit students:

Consulting Services help teams identify areas they need to work on and offer strategies and tools to overcome impediments to team performance. New York City Outward Bound offers activities for individuals and teams that highlight obstacles and provide new skills to help them be more effective in their work. We can also help teams increase the effectiveness and productivity of meetings. By modeling best practices in facilitation, teams can put those practices to work for themselves.

Retreat Programs, of one day or longer, give teams an intensive opportunity to plan for the future and/or focus on and resolve issues that prevent their school from being as successful as possible. Retreats may take place at the school but are most successful off-site, away from daily distractions and responsibilities. They offer teams a concentrated forum to complete or lay groundwork for outcomes like a clearly articulated, shared vision for the school, or a comprehensive education plan.

Experiential Workshops provide participants with a visceral understanding of some fundamental concepts and skills necessary for effective teamwork. Workshops can be organized around areas like leadership development or community building, according to the team’s interests and needs. A group of assistant principals and principals might choose to participate in a “Leadership Development” workshop that offers progressively challenging activities, enabling individuals to practice, strengthen and receive feedback on various styles of leadership.

Adventure Programs can be particularly powerful in improving a team’s trust, communication, teamwork, problem-solving abilities, leadership and sense of community. Using local natural settings such as the Hudson River and Jamaica Bay Wildlife Preserve, programs may include a high ropes course, sailing, backpacking, rock-climbing or canoeing. Shared adventures build cohesion and can be a powerful motivator for working as a team back in the school.

For more information, contact Buddy Orange.

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