NCOBS Spring Trail Tales Newsletter No Images? Click here
DELTA AIRLINES LEARNS TEAM AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS WITH NCOBSWhen Victoria Forbes-Roberts, the Vice President of Pricing and Revenue Management at Delta Air Lines, was asked to develop a nine-month-long leadership training program for high-performing employees in her division, she knew right away that North Carolina Outward Bound School would be involved. Forbes-Roberts was inspired by a former high school teacher who went on to become an Outward Bound instructor and brought the organization’s experiential methodology back to her classroom. The Outward Bound approach—placing people in challenging situations and facilitating the outcomes—had a lasting impact on Forbes-Roberts. “A big part of leadership development is being exposed to a certain amount of vulnerability,” she says. “The Outward Bound experience always pops up on the top of the list as the most meaningful part of (our) entire program.” MEASURING THE IMPACT OF OUTWARD BOUND PROGRAMS Since 2011, NCOBS has partnered with faculty from Montreat College and Western Carolina University to gain a better understanding of the impact of Outward Bound programs on its students. In 2017, Drs. Andrew Bobilya and Brad Faircloth collected and analyzed pre- and post-course surveys from students who attended NCOBS wilderness programs in 2016. THE RESULTS QUALITATIVE: Results from the qualitative analysis of surveys strongly support the impact of NCOBS programs on character development. The study confirms that positive character development occurs when students are given the opportunity to strive—to push themselves harder than they ever thought possible, to confront difficulty, and to overcome it. QUANTITATIVE: Using this quantitative data, Bobilya and Faircloth concluded that all NCOBS participants reported improvements in leadership, character development, and environmental awareness. A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG WOMEN: THE GINGER SIMMS LEADERSHIP FUND NCOBS is pleased to offer a remarkable new scholarship opportunity to young women interested in attending our semester course, thanks to the generosity of the family and friends of NCOBS alumna Ginger Simms. According to her family, the NCOBS Leadership Semester course was the highlight of Ginger’s young and varied life. She thrived on the challenge, quickly earning the admiration and trust of her instructors and crewmates. According to her instructors, “Ginger absolutely shined as a leader, was quick to learn technical skills and systems, and applied her own excitement to motivate the group. She was incredibly compassionate and reflective, helping inspire others to keep pushing themselves, and keep finding joy in the course.” After Ginger's tragic and untimely death in 2016, her family and friends came together to create an enduring tribute to her spirit, drive, and determination. The Ginger Simms Leadership Fund provides full and partial scholarships to highly motivated women (ages 18-30) who are ready to commit to the NCOBS 72-day Semester program. Annie Heath was one of two young women to benefit from the new fund in 2017. “It was an incredibly transformative experience for me,” said Annie. “And I think this was the best thing they could have done to honor Ginger’s memory.” OUTDOOR LEGENDS On April 19th at Lees-McRae College, outdoor enthusiast gathered to honor the Outdoor Legends in WNC. The inaugural Outdoor Legends event was first started in 2017, and for the second year in a row, many of the honorees were former NCOBS instructors. In order to become an Outdoor Legend, you must be:
The 2017 and 2018 recipients from the NCOBS family are: Aram Attarian (2017); Jeep Barrett (2017); Bob Benner (2018); Jerry Cantwell (2018); Lisa Loveday (2018); Tex Teixeira (2017); Dee Thomas (2017); Tom Zartman (2017) Among our staff who were able to attend this years’ celebration was NCOBS Executive Director Whitney Montgomery, who said, “It was truly inspiring to be with these NCOBS staff members as many (of their colleagues) were honored by Lees-McRae Outdoor Legends. NCOBS was a very common thread in the recipients’ talking points. Our School has had tremendous impact on so many individuals. Impressive to say the least. Hats off to these men and women.” Congratulations to our NCOBS Outdoor Legends! Charlotte Mecklenburg students commit to acts of kindness as part of NCOBS's Charlotte Unity Project NCOBS REGIONAL UPDATEIn 1967, our school was chartered by Outward Bound as the North Carolina Outward Bound School. Fifty years later, we have expanded outside our state to include other areas in the Southeast where we have strong networks of motivated NCOBS supporters. Here is an update from across some of those regions:
JOIN THE CHARITY BIKE RIDE FOR NCOBS Ride your bike AND give back on the Collier Lilly Ride for Outward Bound on May 26, 2018. This half century will take you through the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains with full-support and over 3,600 feet of climbing! Along with a great ride, you will receive an event shirt, a free beer from The Wedge Brewery and the knowledge that you are supporting outdoor education opportunities in your area. WHEN: May 26, 2018, 8:30AM WHERE: The Wedge@Foundation, Asheville, NC NCOBS IS HIRING Spend your summer working with a compassionate group of like-minded individuals.
SUMMER COURSES ARE FILLING UP! On Outward Bound expeditions, as in life, the crew is stronger than any one individual. Learn what it means to be a compassionate leader and a dependable team member while navigating rough terrain, unfamiliar places and challenging tasks. Enroll now to start your summer expedition! Featured Courses |