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Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School Marks 40 Years of Youth Growth

Since 1986, the Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School has pushed more than 100,000 students beyond classroom walls, using ropes courses and wilderness trails to forge resilience. As the organization celebrates four decades in Leakin Park, it is now turning its attention toward a significant expansion into Washington, D.C.

Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School Marks 40 Years of Youth Growth

Executive Director Kristen Komlosy frames the milestone as both a tribute to the past and a commitment to future growth. The program centers on experiential learning, where students swap textbooks for canoes and climbing gear to develop empathy and self-awareness. For participants like ninth-grader Josh, the impact is tangible, providing the necessary courage to find his voice in challenging environments.

Expansion into the nation’s capital is currently underway at the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC). Supported by a $2 million investment from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, the new site will feature custom-built climbing elements to broaden access to the school’s curriculum. This physical growth mirrors a larger institutional ambition: reaching 10,000 students annually by 2030. To hit that target, the nonprofit plans to bolster its staff, enhance community engagement, and expand its scholarship fund to ensure that financial barriers do not limit participation.

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