OUR GLOBAL IMPACT

**photo courtesy of OB India Himalaya

OUR IMPACTSince 1941, Outward Bound has inspired millions of people across the globe to discover their potential and, in doing so, contribute to a better, bolder, more compassionate and more resilient society.

WE CHANGE LIVES…

Our expert instructors, using our proven learning model, facilitate authentic learning adventures in the outdoors for over 150,000 participants every year; adventures that connect individuals to their self, to others and to the natural world. An Outward Bound program is an immersive, life changing experience that is carefully designed to take participants out of their familiar comfort zones and into an area of growth.

Relevant then, even more
relevant now…

As our Global Impact Reports clearly demonstrate, Outward Bound has an increasingly important role to play in preparing and supporting people to successfully navigate the massive social, economic and environmental shifts being experienced around the world.

OUTWARD BOUND OUTCOMES SURVEY (OBOS)

OBI has developed a global outcomes measurement tool with the support of the the global Research Advisory Committee and input from the Outward Bound network.

The tool has been validated by researchers at Penn State University, one of OBI's global partners in Research.

Analysis of the data shows statistically significant evidence of growth in the areas of: Personal Resilience, Self-Confidence, Compassion for Others, Social Competence and Environmental Responsibility.

Outward Bound Outcomes Model

Click to Zoom

The Outward Bound Outcomes Model is aligned with many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

OBI created this model & graphics to support OBI & OB Schools in communicating to stakeholders the relevance of Outward Bound programs to current global challenges.

A Snapshot - Our Global Impact

There are now over 20 Outward Bound Schools using the Outward Bound Outcomes Survey and contributing to OBI's global dataset. The survey measures the impact of Outward Bound programming on the following 5 outcomes:

Compassion
Environmental Responsibility
Resilience
Self-Confidence
Social Competence

Number of Surveys by OB School/Country - Click to Zoom

20+

Schools

50+

Languages

30,000+

Data Responses

More Relevant Than Ever - Measuring Our Global Impact

Outward Bound International's Global Impact report provides analysis and summary of outcomes data collected on an ongoing basis from member Schools using the Outward Bound Outcomes Survey (OBOS).

The Outward Bound Outcomes Survey (OBOS) is a statistically validated and reliable measurement tool which OBI has developed with assistance from the

OBI Global Research Advisory Committee.

Outward Bound International is committed to collecting impact data on a global basis and to demonstrate the power and effectiveness of Outward Bound programs.

We do this by working with our members to collect evidence that proves the effectiveness of Outward Bound programs.

OBI Global Impact Report - Click to View & Download

Participant Learning Outcomes:

The Outward Bound Outcomes Survey (OBOS) measures magnitude of growth in each outcome as a result of an Outward Bound program. This is called Effect Size.

The global average effect size for outdoor education programs is calculated to be 0.34.* The average effect size calculated by the Outward Bound Outcomes Survey for all outcomes is 0.63, indicating that Outward Bound programs have a significant measurable effect on participant growth in all five outcomes.

Global Effect Size

Outward Bound programs significantly impact participants across all five outcomes, with improvements in mean scores at a 95% confidence level. This strong statistical evidence confirms that the positive changes are unlikely due to chance.

*Hattie, J; Marsh, H; Neill, J; & Richards, G. ( 1997). Adventure education and Outward Bound: Out-ofclassexperiences that make a lasting difference. Review of Educational Research (67: I, pp. 43-87).