Our approach to Social, Emotional and Academic Development (SEAD)
NYC Outward Bound Schools’ approach to working with young people and schools is grounded in the understanding that social, emotional, and academic development (SEAD) are innately interconnected to support young people to thrive.
Our programs focus on creating immersive, deeper learning experiences that help students develop SEAD competencies in their classrooms, Crews, communities, and the outdoors. All of our school-based and Outdoor Adventure programming leads to SEAD.
We envision the integration of SEAD into learning experiences as intentionally anti-racist and liberatory, valuing many ways of knowing and being, and centering students as co-creators of knowledge. By developing skills and competencies like empathy, agency and critical thinking, young people are empowered to lead as their full selves, with their intersectional identities, and collectively respond to and disrupt the systemic inequities that impact them and their communities.
Why is SEAD our north star?
Research shows that when students feel they belong and have a voice, they are more likely to succeed academically and develop a lifelong love of learning. In fact, students who believe they have a voice in school are 7 times more likely to be academically motivated than those who do not feel they have a voice.
At NYC Outward Bound, we are committed to helping schools reimagine how young people can reach their full potential through learning experiences that prioritize student voice and choice. By centering the most marginalized voices among us, we enable young people to be active partners in improving their education and school communities, and charting their own futures.
Why can't school be more like an Outward Bound course?
Our work harnesses the transformative power of the outdoors and brings elements of the Outward Bound pedagogy into classrooms — the mixture of challenge and support, learning as an immersive, communal exercise, an emphasis on student agency, and more.
SEAD Competencies
Social
Collaboration
- Value the power of different and diverse perspectives, and that everyone contributes to collective success and learning
- Find balance between taking initiative, leading, and stepping back to let others lead
- Engage with disagreement and conflict constructively, understanding their role in learning and growth
Communication
- Recognize the power of your words to lift up others and support change
- Demonstrate integrity, sensitivity, and respect for different perspectives in all communication
- Share your thoughts, questions, ideas, and solutions with clarity and purpose
Adaptability
- Make decisions informed by the expectations of social interactions in a variety of settings
- Seek help for yourself or others when needed
- Demonstrate a reflective openness to change your mind and actions, even as you stay grounded in your own integrity and identities
Emotional
Self-Awareness
- Identify and name your thoughts and feelings; recognize how they impact your actions
- Develop and practice strategies for managing your emotions, thoughts, and actions
- Recognize your personal strengths and assets, as well as growth areas
Empathy
- Recognize that others may have different perspectives and feelings than you and consider alternate viewpoints with respect and curiosity
- Learn about and demonstrate your understanding of others’ cultural backgrounds
- Identify and interrogate your prejudices and biases
- Show compassion for the feelings and circumstances of others; offer support when needed
Agency
- Believe in and cultivate your capacity to make a difference
- Identify how your actions affect those you interact with, your larger communities, and the world
- Stand up for yourself, others and the issues that matter
- Examine and take action against social inequities, using your power to help make the world a more just and equitable place
Academic
Critical Thinking
- Seek truths that are grounded in evidence and experiences, reasoning, and logic, rather than accepting things without question
- Approach sources of information with curiosity and inquisitiveness in order to avoid flaws in reasoning
- Compare different viewpoints and arguments in order to understand their strengths and weaknesses
Problem Solving
- Ask questions and explore resources in order to accurately define a problem and build hypotheses
- Ideate, test, and evaluate possible methods or solutions
- Collaborate with others and adjust your approach based on new information and feedback
Making Connections
- Seek opportunities to apply knowledge and skills learned in school to life outside of school and vice versa
- Consider outcomes and implications of actions, past and future
- Identify patterns, relationships, and themes across subjects, experiences, and communities to deepen understanding and inspire new ideas
Purposeful Planning
- Set ambitious and achievable goals that challenge you
- Identify the resources and support systems you need to help you reach your goals
- Manage your time to reach your challenge goals
- Track your progress toward your goals and develop resilience by learning from failures
Our Guiding Principles
Our guiding principles support how we approach our work. They help ensure that our common beliefs about learning are clearly aligned with everything we do and develop as an organization.
Center Student Leadership
We trust young people to take ownership of their learning.
Learn Through Daring Exploration
We create immersive learning opportunities and encourage growth through risk-taking and productive struggle.
Find Strength in Community
We lift each other up in powerful learning communities where diverse voices and experiences are sought out and valued.
Mobilize for Justice
We take action to disrupt systems of oppression. As agents of change in our communities, we engage critically and joyfully with the world around us.
Foster Holistic Development
We recognize that people are multifaceted and champion an integrated vision of social, emotional and academic development for all.