Curious about partnering with NYC Outward Bound Schools? Join one (or more!) of our Intro Series workshops to get a taste of our approach.
We offer single- and multi-day workshops for NYC educators, teacher teams and students. Our expert facilitators engage participants in programming that gives schools a slice of our approach to community building, Crew, Instruction for Deeper Learning, and integrating social, emotional and academic development (SEAD) into classroom learning. These workshops are a great introduction to partnering with us, and an excellent way to center student voice and leadership at your school!
Series for Educators and Students:


Community Building 101
Community Building 101 is a one-day workshop designed for middle and high school educators and student leaders. It is best for those who are new to leading team building activities and/or do not have a Crew or advisory-like structure in place at school.
Participants will:
- Engage in easy-to-implement activities — including check-ins, ice breakers, and getting-to-know-you activities — and have time to practice facilitation skills with other participants
- Learn the basics of facilitation and stages of group development
- Understand the value of routines and structures
Takeaways from this workshop can be applied in any school setting. Please note:
- Student leaders must be in at least 6th grade


Crew Intro Series
The Crew Intro Series is a three-part workshop designed for middle and high school educators and student leaders who have a Crew or advisory-like structure in place at school or are planning to launch one soon. The three workshops are structured to have two days of initial background learning and Crew experiences and then a 3-4 week “action period” during which participants can apply their learning. The final session brings everyone back together to share takeaways from the action period. There is a strong emphasis on elevating student voice and building the connection between Crew and restorative practices.
Participants will:
- Experience and debrief an immersive Crew lesson, unpacking the elements of the lesson and their experience as participants
- Understand the many kinds of student and school needs Crew can address
- Learn ways to engage students in the design of Crew and as leaders within Crew spaces
- Identify an activity or change they’ll try out at their school during the action period
- Reflect on impact that change had and learn from what other participants tried
Please note:
- Student leaders must be in at least 6th grade
Series for Educators:


Instruction for Deeper Learning Design Days
The Instruction for Deeper Learning Design Days Series is a two-part workshop designed for middle or high school educators. This series is ideal for educators who want to develop a culturally responsive curriculum by learning more about how students can go in-depth on topics that matter to them and demonstrate their learning authentically. Attend on your own or with a team for structured work time.
Participants will:
- Revise and plan case studies grounded in real-world topics
- Explore making projects and performance-based tasks more accessible and engaging
- Research or visit potential fieldwork sites
- Learn from experienced educators and receive one-on-one guidance from NYC Outward Bound Schools coaches
- Collaborate with fellow teachers to share ideas, best practices and feedback
- Leave with a toolkit of resources, templates and strategies to use in the classroom


Social, Emotional & Academic Development (SEAD) Intro Series
The Social, Emotional & Academic (SEAD) Intro Series is a three-day workshop designed for middle and high school educators. This one-of-a kind PD asks educators to put on their student hat (or harness, rather), and challenges them in new and unique ways in order to better understand the mindset and emotions of a learner.
Participants will:
- Take part in a fun and challenging rock climbing experience
- Learn how the skills fostered in an immersive experience can support community building
- Take a deep dive into the types of classroom structures and protocols that support social, emotional and academic development
Please note:
- This PD is only open to adult participants
For more information or to book a program, contact:
Aurora Kushner
Vice President of School Programming & Impact
[email protected]