The Spark - March 2022

Dear ,

We're on course for another exciting year of strength, belonging and purpose at Voyageur Outward Bound School (VOBS). Thanks to you, our supporters, in 2022 we’ll broaden our reach to provide expeditionary learning opportunities to more diverse crew members than ever before. Our scholarships—made possible through your generosity—inspire bold futures and create positive change. Thank you for all you do in support of our mission and growth.

In this edition of the Spark, you’ll read about students who have become leaders, donors who are passionate about our work and ways you can stay engaged in our mission. We are grateful to Ted Moores for his seven steady years as VOBS Board Chair and appreciate that he'll continue to serve on the VOBS board and committees—continuing his five decades of service to Outward Bound. We're pleased to welcome our new Board Chair Cindy Holker, an outstanding corporate leader and five-time Outward Bound alum, who will guide us forward as we paddle toward our vision of a more compassionate and resilient world.

It’s our students, instructors, staff, board and you—our loyal donors—who make the VOBS magic happen. Hats off to you, an essential part of the crew!

When the crew got their canoes stuck in the mud in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a wave of 'type two fun' ensued, followed by encouragement and reassurance by crew mates, and eventual success getting out to open water. “We learned the lessons of good communication and teamwork that day,” said Tomi Ola. Tomi participated in a five-day leadership course last summer in cooperation with one of our VOBS community partners, Stillpoint Engage, a nonprofit that supports equitable resilience training for young leaders.

Originally from Nigeria, Tomi moved to Rosemount, Minn. at age 12 and had never fully experienced the wilderness before. Stillpoint Engage selected her to join a VOBS expedition with other young emerging leaders from Minneapolis and St. Paul.

“This trip allowed me to literally detach from the world that ‘controlled’ my time, thinking and decisions… and let me think for myself,” Tomi said. She explained that the journey helped her slow down and become more comfortable being in the moment. In addition, course instructors guided Tomi to encounter and expand the limits of her physical and mental capacity. “This was a chance to become who I want to be,” she said. “It was the beginning of self-discovery.”

On Thursday, March 24, 2022, VOBS was honored to host a private screening of the 30-minute documentary "Breaking Trail," featuring Emily Ford and her beloved dog Diggins. Emily and Jesse Roesler, from Credo Nonfiction, joined us following the screening for an engaging Q&A session as well!

The documentary captured Emily's beautiful and awe-inspiring journey and we highly recommend catching an upcoming screening if it comes to your area! It is worth it, we promise!

Find upcoming screenings here.