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Leading the Way
June & July 2017

The "I" In Instructor

in·teg·ri·ty
inˈteɡrədē/
noun\
  1. the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.
    "he is known to be a man of integrity"

    synonyms:
    honestyprobityrectitudehonor, good character, principle(s), ethics, morals, righteousnessmoralityvirtuedecencyfairness, scrupulousness, sinceritytruthfulnesstrustworthiness"I never doubted his integrity"

  2. the state of being whole and undivided.
    "upholding territorial integrity and national sovereignty"

    synonyms:
    unityunificationcoherencecohesiontogethernesssolidarity"the integrity of the federation"

Greetings Partners,

It's officially summer! Congratulations, you made it through winter. It seems like we blew straight through spring and are now driving right into the heart of summer. Things have been moving so fast, it's nice to ride the brakes for a moment and take a look around.

Summer is glorious for all kinds of reasons, but it seems like a wonderful time to pause and pay homage to our Instructors. When we write about these people, we deploy a capital "I" for a very good reason: Integrity. Integrity is one of the values that informs our work here at Outward Bound, and I would argue that it defines us here in Minnesota, at Voyageur Outward Bound School. 

Our Instructors are not "guides" or "leaders." These folks certainly guide and lead students, but they are educators, and that makes all the difference. Voyageur Outward Bound is a School, and we have a strong, time-tested educational model, our Theory of Change. Every program we offer-- from one day to an entire semester-- moves students through a "training," "main" and "final"phase of growth. The goal is to increase student skill and capacity; through expertly designed experiences, the student learns to lead their own life with character and confidence. Each and every course is designed to meet individual and group student needs, as well as particular organizational goals. Program Directors, Course Directors and Instructors collaborate to design, deliver and debrief every program. Planning, preparation and improvement are key and often less visible components of our educational approach. Instructors not only execute, but live our Values, Theory of Change and Design Principles; our Instructors put the "I" in Integrity by cultivating and creating a mindset and culture of growth and improvement. Theirs is a truly optimistic point of view, and potential is their pole star.

Just a few weeks ago, we wrapped up our All Staff Orientation at our wildnerness basecamp, Homeplace, in Ely. All Instructors and staff spent a week together, training through workshops and intensive hands-on experiences. All Staff Orientation is the beating heart of our School's culture of Integrity. Together, we embrace perpetual improvement; Instructors are always "on course," and, in a sense, their Expedition never ends. Perhaps this is why they come to work for Outward Bound in the first place-- to stay curious and pursue Excellence always. 

With our Instructors top of mind, we are delighted to share some "hot off the press" news:

"The S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation (the ‘Foundation’) Board has approved, in full, Outward Bound’s grant request of $5 million over a three year period to establish the ‘Outward Bound Professional Learning Lab’...The Outward Bound Professional Learning Lab (the ‘Lab’) will establish a process for improved professional development of Outward Bound instructors and staff."
--Peter Steinhauser, Executive Director, Outward Bound USA

*Read official press release here

Education is our ethic, and we are truly excited that we can continue to improve how we equip our Instructors to serve our partners and our students with the best practices in experiential education.

*Special thanks to Twin Cities Center Director, Poppy Potter, who worked tirelessly with the Bechtel team to make this particular educational dream come true.

With gratitude for your partnership,
Marlais & The VOBS Team

"The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively."
Bob Marley

Character Education for Today's Challenges & Tomorrow's Leaders
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Discover the power of challenge and adventure learning.
Marlais Brand, Group Outreach Manager

marlais.brand@vobs.org 

(651) 401-0641

1400 Energy Park Drive, Suite 18, Saint Paul, MN, 55108