Mobile nav open icon Mobile nav close icon
CB10 Secondary Banner

Educators Initiative

A woman is rappelling down a rock face with a large backpack. She is wearing a helmet and safety gear. The background shows a valley with trees in fall colors. The sky is cloudy.
CB13 Repeatable Callout

Professional Development Through Personal Adventure

The Educators Initiative is an innovative program that focuses on professional development for classroom teachers through the lens of experiential education. Teachers are immersed in a collaborative environment where firsthand experiences, hands-on learning, and individual and group reflection foster professional growth and personal transformation. Educators will focus on how to incorporate experiential education into their classrooms while receiving the support of a network of colleagues to assist them in their curriculum development and delivery.

Play Icon play
Topo Element

Program Components

  • Weeklong wilderness expedition in the North Carolina mountains, including backpacking, rock climbing, ropes course, and experiential education workshops.
  • One weekend retreat where participants reconvene with NCOBS staff and other experts in the field of experiential education.
  • Readings on current educational topics that spark reflection, discussion, and innovation.
  • Hours towards Continuing Education Credits that will be documented for wilderness course workshops and weekend retreats. It is the responsibility of each participant to submit the required paperwork to their local or state district.
CB23 WYSIWYG

Goals & Objectives

  • Develop and reinforce teachers’ understanding and appreciation of experiential education philosophy and methodology
  • Support teachers as they seek to integrate both the process and content of experiential education in their classrooms
  • Provide teachers with tools and strategies to promote intentional community development among students
  • Encourage teachers to focus on reflective and student-centered practice, empowering student responsibility for classroom leadership
  • Develop community among participating teachers at each school as well as with colleagues at other schools
  • Promote accountability for teachers and sustainability of the program through ongoing collaboration among participants and North Carolina Outward Bound School staff
CB27 Pull Quotes

I have been reminded of my reason for teaching. I have been reminded that students won’t remember whether you graded an essay quickly or how to punctuate a sentence, nearly as much as they will remember how you made them feel. Outward Bound embodies the spirit of meaningful teaching – engaging with students, earning their trust, and creating the environment and circumstances for the students to empower themselves.

Tally

Educator

I recommend this course to all educators. You will learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable, to collaborate, to celebrate, and to find or regain a passion for education, which can sometimes quickly become buried in bureaucracy. Go. You will be thrilled you did. 

Ben

Assistant Head of School

I’ve been teaching 20 years and consider myself an expert. However, Outward Bound had so much to show me about how to bring the importance of productive struggle, gradual release of responsibility, clear systems and procedures, and group dynamic considerations more forward into my classroom practices. Once these systems are in place, learning will follow. I am looking forward to returning to my school and implementing these ideas.

Julie

Educator

CB29 Single CTA

Immerse Yourself in Experiential Education

Request More Information
CB14 Contact

Contact Us

Vanessa McCroskey
Educators Program Director
THERE'S A BREAKTHROUGH OUT HERE. THERE'S A BREAKTHROUGH OUT HERE. THERE'S A BREAKTHROUGH OUT HERE. THERE'S A BREAKTHROUGH OUT HERE.
Back to Top

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

+ -



Contact Information