A new year means new beginnings and experiences, and our NWOBS Public School Programs team is no exception. This winter marks the kickoff of our new partnership with Washington’s Evergreen School District.
Our instructors teach as many as six different classes in one day, providing an action-packed experience full of games, growth, and unlocking new achievements. These instructors start the day as soon as school begins and continue programming until the last bell. During this time, they develop strong relationships with the students and employees throughout the school, using the Outward Bound method to bolster the community.
Instructors shared that most of the students (and their teachers!) were eager to participate in the activities as they rose to the challenge to complete the more difficult initiatives. The students even surprised their teachers with their level of engagement and participation. From the first class’s challenge of the Yurt Circle — an initiative that requires communication, trust and timing to nuanced discussions around feedback and leadership — these students have consistently risen to the challenge.
Our instructor team and the teachers at Evergreen schools were eager to see NWOBS programming in their spaces, but none of this could have been possible without the tireless work on both teams. Well before programming started, instructors held meetings with teachers and administrators seeking to better understand their communities, culture and needs. Our instructors tailored programming to best meet the goals of these classes and built robust channels of communication between everyone involved. This planning, the support of the Evergreen schools and the hard work of our Public School Programs team have made our opening programs with the district a resounding success. Instructors report significant growth and buy-in from students and all look forward to Outward Bound days at school.
Photos supplied by Rob Healy