Northwest Outward Bound School (NWOBS) recently received a $431,000 grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust of Vancouver, Washington. The grant will fund new jobs at NWOBS that directly support partnerships and programs for students to learn social and emotional skills through outdoor adventure in the Pacific Northwest.
The grant is part of the Murdock Trust COVID-19 Youth Well-Being Initiative. Through the social and emotional learning components of our NWOBS programs, students will have the opportunity to recover and heal from the isolation they experienced over the past two years.
“Our programs can help students from underserved populations heal from the isolation and anxiety they experienced during the pandemic. The grant will allow us to be responsive to the needs of students in our community,” said Marc Heisterkamp, Executive Director, Northwest Outward Bound School.
Outward Bound courses are designed to create connection and resilience, skills that are critical for students to grow and thrive as they reenter the classroom and restart activities in person. Our courses and instructors share tools for social and emotional learning while students face challenges and step out of their comfort zone.
“Outward Bound has completely changed the course of my life. I’ve been continuously given the tools to discover both my positive and negative qualities and ways I can overcome both mental and physical obstacles,” said Bridget, Reynolds High School student, Troutdale, Oregon.
Students can choose from activities including backpacking, canoeing, challenge courses, mountaineering, rock climbing, ropes courses, and sea kayaking. Summer 2022 courses include Oregon Backpacking for Girls, Northwest Sea Kayaking & Alpine Backpacking, Oregon Rafting for Grieving Teens, and more. Courses are also offered by program including middle school, high school, LGBTQ+, women, girls, adults, and veterans.
NWOBS serves students in Central Oregon, North Central Washington, and the Portland Metro area. If your school or organization is interested in expanding access to outdoor experiences for their students, please contact us for more information.
Photo credit: Elizabeth Dalley
ABOUT NORTHWEST OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL
Northwest Outward Bound School’s (NWOBS) mission is to change lives and communities through challenge and discovery. Our vision is a more just and connected society. Through outdoor education, we cultivate personal resilience and local community engagement. Our intensive outdoor and experiential learning provides a unique opportunity for students of all ages to find untapped strength within themselves, and to reach beyond what they think is both physically and emotionally possible.
ABOUT M.J. MURDOCK CHARITABLE TRUST
M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, created by the will of the late Melvin J. (Jack) Murdock, provides grants to organizations in five states of the Pacific Northwest—Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington—that seek to strengthen the region’s educational and cultural base in creative and sustainable ways.