We work to remove barriers and build spaces where participants, families, and staff arrive as they are, and leave feeling seen, respected, and supported. Our commitment to access and belonging guides how we design programs, build community, and shape our organizational culture.
Access — ensuring our programs are reachable and affordable for youth and adults regardless of background, identity, or resources. This includes scholarship aid, flexible programming, and active outreach to underrepresented communities.
Equity — acknowledging historic inequities in outdoor education and actively working to dismantle structural barriers so that outcomes and opportunities are fair, not just equal.
Belonging — creating environments where every person feels they belong, where differences are honored, voices are heard, and each person can show up as their whole self.

Our Commitments

We treat access and belonging as ongoing work, woven into everything we do — from community partnerships to program design to staff support. Some of our key priorities now:

• Expanding financial and logistical access — continuing to strengthen scholarships, simplify aid processes, and design programs that meet diverse needs.
• Growing a staff and leadership that reflects our community — building pathways to hire more local youth and alumni, and ensuring representation at every level.
• Improving cultural relevance and inclusivity — updating teaching materials and practices, fostering respectful and affirming program environments, and integrating feedback from participants and communities.
• Cultivating community partnerships and belonging beyond course days — deepening connections with schools, families, community orgs, and alumni to sustain support and belonging year-round.
• Tracking progress and inviting transparency — committing to honest self-assessment, sharing updates, and inviting feedback so we stay accountable and responsive.

Our Roots and Evolution

POBS was founded with the belief that urban youth — especially Philadelphia public-school students — should not be excluded from the transformative power of outdoor education. From the beginning, we raised up voices too often left out, offering access where it didn’t exist. But acknowledging history is not enough. We know that equity and belonging require constant learning, intentional changes, and deep community collaboration. Over years of listening, staff training, strategic planning, and hard conversations — including a culture audit and the work of our JEDI Task Force — we continue evolving our commitment.