Fall Trail Tales Newsletter
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"NCOBS has given me more than I could have ever expected or wished for! I have never been as motivated as I am today. Thank you to all of the staff and my crew for being so supportive and nurturing during our 28-day endeavor. I am certain that there are no limits to what we are capable of and will never forget the pillars nor the valuable skills we were taught."  – Estefane, NCOBS Alum

 

Learn more about the impact of our scholarship program by watching NCOBS alumna, Darby, talk about her experience. Darby received a scholarship this summer through her school, Moravian Academy, to attend a 22-day course in July. 

Many thanks to all of our donors for your support!

 
 

Scholarship Impact

At North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS), we believe everyone should have access to the transformative experience of Outward Bound, regardless of their ability to pay for it. Generous donor contributions and partnerships with community organizations and foundations make NCOBS a reality for thousands of youth and adults every year. In fiscal year 2015, 48% of our students—2,106 youth and adults—received financial support for their NCOBS course!

Scholarships are available for low- and middle-income families, veterans and at-risk youth. Wondering if you qualify? We encourage you to fill out the financial aid section during the application process. The vast majority of financial aid applicants receive some level of support.

 

Mike, leading an rescue and safety training for instructors in 1980.

 
 

NCOBS Leader Receives  National Award

“His being is more than his doing.”

One of the things that has made NCOBS exceptional since our founding is our team of dedicated instructors and staff. For nearly 50 years, these pioneers in experiential education have worked tirelessly to create life-changing experiences and lasting memories for our students. It is with great pride and pleasure that we honor one such pioneer, our very own Mike Fischesser, as the 2015 recipient of the Kurt Hahn Award.

For those of you who don’t know Mike, the nominating team may have put it best when they said, “we simply know of no other person who has done so much for so long to instill those qualities revered and promulgated by Kurt Hahn, and no one is more deserving of the award that honors his name and contributions than Mike Fischesser.”

 

“Basically, I would not give up and die; I would not yield."

 
 

Alumni Profile

'Outward Bound Saved My Life.'    

According to NCOBS alum Andrew, the 23-day course he completed in the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1992 literally saved his life.

Shortly after his experience on course, Andrew was involved in a head-on collision with a drunk driver. His seatbelt failed and his head went through the windshield. Medical personnel twice revived him from death, once at the scene of the accident, and again at the hospital. His injuries kept him in the hospital for over a year: medically induced coma, traumatic brain injury, broken bones, and damage to several organs, including his gall bladder, spleen, liver and lungs. Placed on a feeding tube, his weight dropped to 110 pounds. During the long road to recovery, Andrew had to re-learn to walk. Andrew had the following to say in a letter to NCOBS last February.

 

Fast facts from the 2015 fiscal year.

 
 

A Letter From Our Executive Director

Reflecting on 2015

Dear Friends,

The 2015 fiscal year (April 1, 2014 - March 31, 2015) was another year of significant achievement for NCOBS. We successfully enrolled and delivered safe, high quality programs and again reached our ambitious scholarship goals. As we march steadily toward the 50th Anniversary of our first wilderness course in 1967 at the Table Rock Base Camp, we continue to offer life-changing, experiential education programs for a growing number of students from all walks of life. To see this year's highlights I encourage you to take a look at this year's annual report, Until our paths cross again, take care,

Whitney H. Montgomery

 

Jemar leading an Outward Bound Professional group program. 

 
 

Staff Profile: Jemar Raheem

Atlanta Community Program Coordinator

For the fall edition of Trail Tales we are highlighting the great work of our longtime Atlanta staff member, Jemar Raheem. Jemar started his career with Outward Bound in 1995 at Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center in Boston, MA. After having a life-changing experience as a student, Jemar went back and progressed as an employee until he was invited to instruct his first wilderness program in 2000.

In 2006, one of his friends informed him of an Outward Bound program being built in Atlanta by NCOBS. “It was too great of an opportunity to pass on,” Jemar said.

What kind of programs are available in Atlanta? In Atlanta we do it all! We have a wide range of leadership development and team building programs for groups of elementary, middle and high school students. These programs offer ...

 

2016 Courses Are Live

NCOBS's 2016 Course Calendar is now live on our website! Explore our courses for families, semester long programs for college grads, programs for adults, and much more! These courses fill up fast; make sure you save your spot on the adventure of a lifetime today.

 

Leave An NCOBS Legacy

By including NCOBS as a beneficiary of your will, trust, or other estate plan, you can ensure a lasting impact on NCOBS and our students for generations to come. To learn more about planned giving, contact Dan Leroy, Director of Development, at (828) 239-2103 or dleroy@ncobs.org

 

New Alumni Blog Spot

Looking for a refreshing, new perspective on what it means to go Outward Bound? Check out our new hangout spot for alumni. This blog is a place for our alumni to share their experiences from their Outward Bound expedition with others. It is written by alumni, for alumni – we just provide the space. Make sure you check out the newest edition from NCOBS alum Ethan about his Florida Canoeing Struggling Teens Course, as seen on Simply Buckhead.

Tell us your story and get published on our blog!