Annual Report 2014 - Northwest Outward Bound School

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Annual Report 2014
Photo credit: Erika Halm
From the Executive Director
This year marks our 50th year serving students from across the country in our great Pacific
Northwest. Founded in 1965 by Don Vetterlein, with Bill Byrd serving as the first School
Director, we have, through our courses, changed countless lives through challenge and
discovery. As we prepare to honor and celebrate our 50 year legacy, we have heard from
numerous past staff, alumni, and supporters of Outward Bound the profound impact
Outward Bound has had on their lives. We are grateful for your continuing support and for
an opportunity to continue to serve our mission and honor all those who sacrificed to create
Northwest Outward Bound School.
Board of Directors
Over the last 50 years, we have evolved, at times thriving and at others, like Outward Bound
Doug Wells, Board Chair
Students, challenged. Through the work of resilient and passionate supporters and staff, we
Eric Vetterlein, Secretary
have arrived again as an independent Outward Bound School knowing in our hearts we have
Ted Ames
it right. Since re-forming as Northwest Outward Bound in January 2012, we have continued
Christopher P. Baker
to strengthen the School’s program impact and financial health. In 2013, by re-opening the
Jennifer Bales
Mazama base camp, we increased our student days by nearly 50%. In 2014, we increased a
Bradley Bugdanowitz
further 14%. This year, 2015, we expect to continue this trend by growing another 10%. While
Chris Cox
we increased the number of students we serve student days, course impact and safety
remain our top priority. We continue to make organizational decisions based on our
Ime Etuk
commitment to deepening the impact our instructors have on our students and ensuring
Patrick Feeney
their each student’s physical and emotional safety.
Martin LeBlanc
Dan Mahoney
We have now completed our third year with a year-end surplus. We are beyond testing
Henry Morse
theory and concept, now moving toward a thriving presence for the next 50 years.
Steve Smith
It is said Kurt Hahn believed an Outward Bound course should be a mix of students from all
Kathie S. Velazquez
social economic levels. To this end, in 2014, we awarded $170,000 in Pinnacle and General
scholarships, funded the Portland Urban Center at $150,000, and through a scholarship
Trustees Emeriti
program with Outward Bound USA, 99 veterans of recent wars went on a fully funded
M. Albin Jubitz Jr.
Outward Bound course. We stand firmly in our belief an Outward Bound course is a critical
George McCown
component of any child’s education and should be available to anyone regardless of their
ability to pay. We are and remain grateful to our supporters for creating numerous
Wallace Preble
opportunities for our students.
With great excitement, we look forward to celebrating our 50th year by resurrecting our
hallmark event, the Black Tie &Tennis Shoes Benefit Dinner. We look forward to
reconnecting with many of you as well as expanding our reach and community, and
strengthening the foundations on which we build our next 50 years.
Macy Wall
It’s when you’re safe at home that you wish you
were having an adventure. When you’re having
an adventure you wish you were safe at home.
Thornton Wilder
Mitsu Iwasaki, Executive Director
Financial Growth
Your Gift at Work
Since reforming as Northwest Outward Bound School
based on realistic and tested revenue, and always
in early 2012, we have finished three consecutive
maintain focus on quality, impact, and expression of
years with year-end surpluses led by growing
our mission.
enrollment. Between 2012 and 2013 our enrollment
increased by 46% and between 2013 and 2014, by
11%. With a strong marketing and sales team at Out-
$175,766
ward Bound Services Group and with the collaborative
The amount given out in course scholarships
and financial aid
Our goal to be a thriving and significant presence in
the Northwest outdoor education arena is achievable
and these foundations are now in place.
efforts of all OBUSA schools, we are confident we will
Looking forward into 2015 and 2016, growth will
continue this trajectory of year over year growth. Our
come from measured increases in wilderness course
work to build and strengthen the financial health of
enrollment, diversifying fee paying revenue through
the School is on-going and Northwest Outward
spring and fall group contracts and Outward Bound
Bound will continue to flourish at a measured and
Professional course and through the re-introduction
restrained pace; add sensible capacity, build budgets
of the Black Tie and Tennis Shoes Benefit Dinner.
Fianancial Growth Over-time
568
800
The number of individual
The number of students served
students served by our
by Portland Center program
wilderness programs
for urban youth
Distribution of Revenue
Investment and Other
1%
2014
Expenses
Contributions
16%
2013
2012
Revenue
Total Net Assets
Fee for Service
83%
$0
99
The number of veterans that
were given full course
scholarships for wilderness
$1,000,000
$2,000,000
Distribution of Expenses
12,700
The number of Student
Program Days
Management
and General
8%
Distribution of Program
Expense by Program Type
Fundraising
6%
Student Services
6%
Portland Center
7%
courses
Odin Falls
44%
Program Expenses
87%
Mazama
42%
Scholarships
The Portland Center
and Base Camp
Pinnacle Scholarships
Northwest Outward Bound School believes all
in a 14- to 22-day wilderness course alongside full
young people need opportunities to experience the
paying students, bringing greater diversity to the
outdoors and gain tools to develop character, build
expedition teams. These motivated youth emerge
resiliency, break down barriers, and practice leader-
from their course with greater communication and
ship to achieve their highest potential. Through the
leadership skills, self-confidence, resilience, and with
Pinnacle Scholarship Program, our donors make it
a deeper commitment to service in their communi-
possible for motivated and underserved youth to
ties and to the environment. Thanks to our generous
gain transformative life skills through an Outward
donors, we were able to provide 34 full Pinnacle
Bound wilderness course. Pinnacle Scholars engage
Scholarships in 2014.
“I began this course unsure of myself and my abilities. Throughout the course, my instructors taught
me leadership skills and I discovered my true internal strength. This trip has changed my life. I
would not be the same without this experience. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I will
never forget the memories I’ve made. It holds a special place in my heart.”
-Ka Hei (Teddy) Wong 2014 Pinnacle Scholarship Recipient
Veterans Scholarships
In 2014 the Portland Center served 800 students
over 3,000 service days in partnerships with schools
and schools districts in the Portland metro area;
Reynolds, Corbett, David Douglass, and Park Rose
are a few school districts served by The Center.
Programs conducted in classrooms, after school,
Outward Bound’s first courses for Veterans were established through collaboration with Veterans Administration
2014-2015 Priorities, include:
allow Vets them to take part in wilderness expeditions that are physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging in
. Continue to strengthen partnerships with youth
serving and ‘like’ organizations.
and on weekends provide Outward Bound and
outdoor activities that are often not accessible to
under resourced urban youth.
The Odin Falls basecamp in Redmond, Oregon
served 300 students through backpacking, rock
climbing, and rafting courses over 5,000 service
days in Oregon and Idaho.
The Mazama, Washington basecamp re-opened in
2012 after a post-disaffiliation closure. The number
. Project a stronger presence and participate more
fully in local, regional, and national initiatives to
268 students participated in mountaineering, sea
order to build the self-confidence, pride, trust, and communication skills that will help them to successfully return
to their families, employers, and communities following wartime service. In 2014, 99 veterans completed
Northwest Outward Bound School courses with full course scholarships.
“…a dramatic and immediate beneficial impact on my motivation,
self-confidence, and overall state of mind.” – Veteran participant
get young people outside.
. Continue to provide robust scholarship and
“For the first time in months, I’ve been able to sleep through the night without nightmares. I will take these
lessons home with me and use them to help me cope with problems that I will have in the future as well.”
– Veteran participant
financial aid packages.
. Expand team building programs to include
Financial Aid and Other
27%
professional programs.
of students served doubled between 2012 and 2013,
increasing by 14% between 2013 and 2014. In 2014,
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) units to serve Vietnam War veterans. Outward Bound Veterans courses
. Celebrate 50 years of changing lives in the Northwest.
Distribution of
Scholarships
Veterans 99
54%
kayaking, backpacking, sailing, and canoe programs
over 4,700 service days.
Pinnacle 34
19%
In 2014, Northwest Outward Bound
School provided scholarships and
financial aid to 84 individuals (not
including veterans’ scholarships),
totaling $175,766
Impact Assessment
Thank you
In 2014, we implemented a new survey to measure the impact
of our wilderness courses on the lives of our students. The 40
Donors and volunteers like you make it possible for us to bring the impact of Northwest Outward Bound School programs to young people who
otherwise would not have the financial means to participate. Through your generosity and commitment, you have changed countless lives in
meaningful and lasting ways. On behalf of all the students who have benefitted from your support, thank you for helping them discover that they
are capable of more than they ever thought possible.
Developmental Assets Profile (40 DAP), created by the Search
Thanks to the gene
Institute, is a measure of a young person’s assets. The 40 DAP is a
Our Partners:
survey each student completes at the beginning and end of their
course. The assets developed and displayed in young person are
a predictor of their likelihood to make healthy decisions and to be
successful in life. The four categories of assets are: Thriving,
Adequate, Vulnerable, and Challenged. The results from the 2014
program year tell us that students progress from the ‘Vulnerable’
category to the ‘Thriving’ category as a result of their course.
The surveys also show that Northwest Outward Bound School has
a positive impact on all 40 assets.
60%
45%
Mazama Pre-test
Mazama Post-test
30%
15%
0%
Vunerable
Adequate
Thriving
2014 Odin Falls
Student Asset Distribution
50%
38%
OdinFalls Pre-test
Odin Falls Post-test
25%
13%
0%
Challenged
Thank you to our generous donors
$25,000 and over
Anonymous Foundation
Arthur Blank Family Foundation
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
George & Karen McCown
Gordon Russell & Tina McAdoo
Henry & Teresa Morse
$10,000 - $24,999
The Collins Foundation
Jubitz Family Foundation
Al & Nancy Jubitz
Dennis Madsen
The Seattle Foundation
The Shauna M. & Kevin B. Flanigan Foundation
Kathie S. Velázquez
Doug & Maggie Walker
2014 Mazama
Student Asset Distribution
Challenged
Okanogan & Wenatchee National Forest
Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Deschutes National Forest
Willamette National Forest
North Cascades National Park
Mt Rainier National Park
Bureau of Land Management
Oregon State Parks
Washington State Parks
Reynolds School District
Northwest Maritime Center
Zones, Inc.
Vunerable
Adequate
Thriving
$5,000 - $9,999
Brad Bugdanowitz
Forest Foundation
Juan Young Trust
Jeff, Dianne, & Kendra Lizotte
Eric & Carol Norris
Herbert A. Templeton Foundation
$2,500 - $4,999
The Autzen Foundation
Jennifer & Mark Bales
Clark Foundation
Covey Gant Foundation
Pam & Peter Hayes
KEEN Footwear
John Miner & Nelle Alexander
Outdoor Foundation
Quaker Hill Foundation
US Bancorp Foundation
$1,000 - $2,499
Ted & Fran Ames
Rebecca Bear & Michael Schiesser
Leigh & Marnie Bradfield
Selwyn Bingham Estate
Christopher Cox & Tiffany Bolstad-Cox
Don K. Craft
Patrick & Suzanne Feeney
Gravitec Systems Inc.
Steve Hassenfelt
Elizabeth S. Holden
The Jackson Foundation
Lee and Frances Klingenstein
Douglas C. Laidlaw Charitable Fund of The Oregon
Community Foundation
Lookout Foundation
Andrew & Amy Lundberg
Dan & Angela Mahoney
Libby Noyes
Wally & Bettsy Preble
Craig & Cindy Trames
Eric Vetterlein
Steve Smith & Tamara Walker
Rosemary Walker
Doug & Neeley Wells
Jonathan Wiedemann
$500 - $999
Jon & Harriet Bakken
Holly Becker
John Bisignano
Karen Fossum
Andrew & Wendy Kercher
Larry Mauksch & Sally Kentch
Isabelle & Briggs McAndrews
Meyer Memorial Trust
Judy Pigott
Portland Timbers Community Fund
Adrian E. Preuss
John & Patricia Sayre
Sue & Glyn Thomas
Jon Tobis
Hans Van Naerssen
$250 - $499
Anonymous (2)
Mike & Bea Armstrong
Bill & Nancy Brackmann
Mary Ann Convertino
Maria Coryell-Martin
Don & Ann Frazer
Sarah D Guzman
Amberleigh Hammond
Bob & Janis Harrison
Martin LeBlanc
Richard & Karen Lefurgy
Mary Mahon
Ralph Moskowitz
Bailey Peplow
Beth Reite
Kelly & Doug Schmidt
Nika Slade
Lori Stewart
Gertrude Vetterlein
Marigrace and Kenneth Waage
Zelco Limited Partnership
$1 - $249
Anonymous (2)
Mindy & Logan Aisling
Cameron Alford
Sarah Ames
Marian Amrein
Leann M Arend
Allen Arsenault
Chris & Alicia Baker
Carlo Balleria
Michelle Barnes
Neil Baunsgard
Greg Bear
Sherie Beasley
Rachel Bellamy
Pat Benetar
Leia Berg
Shannon Bilstrom
The Boeing Company
Andrew Bruck
Joseph Bruette
Megan Buchholz
Edward Buckingham
Cynthia Button
Tim Cakouros
Klondy Karina Canales
Jane Carney
JB & Katherine Cherry
Cara Christensen
Anna Maria L. Cipcich
Douglas Clark
Judy Clifford
Rachel Cochran
Tamara Convertino-Waage
Trever Convertino-Waage
Diane & David Corbett
Marilyn Corets & Adam Mihlstin
Kathy Crichton
Hilary Dahl
Kari Davies-Mason
Maury Demner
Dave Betts
Frank Diodone
Trevor Domayer
Kim Dresselhaus
Paul Dudley & Jane Hart
Gar Duke
Jennifer Durrie
Jeffrey & Kathleen Dussault
Stacy & Randy Earlywine
Carla J Elenz
Liam Elio
Jonathan Erb
Ime Etuk
Hailey B. Flanigan
Matthew & Amanda Flatley
Megan S. Fraser
Karl Gentner
Eliza Gilford
Ben Gipson
Robin & Russell Glass
Lewis Glenn
Pam Goff
Courtney Greiner
Katie Griffith
Susan Marie Griffith
Jacob Hackett
Tedra Hamel
Fred Hammerquist
Blair M. Hampson
James Hancock
Carolyn P Hartley
Larry Hashima
Christopher T. Heg
Kayla Hendricksen
Carmena Henry Washburn
Kelly Herkert
Colleen Herkert
Ann Herkert
Mark Herkert & Beth Bisignano
Jennifer Heyman
Megan Hill
William Hobbie
David Hobbie
Patricia L. Hoinacki
Katherine Hollis & Ben Gardner
Julie Hopkins
Mary Hsue
Alexa Hudson
Ann & George Hunter
Abby Ihrig
Markrid Izquierdo
Kelly Jacobson
Lou & Kathy Jaffe
Emily Jenkins
Cameron Johnson
Brian Johnson
Kevin Jones
Janene Kajitani
Erika Kercher & Brad Halm
Paige Kercher
Joan Kercher
Noah & Elizabeth Kercher
Lisa Beck & Daniel Kirkpatrick
Renee & Doug Klein
Lise Knight
Jeff T. Krauss
Kendall Krause
Brittney Lankhaar
Brittany R Larabee
Brendan Leonard
John Lewis
Chelsea Lord
Nadia Lubeznik
Evan Ludmer
Amy & Robert Lutz
Leonidas Maheras
Douglas Maiwurm
Malyn Malquist
Valerie Marquis
Brian Martinson
Eli Mauksch
Phyllis Mayberg
Daniel McComish
Lorone McCormick Goodhart
Kailyn Mcgrath
Jean McPherson
Aleksi Merilainen
Microsoft Corporation
Will Miller & Joan Jaffee
Robert Mitchell
Carrie Mock
Karen Morse
David Moskowitz
Michael Mourar
Danielle K Mullins
Penelope Musson
Peter & Helle Nathan
Sarah Olliges
Luke O'Neill
Linda M Oppe
Jayne & Al Oppliger
Clark Parsons
Derry Patterson
Joyce Pellerano Ludmer
Hannah Perls
Dustin Reed
Mila & David Reid
Carla Reistenberg
Kathleen Reistenberg
Genevieve Rice
Michelle Rioux
Cassandra Roberts
Nathaniel & Lynn Rockwell
Glenn Rogers
Tracy Ross
Robert Wayne Rouse
Marsha L Saben
Taufiq Salahuddin
Michael & Monica Salitore
Rebecca Sayre
Barbara Schiesser
Rob Seckinger & Ina Clark
Lorin Seeks
Eric & Jennifer Semsak
Randy Serrano
Zephyr Sincerny
Barbara Sipp
Roger Slade
Charles Smith
Kathryn Sofich
Laurence T. Sorkin
Stephen Streufert & Lisa Foisy
Mark Sullivan
Danika Summer
Ana Celia M Suriel
Scott J Sylvester
Kristen Tabert
Elisabeth Tilstra
Heather Tiszai
Ben Toland
Paul & Chris Tolk
Camille Townsend
Anton Vetterlein & Pamela Birkel
Jacquelyn Wallace
Robert & Nadja Ward
William Webb
Trudy Wegner
Brian Curtis Whitlock
Pen & Beverly Williamson
Vienna Wong
Rob & Megan Wrona
Katherine Yarbrough
Hera Yoon
Planned Giving Opportunities
A Planned Gift to Northwest Outward Bound School brings lasting benefits to the School and often to
the gift's donors. By including us in your Planned Giving, you can receive a charitable tax deduction
and help the School maintain its leadership position for the future. Please consider a Planned Gift to
Northwest Outward Bound. Our staff and legal advisers will be happy to assist you and your adviser in
developing a plan that is right for you. Planned Giving Opportunities include: Gifts of Cash, Gifts of
Securities, Gifts of Real Estate, Gifts of Life Insurance, Life Income Plans, Charitable Lead Trusts.
In 1996, Outward Bound established the Kurt Hahn Society to recognize the increasing number of
individuals making Planned Gifts to the School. Please let our Development Office know if you have
already included the School in your charitable plans, so you can be recognized.
Stay involved. Stay connected.
Follow us on social media to hear the latest news on the school throughout the year.
facebook.com/nwoutwardbound
@nwoutwradbound
@nwoutwradbound
Volunteer with us. You are needed! Share your skills and interests with the School by
volunteering at one of the base camps or in the Portland administrative office.
Email Megan Buchholz at mbuchholz@nwoutwardbound.org if you are interested
in engaging as a volunteer.
Share your Outward Bound story on our blog. We want to know how Outward Bound
has impacted you! www.nwobs50.org
Consider a gift to Northwest Outward Bound School in your year-end giving plans.
Find out how at www.nwobs.org/donate or contact Megan Buchholz at
mbuchholz@nwoutwardbound.org or (503) 946-3404 ext. 3500
Northwest Outward Bound School is a 501(c)3 educational organization.Tax ID: 45-3463744
619 SW 11th Ave., Suite 225 , Portland, OR 97205
www.nwobs.org | info@nwobs.org
(503) 946-3404