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The Summit Fund
Removing the obstacles between a young person and their breakthrough.
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Every young person has a summit waiting for them.
That breakthrough moment when they realize they’re stronger than they thought. When challenges that once felt overwhelming become stepping stones. When they discover they can lead their lives with compassion and confidence, no matter what comes next.
But too many students never get the chance to reach that moment. Financial barriers keep them from the transformative experiences that build resilience, forge connections, and unlock their potential.
You can change that.
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Colleen Meas
Your Gift Helps Them Reach It.
The Summit Fund removes the obstacles between a young person and their breakthrough. Your gift—whether $50 or $50,000—helps students access experiences that shape how they see themselves and their place in the world. And when they return to their communities, they carry that growth forward, inspiring others to believe in what’s possible.
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Unlocking Access to the Outdoors
Young people today face unprecedented challenges with anxiety, disconnection, and screen dependency. But we know that time outside—challenged, supported, and phone-free—helps them reconnect with themselves and each other. The Summit Fund is how we ensure every student has access to these life-changing experiences, regardless of their family’s financial situation.
Your support removes the barriers that keep students from saying yes.
Tuition and Financial Support
For many families, the cost of an Outward Bound program—even with existing aid—remains out of reach. The Summit Fund closes that gap, ensuring a student’s potential isn’t limited by their family’s income. Every scholarship represents a young person who gets to discover what they’re capable of.
Essential gear and travel
A student in rural Minnesota and a student in downtown Philadelphia face different obstacles to getting outside. The Summit Fund covers the gear they’ll need and the transportation to get there, ensuring geography doesn’t determine who gets to grow. The outdoors should be accessible to everyone—and your gift makes that real.
Program excellence
Behind every transformative moment is an instructor who knew exactly when to step in and when to step back. The Summit Fund supports the training, curriculum development, and inclusive practices that make our programs consistently life-changing across every region we serve. Quality isn’t negotiable—it’s how we honor the trust students and families place in us.
Scaling Access Through Community Programs
The Summit Fund helps bring Outward Bound experiences to entire classrooms and youth organizations—particularly in communities with limited access to outdoor education. These programs create shared experiences that strengthen relationships and give students tools they’ll use long after course ends. When we can reach more students together, the impact multiplies.
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A Proven Approach to Growth
The Summit Fund doesn’t just provide scholarships—it invests in a research-backed model that works. When students return from Outward Bound, educators see real change: increased confidence, stronger social connections, and the problem-solving skills that serve them for life.
Every gift matters. Even smaller contributions help cover essentials that make the difference between a student saying "I can't afford it" and "Yes, I'm in."
Donate TodayYour Impact in Action
$1,000
Helps cover the partial cost of tuition to get a student on-course.
$10,000
Sends 28 students on-course for a full day—nearly 170 hours of screen-free, confidence-building outdoor time.
$50,000
Funds a full 7-day expedition for 30 young people—3,600+ hours of challenge, collaboration, and personal growth.
$100,000+
Fuels innovation and program excellence across Outward Bound’s national network, helping scale our mission to more students in more places.
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How We Steward Your Trust
Access first.
Funds move quickly to remove the highest barriers—tuition, gear, travel—so students can participate immediately.
Excellence always.
We invest in the instructor training and program design that turn experiences into lasting skills.
Impact you can see.
You’ll receive clear updates showing students reached, communities served, and stories from the field.
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Join the Movement
The Summit Fund is part of something bigger—a commitment to raising a generation equipped to lead with compassion and navigate challenges with confidence. When you give, you’re not just funding an outdoor experience. You’re investing in young leaders who will shape stronger, more connected communities.
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