a message to our crew 

Dear Friends of the Colorado Outward Bound School, 

As we reflect on 2023, it is with great pride and optimism that I share our remarkable impact on youth through outdoor experiential education.  

We continue to engage more students every year as we rebound from the pandemic. Our success is largely due to the expansion of our group, school, and community-based programming. These programs are poised for growth, enabling us to connect with a more diverse demographic across Colorado and Utah, especially students from rural schools. By bringing our transformative courses to a wider audience, we are making strides in fostering inclusivity and diversity in outdoor education.  

The demand for our courses is a testament to their vital role in providing social and emotional support for youth. Our educational partners consistently emphasize the critical need for such support in today’s world. The immersive experiences we offer are not just adventures; they are opportunities for young people to develop resilience, leadership, and a sense of community. 

We are also witnessing the positive outcomes of our investments in staff development. Our Fellowship for Emerging Leaders career track has been particularly impactful, helping us retain talented BIPOC staff and increase representation among our instructors to better serve a diversity of students. These dedicated individuals bring diverse perspectives and experiences that enrich our programs and strengthen our community. 

Since the end of 2023, COBS has partnered with Outward Bound USA to build on these achievements. This innovative partnership maintains the independence of the Colorado Outward Bound School with all of its history and tradition while allowing us to operate more efficiently, leverage valuable resources, and build our capacity for growth.  

Thank you for your unwavering support and belief in the mission of the Colorado Outward Bound School. Together, we are shaping the future of outdoor experiential education and empowering the next generation of leaders. 

With gratitude, 

Tarn Udall, Board Chair

Who We Served

Social and Emotional Learning

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is an integral part of education and human development. That’s why it has always been central to the Outward Bound experience. By teaching social and emotional skills in unique outdoor environments, our programs help students cultivate positive relationships, maintain mental and physical well-being, and be compassionate leaders. The SEL skills students develop on course empower them to be more successful in the classroom, at home, and beyond.  

Since 2017, we’ve used the Domains of Thriving (DOT) as our educational framework and tool for cultivating social-emotional development. The DOT combines Outward Bound’s 60 years of experience facilitating life-changing experiences with the latest research on social-emotional development. Developed in partnership with Dr. Gil Noam and Partnerships for Education and Resilience (PEAR), it highlights the four areas of human development that are impacted on an Outward Bound course: Courage, Belonging, Reflection, and Physical Engagement. Today, we draw upon the DOT for both curriculum development and measuring student outcomes.   

Domains of Thriving Educational Framework

Measuring Impact

The Outward Bound Outcomes Survey (OBOS), designed and validated by the Partnerships for Education and Resilience (PEAR), measures student change in the 12 areas outlined in the Domains of Thriving (DOT) Framework. Students take the survey at the end of their course, and report on each area.

GROWING Our GROUPS Program

Expanding Group Programs & Community Partnerships

As outlined in our strategic plan, we are committed to reaching more local youth. We’re working towards this goal by expanding our Groups program, which serves local school groups and non-profit organizations. In 2023, we invested in Groups by: 

• Increased scholarship funding for group programs. We allocated $140,398 to subsidize Group programs for local schools and non-profits, which allowed us to serve more Colorado youth.  This is a 52% increase from the previous year. 

• Updated curriculum for youth groups. Youth social and emotional learning (SEL) needs are constantly evolving, especially after the pandemic. That’s why in 2023, we launched our Domains of Thriving curriculum for Groups, which teaches skills in four key SEL areas: belonging, physical engagement, reflection and courage.  

• Grew community partnerships. We facilitated 25% more Group courses in 2023 compared to the previous year. Moreover, we also provided facility rentals to develop new relationships with community organizations, including Cottonwood Institute and Latino Outdoors.

Group Program Highlight: Rocky Mountain Welcome Center

We were excited to facilitate two program days with a new community partner, Rocky Mountain Welcome Center (RMWC). The center is a Denver-based non-profit that fosters intercultural learning and integration among immigrants, refugees, and Colorado receiving communities. We built connection and teamwork skills among their Girls Rule the World participants while embarking on hikes in the Denver Metro Area.

Girls Rule the World Crew celebrating after a hike

Teaching Belonging

Cultivating Connection and Inclusion through the Outdoors

On every course, we cultivate belonging - a sense of connection and inclusion in relationships - through lessons in teamwork, group relationships and communication. Each day, students are encouraged to practice their newfound skills and reflect on how they can be applied to their lives at home.  

In 2023, our students self-reported significant personal growth in social and emotional skills related to belonging.  

On average, our students self-reported a 20% growth in skills related to group relationships and a 15% growth in skills related to teamwork after their Outward Bound experience. This data was gathered through the Outward Bound Outcomes Survey (OBOS), which students take at the end of their course, to track student experience.  

Research shows that youth social development has been impacted by years of remote learning during the pandemic. We are hopeful that this Outcomes Survey data is an indication that our programs can meet the unique needs of today’s youth.   

The Student Experience: Learning to Belong

“I didn’t just learn technical pieces of hiking a climbing, but about myself and my connections with others... COBS has taught me how my every action has an impact on the group as a whole, whether noticeable or not.” - Garrett, 14, 2023 Student 

“I’ve always struggled to lead others and I was able to flex those metaphorical muscles at COBS. This course has also led to self-discovery – I've learned how to push through physical and mental discomfort, how I respond to conflict with others, and how and when to be vulnerable.” - Adaline, 17, 2023 Student 

Investing in our Staff

Building our Staff Bench & Increasing Retention

We know that investing in staff is a critical part of cultivating long-term institutional sustainability. In 2023, we: 

• Completed the third consecutive wage increase for our field staff. Over three years, we increased field staff wages by 43%.  

• Distributed over $32,000 in professional development funding. This funding supports our staff as they work toward higher certifications and industry training.   

• Continued the Fellowship for Emerging Leaders initiative. This initiative seeks to reduce financial and cultural barriers to becoming an Instructor at COBS for BIPOC individuals. COBS provides reimbursement for certifications, travel and gear stipends, and opportunities for mentorship and networking.  

Staff Highlight: Megan Macomber Awarded for Outstanding Service to Students

This year, we were thrilled that Megan Macomber, Southwest Associate Program Director, was honored with OBUSA’s Marina Ewald Award. The Award honors staff who improve the student experience through innovation and inclusion. Over her 20-year career at COBS, Megan has worked tirelessly to improve the student and staff experience. When reflecting on Megan as an instructor, one of her students expressed: 

When receiving the award, Megan showed her passion for our students once more when she donated her award money to the COBS scholarship fund. We are proud to have industry-leading professionals, like Megan, who play a key role in providing exceptional student experiences. 

Megan with a 2023 Southwest Rafting crew.

Financials

Course tuition and philanthropic support made up the majority of COBS' 2023 revenue, while the sale of the Marble Base Camp provided additional earned revenue. Program expenses accounted for 75% of spending. Overall, through the sale of Marble and expense reductions, we were able to end the 2023 FY with a surplus of $288k.

Contribute to Your Crew

During COBS’s inaugural Contribute To Your Crew campaign our incredible donors, students and families, staff, and many others showed up in a big way. Together, the COBS crew raised nearly $170,000 to support our scholarship program and ensure that students from diverse backgrounds and socio-economic status can experience a COBS course. Thank you, COBS crew! 

Rockies to Rivers Gala

At our second annual Rockies to Rivers Gala, the COBS community came together to enjoy a beautiful night of celebration, connection, and reflection at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Thanks to the generous contributions of sponsors, donors, and auction-goers, we can continue to change student lives for years to come. 

Sponsored by:

Impact Reports from previous years: 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017