New York City Outward Bound

What New York City Outward Bound does

New York City Outward Bound Schools is a nonprofit educational organization founded in 1987 and operating as a subsidiary under Outward Bound USA, headquartered in Long Island City, New York. The organization partners with NYC public schools to deliver four core programs: Crew (an advisory structure supporting student belonging and agency), Instruction for Deeper Learning (project-based learning and student-led performance assessments), Outdoor Adventure (city-based and wilderness experiential programming), and Student Leadership (critical thinking and communication skill development). In the 2024-25 school year, the organization served 111 NYC public schools, reaching 22,557 students and 2,190 educators, and manages the Compass Rose Schools network, which posted a 92% average graduation rate in 2025 versus an 81% NYC citywide average.

The organization's go-to-market is community-led, with growth driven by demonstrated outcomes, referrals from existing school partners, and word-of-mouth within the educator community. Programs are delivered directly to partner schools through in-person coaching, professional development workshops, and outdoor expeditions, with the NYC Department of Education as the structural buyer. The business model is donation-funded rather than commercial: revenue is generated through individual donations, corporate partnerships, an annual gala (which raised $1.1M in 2026), monthly giving, and TCS New York City Marathon fundraising.

The organization has 51-100 employees and uses a combination of owned digital channels, social media, email newsletters, events, and earned media to reach educators, school administrators, donors, and the broader public. Vanessa Rodriguez serves as Chief Executive Officer and Jennifer Stredler as Vice Chair. The organization is part of a broader Outward Bound network of schools across the United States, and is not publicly traded.

Name

New York City Outward Bound

Legal name

New York City Outward Bound Schools

Website

https://nycoutwardbound.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

New York City Outward Bound Schools is a nonprofit that partners with NYC public schools to deliver Crew advisory structures, deeper learning instruction, outdoor adventure programming, and student leadership development, serving 111 schools, 22,557 students, and 2,190 educators in 2024-25.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Experiential Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

Keywords

• Experiential education programs
• Public school partnerships
• Outdoor adventure learning
• Educator professional development
• Advisory curriculum services

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Island City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: The organization raises funds from individual donors, corporate partners, and gala events. The 2026 Gala raised $1.1M for NYC public schools and students. Donation pages and monthly giving programs are available on the website.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NYC Outward Bound Schools partners with more than 100 NYC public schools to deliver four interconnected educational programs: Crew (advisory structure supporting student belonging and agency through coaching and professional development), Instruction for Deeper Learning (project-based instructional approach with student-led assessments), Outdoor Adventure (city-based and wilderness experiences for students), and Student Leadership (critical thinking and communication skill development). The organization also manages the Compass Rose Schools network, a subset of partner schools with measurably higher graduation rates than the NYC citywide average.

Product overview

New York City Outward Bound Schools operates as a portfolio of educational programs delivered in partnership with over 100 NYC public schools. The organization offers four interconnected program areas: Crew (advisory structure supporting student belonging), Instruction for Deeper Learning (project-based instructional approach), Outdoor Adventure (wilderness and city-based experiential learning), and Student Leadership (critical thinking and communication skill development). The Compass Rose Schools network represents high-performing partner schools. In 2024-25, programs served 111 schools, 22,557 students, and 2,190 educators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Crew A signature advisory structure providing coaching, professional development, and networked learning to schools to support student belonging and agency. Delivered to more than 50 schools implementing or growing the Crew structure.
• Instruction for Deeper Learning A dynamic instructional approach hallmarked by project-based learning, field work, and student-led performance assessments, delivered to schools across NYC through coaching, professional development, and networked learning.
• Outdoor Adventure Catalytic outdoor adventure programming ranging from city-based programs to wilderness experiences for NYC public school students who might not otherwise have these opportunities.
• Student Leadership Leadership spaces where students build critical thinking and communication skills, take risks, and fail safely before entering the real world.
• Compass Rose Schools A network of partner schools within the NYC public school system with a 92% average graduation rate that annually outpaces the NYC citywide average of 81%.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% average graduation rate at Compass Rose Schools in 2025 vs. 81% citywide average graduation rate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Big Picture Learning: National nonprofit network of partner schools emphasizing deeper learning, internships, and personalized advising structures. Operates a comparable school-partnership model with measurable outcomes — directly comparable to NYCOBS's Compass Rose network.
• KIPP NYC: Operates a network of NYC public charter schools with proven graduation-rate outcomes. Comparable as a measurable-outcomes school network serving NYC public school students with deeper learning and college-prep focus.
• City Year New York: Nonprofit that places near-peer mentors in public schools to improve student engagement, attendance, and graduation outcomes — a comparable service-delivery model targeting NYC public schools with measurable outcomes.
• National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS): A nonprofit experiential education organization delivering wilderness expeditions and leadership development. Highly comparable to NYCOBS's Outdoor Adventure and Student Leadership programs.
• Outward Bound California: Sibling Outward Bound affiliate serving California schools and students with experiential and adventure-based programming. Directly comparable operating model, mission, and brand alignment to NYC Outward Bound Schools.
• EL Education: A nonprofit that partners with K-12 public schools to implement project-based learning, deeper learning instructional models, and crew/advisory structures — directly overlapping with NYCOBS's Crew and Instruction for Deeper Learning programs.

Emerging players

• Student Conservation Association: Nonprofit providing outdoor service and conservation experiences for youth. Comparable on the outdoor adventure and youth development axis, though less directly tied to in-school programming.

Regional players

• Asia Society: Operates the International Studies Schools Network — a partnership network of public schools emphasizing deeper learning and global competence — comparable in school-network model and NYC public school presence.

Broad incumbents

• Year Up: Large national youth-development nonprofit with strong NYC presence serving opportunity youth with leadership and skill development — comparable mission and outcomes-measurement framework, though focused on older youth transitioning to careers.
• Outward Bound USA: The national parent organization of NYC Outward Bound Schools. Operates a federation of regional Outward Bound schools across the U.S. and is directly comparable as the umbrella entity providing methodology, brand, and governance support to NYC Outward Bound Schools.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nycoutwardbound
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKJgI_t9M47pG6_AM21G83g
• Facebookfacebook.com/nycoutwardbound
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nyc-outward-bound-schools
• Instagraminstagram.com/nycoutwardbound

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New York City Outward Bound