Curious about our most recent endeavors in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion? In this blog post, we review our 2024 Action Plan and share what’s ahead in our equity work for Outward Bound in the US. 

Just over a year into her role with Outward Bound USA as our Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Elyse Rylander, has made significant strides in her equity-driven approach to DEI at both the national and regional levels across Outward Bound in the US.  

Elyse’s vision is to create a network that consistently fosters a sense of belonging for a true diversity of students and staff, that she views as a prerequisite to our organization’s overall vision towards more resilient and compassionate individuals and a more resilient and compassionate world.

In order to have the healthiest people, communities and planet we must recognize the similarities and differences between individuals, how the resources of those systems have been distributed based on those similarities and differences and what changes need to be made to them so that more and more people within that system can truly thrive. 

At Outward Bound, our mission is to change lives through challenge and discovery. We are equally committed to challenging ourselves as an organization to learn from, grow with, and support the communities we serve. However, we know that integrating these initiatives within large & complex organizations like OBUSA and our national network can be tricky! While good intentions are a starting point, a clear strategy is essential for translating these intentions into meaningful impact.

So, how were we going to embed DEI into a national, 7-year Strategic Plan? That’s where Elyse comes in.

“My work doesn’t work unless it goes well beyond me. I view my purpose as creating the conditions in which staff and students can access a full and dignified experience,” says Elyse. “Tangibly and at this moment in our DEI journey, that means creating the structures the Regional Schools can utilize to tailor their actions to their School’s specific strengths and opportunities.” 

From Vision to Action: Elyse’s DEI Plan in Motion 

Outward Bound USA aims to support, amplify, and grow the capacity of our Regional Schools, where students are prepared with 21st-century skills to be ready for work, life, and civic leadership in an evolving world. Between 2023 and 2030, OBUSA is supporting this work through new & expanded capacity in Regional Schools, accelerating access to the outdoors for underrepresented communities, providing leading-edge research and development for program improvement, and cultivating a workplace that attracts – and retains – the best outdoor educators & administrative professionals in the US.  

Across these sectors of work, our efforts are guided by an unwavering commitment to our students, equity, adventure, and safety. 

The DEI Action Plan, a three-year strategy engrained into our overall Strategic Plan, calls out the specific actions we will be taking at each level to embed DEI work into everything we do. This comprehensive approach aims to integrate DEI work into the core of our operations, including creating changes with both big impacts and small wins. This detailed roadmap provides clarity, sets specific goals, and enables effective progress tracking. 

Of the many initiatives tied to the DEI Action Plan, Elyse launched our Network Resource Groups (NRGs) Program in March, a brand new program focused on fostering equity and inclusion across the Outward Bound network. This program will be a valuable resource for professional growth, fostering innovation, and providing a platform to address common challenges. 

So far this year, Elyse is feeling inspired by the interest and engagement she’s seeing from staff across the country: 

• 10/10 Regional Schools are represented in the National Equity Group.   
• 10/10 Regional Schools have contacted Elyse about the work we are doing at OBUSA and the support they need at their School to succeed. 
• 10/10 Schools are currently drafting their own DEI Action Plans to be reviewed this summer. 
• 100 staff members attended the Network Resource Group Kick Off Event in March.   
• Over 100 staff members have signed up to take the Intercultural Development Inventory.  

Justin Ennis, Executive Director of Philadelphia Outward Bound School says, “As a new School leader, the recent session Elyse led for the POBS team gave me a much greater appreciation for the nuance, skill and preparation required for our instructors to create the safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments our students need and deserve. While there are many unique contexts within which each School seeks to fulfill its commitments to DEI, we are so encouraged by how Elyse’s role will help unify and amplify the best practices and insights that will enable us to grow in this work together.” 

What’s ahead for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at OBUSA

With the Regional Schools’ DEI Action Plans awaiting review later this season, Elyse is eager to keep the momentum going with her colleagues. Recently, we welcomed a new member to our Learning & Evaluation crew, Sara, as our Curriculum Specialist, dedicated to supporting our national efforts in curriculum design and the student experience. 

By aligning instructor training with our DEI framework, instructors will enhance their competencies to deliver a more engaging and effective learning experience for all students. 

“Ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles are embedded in our curriculum is crucial,” says Sara Gibb, OBUSA’s Curriculum Specialist. “By intentionally and purposefully integrating inclusivity into our design concepts, we can better connect with and learn from our entire staff and student populations. This approach fosters an environment rooted in belonging, respect, and understanding for the communities we serve.” 

High Sierra Backpacking for LGBTQ+ Young Adults – Outward Bound California backpackers on ridge (2023) (Photographer: Rikki Dunn)

Elyse’s multifaceted approach, rooted in compassion, curiosity, and care enriches her role as our national Director.

Culture change work can be messy and uncomfortable. Elyse leads our system in the necessary work to embody equity more fully by inviting us each to do our own internal work to understand personal relationships to power and historical context around access and equity in the outdoors, while maintaining human connection and compassion with ourselves and others,” shares CeCe Bowerman, Institutional Giving Manager of Outward Bound USA. “To support institutional change and growth she engages the whole Outward Bound system, seeking broad buy-in to build a culture that makes space for all voices to be represented and ensures that those historically less proximal to power are centered in the conversation. 

For Elyse, her role with Outward Bound USA isn’t just a job.  

“This work means everything to me! I started out in this industry at 16 and have dedicated my professional (and personal) life to it,” says Elyse. “At 16, I was able to connect with queer women who showed me that I could not only survive in this industry but thrive, and it changed my life. In one way or another, I’ve been trying to recreate that access to a mentor who looked like me in every role I’ve held. It’s a true dream to be able to do that in this role at Outward Bound USA now.” 

As we continue on our DEI journey, we invite you to join us in this ongoing process of learning and growth. Together, we aim to create a more inclusive and healthful environment for every member of our Outward Bound crew.

You can learn more about DEI at Outward Bound USA here.