Philadelphia Outward Bound School

10/08/2026

140 staff from PHS Pennsylvania Horticultural Society spent a full day with us at the Discovery Center. They came from departments across PHS, including office teams, field crews, and remote staff, and many didn't know each other well when they arrived.

Over the day, groups paddled the reservoir, hiked the trails, climbed the challenge course, rode the zipline, and worked through team challenges on the ground. By the afternoon, people who had started the day learning names were calling out strategy for each other.

One staffer said it best: "...days like today when I've laughed more than I have in ages really makes me feel like everyone here is a friend."

Thank you, PHS! We look forward to a growing partnership. 🌿

10/05/2026

We recently hosted three crews of ninth-graders and chaperones from William L. Sayre High School. After some ground activities and ice-breakers, the crews challenged themselves and supported each other on the Aerial Teams Course.

Some students went looking for the next element. Others crossed the log side by side with a friend, pointing out where to step next. In the debrief, one student shared that he was scared, but his friends kept him laughing until he felt safe.

Nearly ten years of partnership with Sayre, and the best part hasn’t changed: students showing up for each other.

10/02/2026

What a night!!! 150 friends filled the spectacularly lit Discovery Center for our first-ever Jamboree, with live music, BBQ, and our challenge course glowing overhead.

Thank you to our honoree and lead sponsor BLBB Charitable, our eleven sponsors, and every guest. Together you raised $190,000 for Philadelphia students!!!

Couldn't make it? You can still give at pobs.org/donate.

Thank you to our incredible sponsors and supporters!
BLBB Advisors
Haverford Trust
Jamie & Meg McLane
McCausland Foundation
Radius
Tomlin Strategies
Kimley Horn
PNC Bank
John & Janet Haas
Tim & Sandy Greenwood
Terry Henry
Liz & Henry Harris
Jon & Emily Conant

10/01/2026

It's Jamboree Day! 🎉 All hands have been on deck all week to pull tonight's event together, and it's looking like one for the books.

To our sold-out crowd: we can't wait to see you!!! 🔥

To our sponsors and supporters: thank you for making it possible!

BLBB Advisors
Haverford Trust
Jamie & Meg McLane
McCausland Foundation
Radius
Tomlin Strategies
Kimley Horn
PNC Bank
John & Janet Haas
Tim & Sandy Greenwood
Terry Henry
Liz & Henry Harris
Jon & Emily Conant

09/24/2026

Veterans, bring a Plus One and climb with us! 🧗

On Saturday, October 3, we're heading up the Aerial Teams Challenge Course at The Discovery Center, and you're encouraged to bring a family member or friend. They don't need to have served.

📅 Saturday, October 3, 9:45am to 2:30pm
📍 The Discovery Center, 3401 Reservoir Dr., Philadelphia
🥪 Lunch provided
💲 Free!

Spots require an RSVP in advance - sign up at

Bring a Plus One to climb with us at The Discovery Center!

09/22/2026

The Alumni Overnight last weekend was a great success! Full house. 24 alumni, one night in the Wissahickon, zero phones (but cameras were allowed, as you can see.) 😜

The grew enjoyed games, challenges, and a Sunday morning on the Goal Pole despite the rain.

Our instructors loved it too. Leading a crew of alums who came back hungry for more made for a rewarding course on both sides of the campfire.

Thank you to everyone who spent the night with us! More photos on the alumni page at pobs.org/alum

09/18/2026

Consider this your official invitation to put your phone down, step outside, and see what happens!

Join thousands of people across the country for a day of less scrolling and more exploring, connecting, wandering, playing, and being outside.

Save the date: September 26
Your mission: Take a break from screens. Spend some time outside. Reset.

Take the pledge at The-Reset.org

09/09/2026

"Man, that ropes course. I was worried about it all day. I shouldn't have been. I took it at my own pace and leaned on my team, and it was great. What a core memory with this group."

That's a LEADERSHIP Philadelphia participant, writing about a day he spent with people he'd met once.

12 juntos came out to us last week to get to know each other, cohere as a team, and step out of their comfort zones.

After ground-based activities they moved on to the challenge course, supporting each other and bonding as they overcame obstacles together. Each initiative came with a discussion about what just happened and why it mattered.

Our twenty-plus year partnership with Leadership Philadelphia is a testament of how Outward Bound Professional can take a group who met yesterday and turn them into a well oiled and synergistic work team. Here’s to twenty more years together!

09/08/2026

126 ninth graders. 12 crews. Five days in the woods, no phones, no campus, no idea yet what they’re capable of. That’s how it’s been for every 9th grader at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy for the past ten years - for the first day of school it’s backpacks on, comfort zone off.

Before they’ve had a single class together, these students will set up camp together, navigate together, and push through hard moments together. The friendships and confidence built out here are the foundation for the next four years.

This morning the *entire staff* of the Philadelphia Outward Bound School came out to the course launch area to make sure that every student had what they needed for the expedition - including camping and hiking gear, safety equipment and food. The loaded buses then headed off for the wilderness areas of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland.

Welcome to high school. See you in five days, changed!

09/03/2026

Penn First Plus at the University of Pennsylvania recently brought over 100 incoming students and their mentors to POBS for a day of team building and connection. Every student was the first in their family to attend a four-year college.

They showed up during welcome week, most not knowing each other's names. By the afternoon, crews were out on the challenge course, crossing wires, coaching each other through the high elements, and picking group challenges over individual ones.

Some groups took to the water, learning to canoe together and figuring out that communication gets harder when you're paddling in pairs. Others hiked through the Discovery Center grounds and reflected on the city from the top of the aerial platform.

By the end of the day, students were asking how to come back.

If you're a higher-ed org building orientation, first-year experience, or bridge programming for your students, let's talk.