The Hewlett Foundation awards $200,000 to Outward Bound
Menlo Park, CA - January 8, 2008 – Outward Bound USA, the nation’s leading provider of experiential education programs, today announced a $200,000 grant awarded by The Hewlett Foundation of Menlo Park, CA. The donation will be used to launch a new Bay Area Outward Bound Center serving Northern California. The Bay Area is now poised to become the first new Urban Center site to be established since Outward Bound USA announced its plans last summer to expand into more cities across the country where Outward Bound’s positive effects on communities are most needed.In partnership with Bay Area schools and youth-serving organizations, the new Bay Area Center will create access for area residents to engage in a variety of Outward Bound programs designed to teach leadership skills and build character. Through its experiential education model, all Outward Bound programs are designed to challenge students physically and mentally to encourage personal growth. In the Bay Area, Outward Bound, with a base camp near Yosemite National Park, is already well-known and respected, both through its Pinnacle Scholarship Program, which works with community partners to send local underserved, high potential youth on wilderness courses; and through its cluster of Expeditionary Learning Schools in Oakland.
In announcing the award, George McCown, Outward Bound’s National Chairman and a Bay Area resident said: "We are very excited to be working with our many friends and alumni in the area both to serve youth in local schools with courses close to home and further away, and to connect our thousands of alumni to service opportunities in the area."
Founded on the vision of renowned youth educator, Kurt Hahn, 45 years ago, Outward Bound has expanded into a nation-wide network of hands-on experiential learning courses for both young and old. Today the organization serves 70,000 students and teachers annually in the US, has over 500,000 alumni from its wilderness adventure programs and is part of an international organization with centers in more than 30 countries around the world.
Outward Bound plans to establish at least five new Outward Bound centers in major U.S. cities by its 50th anniversary in 2012. The Bay Area Outward Bound Center will join existing Centers in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Los Angeles, New York City and Philadelphia. The Bay Area’s combination of access to potential course venues, large base of alumni and long-time supporters and strong Outward Bound presence and reputation in the market make it a key venue for the Center expansion.The Bay Area Center launch was initiated by Outward Bound’s Northern California Council and is expected to field its first programs in the spring of 2008.