About Voyageur Outward Bound School's Twin Cities Center

In 2009, Outward Bound announced an effort to create urban centers across the network. Their goal was to bring Outward Bound closer to where people lived and make it more accessible to those who wouldn't otherwise experience Outward Bound or its impacts. Voyageur Outward Bound School (VOBS) had an urban program previously, and saw this as an opportunity to revive the program. The process of forming a steering committee and completing a community needs assessment began, and with the support of the Carlson School of Business, a needs assessment was completed.

A program manager was hired to put the plan into action, building the Twin Cities Outward Bound Center (TCC) and serving the metro area community and its young people. A strategic component of this work was to ensure the program model was rooted in partnership and augmented the work of other youth-serving organizations or schools. The program’s philosophy was to meet students at their starting point, literally and figuratively. The structure of INSIGHT programming continues to evolve to serve partners and respond to the Outward Bound Outcomes Survey. Developed in partnership with the NOAM Institute, the Outward Bound Outcomes Survey is a self-report retrospective survey that combines scales from the time-tested Holistic Student Assessment with new scales that are of specific interest to Outward Bound. The survey is utilized across all regional Outward Bound schools to collect consistent data on how students are impacted by their Outward Bound experiences in key areas of social-emotional development. We are proud to say the work of the TCC and INSIGHT produces impressive results. Survey results show that even one day of programming has a significant impact on students' social and emotional growth.  

About the INSIGHT Program

INSIGHT days create access for students in the metro area to tap into local wilderness areas and parks, experience activities they may have never done before, and most importantly, discover new things about themselves and each other. This season we will be working with 10 partner schools throughout the metro area, delivering INSIGHT programming to 17 crews from October - April. Each crew will run through a series of five to six program days over the course of the season. VOBS is proud of our long-standing partner relationships, some even exceeding ten years. Click HERE to learn more about one of our long-term partner schools, Gordon Parks High School. 

This academic year, VOBS offers Educator Awareness Days to all partner schools to engage more teachers and help them understand VOBS' TCC and INSIGHT programming. And this spring, Discovery Days -- one-day experiences designed to introduce VOBS programming to new prospective partners -- will be introduced.  

Like all Outward Bound programming, INSIGHT uses the Conditions for Learning and Domains of Thrivingcurriculum -- essential parts of Outward Bound's educational framework -- to guide day programming and skill progression planning. Each day is focused on one outcome from the Domains of Thriving and is tied to specific practices; this creates an accessible throughline for the "why,” leading to a stronger impact on students' experiences. VOBS assigns the same instructors to each partner and crew throughout the INSIGHT series so the rapport and trust established early on continues. Since each INSIGHT day builds on skills from the previous day, students experience a clear skills progression over each touchpoint in the series and the transfer of responsibility from instructors. 

Student progression varies depending on each unique crew's dynamics and includes setting foundations, establishing team and roles, giving an receiving feedback and putting all of the elements together. Domains of Thriving outcomes for INSIGHT focus on courage, reflection, physical engagement, and belonging. INSIGHT's wilderness and urban adventure activities through which curriculum is incorporated include rock climbing, team building, wilderness skills, winter skills, cross country skiing, and canoeing in settings like Minnehaha Regional Park, Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, Interstate State Park, Lebanon Hills Regional Park, Fort Snelling State Park, Battle Creek Regional Park, and Theodore Wirth Regional Park. Catie Morris, TCC Logistics Program Manager, shares, "I think its really amazing how many students discover parks that are close to their homes that they didn't know were there. Many of them say they're excited to go back and keep visiting them."

INSIGHT Value to Students, Partner Organizations, and the Community

INSIGHT establishes optimal learning conditions and targets crucial skills. Because of this, VOBS equips students with the tools to create positive change for themselves and their communities. 

INSIGHT instructors are a team of passionate, driven and talented educators, well-versed in the Domains of Thriving and experienced in fostering supportive environments. Every year, our instructors inspire countless young people to become curious, confident, and compassionate leaders in their communities and beyond. In the 2024-2025 school year, INSIGHT students had a significantly high affirmative response rate (agreed or strongly agreed) to the statements below. In addition, national praise was received from the Outward Bound USA Learning Lab Director and a representative from The PEAR Institute due to our high Outward Bound Outcome Survey results.  

• 97% I have gained confidence to try new things 

• 99% I am more aware of how to support those around me 

• 95% I feel more connected to people in my group

• 97% I am excited to keep learning about myself and others 

VOBS provides an opportunity for students to access activities that are traditionally "Minnesotan" but that often our students don't have access to or the family knowledge to learn from, like cross country skiing, managing the cold, or walking on frozen lakes.

Ways to Support the INSIGHT Program

INSIGHT is unlike any other outdoor educational experience in the Twin Cities. From its objective to the outcome, INSIGHT meets a critical need for today's students. School and community partners are experiencing revenue challenges never seen before. Cuts in funding and increasing costs put access to programming in jeopardy. Voyageur Outward Bound raises a minimum of 80% of the cost for students to participate in INSIGHT. And, in this moment, we need your help.

We need to continue to meet the needs of today's students and create opportunities for more students' INSIGHT. And, so, the gap between what partners can do and what Voyageur can absorb is growing.

A gift to INSIGHT is a gift that supports building connected, compassionate, resilient communities. While a full $2,000 community partner scholarship can support 40 hours of programming, gear, transport, food, and a lifetime of confidence for a student, a gift of any amount matters. In a time when demand exceeds VOBS resources, your gift makes way for generations of youth to be empowered to realize their full potential -- rise with courage, lead with compassion, and build more connected, resilient communities.

Please consider an INSIGHT impact gift today! Some suggested donation support opportunities are outlined below.

• $100 toward gear and food. From mittens to windbreakers, skis to climbing shoes -- TCC supplies food and fully outfits every student, every day. Your contribution can help VOBS provide them with everything they need for outdoor adventure and learning.
• $500 toward bus transportation. A gift of this amount allows community partners to provide access to a world of learning and adventure -- outside.
• $2,000 toward a community partner scholarship. This donation total can fund 40 hours of programming, transport, food, and gear for one student.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION IN SUPPORT OF THE INSIGHT PROGRAM AT VOBS.
TO DESIGNATE YOUR GIFT, ADD INSIGHT IN THE COMMENT BOX.