Outward Bound USA Awards Largest Scholarship Grant in Recent History to Students of the Met High School
Leading wilderness nonprofit provides $180,000 in wilderness course scholarships to 61 deserving inner-city youth
GOLDEN, Colo., April 30, 2003 – Outward Bound USA, the nation's leading, nonprofit adventure-education organization, announces today that it is providing wilderness course scholarships for 61 deserving inner-city students from the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center (the "Met") in Providence, RI. Totaling approximately $180,000, this is the largest grant Outward Bound has given to one school in over two decades. The Outward Bound scholarships cover course tuition and travel costs of the highly-motivated students who were recommended by their school advisors.
For most of these students, it will be their first foray into the wilderness and for many, their first time out of Rhode Island. The Outward Bound wilderness experience has been highly sought by the students at this alternative high school where many of the core values of Outward Bound – such as respect for others, learning by doing, teamwork and team decision-making – are incorporated into their school year curriculum.
"We were encouraged by the similarities between our program elements and the Met's and, moreover, by the high motivation level of the students," explains Outward Bound USA president, John Read. "It is a wonderful opportunity to introduce these students to our wilderness classroom where these students will spend several weeks meeting challenges both physical and mental and return with a deeper knowledge of themselves and the world in which they live."
Core to the Outward Bound wilderness experience is grouping students with individuals who are not their everyday peer group. Economically challenged and representing several ethnic groups, the Met students bring varied life experiences to their Outward Bound courses, which will benefit every other member of their courses. This longstanding practice of integrating students from all walks of life is key to Outward Bound expeditions and the catalyst for Outward Bound's generous scholarship programs – approximately 20% of all Outward Bound wilderness course participants receive scholarships. The Met scholarship recipients will each spend 2-3 weeks this summer in their selected course area including sailing Chesapeake Bay off the coast of Maryland, rafting through the desert canyons of Utah, backpacking in North Carolina, and canoeing in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota.
"The opportunity for one student to pursue an outdoor learning experience is incredible, but to have 61 students is unprecedented,” said Elliot Washor, Co-director of the Met. “This opportunity will be life-changing for our students, and will enhance the culture of the entire Met community."
Natalie Mena, one of the scholarship recipients from Providence, offered her own perspective. “I am 16 year-old, low income Latina and I’m going places and doing things that I could have never imagined myself doing before,” she said. “One of the many reasons I am so excited and thrilled about Outward Bound is because I would love to get out for a change, and learn about unity, leadership, and teamwork.”
About the Met The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center (“The Met”) is a student-centered high school in Providence, developed in 1995. The Met is dedicated to educating “one student at a time” through real world learning experiences known as “Learning Through Internships.” The Met is becoming more widely recognized nationwide as a model for education reform. In addition to the 6 schools in Providence, there are 6 new Met-like schools across the country, with 6 more opening in the next year.
About Outward Bound USA Outward Bound USA is the nation's leading, nonprofit adventure-education organization serving and supporting four wilderness schools, two urban centers and a primary and secondary school-reform program. Outward Bound programs emphasize personal growth through experience and challenge in the wilderness, boardrooms and classrooms in the United States and around the world. Students develop self-reliance, responsibility, teamwork, confidence, compassion, environmental and community stewardship in all of the Outward Bound programs and courses. Today, celebrating over 40 years of experiential education with more than 500,000 alumni, Outward Bound USA programs serve more than 60,000 young people and adults each year. To learn about Outward Bound USA, visit www.outwardbound.org or call toll-free 866-467-7640.
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Kate Borgelt Outward Bound 720-497-2414 kateb@obusa.com
Cathleen Collins The Met School 401-831-5898 ccollins@clarendongroup.net
