Outward Bound USA Announces Consolidation
Organization unifies to create four nationwide programs
Garrison, NY – January 24, 2005 –Outward Bound USA, a 40 year-old, national nonprofit, experiential education organization, announced today that five of its eight independent 501(c)3 have agreed to merge. The unification will allow Outward Bound to build greater efficiencies throughout the system, allowing for the organization to serve more students better.
In votes conducted over the past 30 days, the Boards of Outward Bound West (Golden, CO), Voyageur Outward Bound (Ely, MN), Hurricane Island Outward Bound (Rockland, ME) Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound (Garrison, NY) and the National Headquarters agreed to consolidate their programming within Outward Bound USA. These Boards approved a consolidation plan outlined in June, 2004 and completed on December 1, 2004.
“We are gratified by the overwhelming support of our trustees for a plan that was developed by Outward Bound staff from around the country,” said Outward Bound USA Chief Executive Officer, John Read. “We are ready to proceed with the completion of this transformation of our organization, taking with us the same core values and mission of our Founders, Kurt Hahn and Josh Miner with which we began 40 years ago.”
The merger plan, to be effective on March 31, 2005, calls for the formation of four nationwide programs to serve open enrollment and contract students on wilderness courses (Wilderness), business and professional organizations (Professional), whole school reform (Expeditionary Learning), and troubled youth and their families (Outreach). The plan also includes initiatives to increase the number of urban centers in the U.S., a renewed focus on innovation and service, and reconnecting with the more than 500,000 alumni from all of its programs. Three Outward Bound entities elected early in 2004 to remain as chartered organizations of Outward Bound USA and did not vote: the New York City Outward Bound Center (New York, NY), the Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center (Boston, MA), and the North Carolina Outward Bound School (Asheville, NC).
About Outward Bound USA
Outward Bound is a nonprofit educational organization with five core programs that change lives, build teams, and transform schools. For more than 40 years, Outward Bound has delivered adventure and challenge in the wilderness, urban settings, workrooms, and classrooms to help students achieve their possibilities, and to inspire them to serve others and to care for the world around them. Outward Bound today serves more than 65,000 young people and adults annually.