Empowering communities of young people to initiate social change.

For more than 25 years, North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS) has partnered with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to empower young people to initiate social change through a two-component program called the Charlotte Unity Project. This 7-day wilderness-based program for high school students combines outdoor access, experiential education, and social-emotional learning to foster compassionate leadership and social change. While on the course, students learn technical skills, engage in meaningful discussions on social issues, and collaborate to achieve common goals. The experience challenges students physically, socially, and emotionally, pushing them to discover their inner strength and develop critical problem-solving and leadership skills. The program's second component occurs after the wilderness expedition when students return to their schools to implement school-wide Unity projects that aim to increase awareness, promote compassion, and inspire action related to social issues.

The Wilderness Course   

The NCOBS Charlotte Unity Project course is a FREE 7-day wilderness course for 9-11 grade Charlotte-Mecklenburg students. A group of 48 students from 8 Unity schools are chosen to embark on a wilderness expedition designed to increase students’ understanding of others’ perspectives while working together to achieve common goals. While on course, students learn technical skills, engage in meaningful conversations around challenging social issues, and are empowered to lead and problem-solve effectively. Included in this award is the cost for the course, gear required, and round-trip transportation.

The Unity Club   

The Unity Club is an extension of the wilderness course and is open to any student. Students selected for the wilderness course in the Summer are asked to join their Unity Club for the school year. Learnings from the wilderness course continue as students take action to improve their community through service projects. The Unity Club members work together to create two school or community projects that increase awareness and inspire action related to social issues. The requirement to organize at least two projects provides the push and structure for students to put their leadership and problem-solving skills into action within their own schools and communities, fostering a long-term commitment to social change.

*Unity Schools: Butler, East Meck, Garinger, Hawthorne, Mallard Creek, Myers Park, South Meck, West Charlotte 

FIND OUT MORE

Objectives

• Compassionate Leadership: Students discover and develop their potential to care for themselves, others and the world around them. 
• Create Belonging: Students foster a sense of inclusion and empathy by working together through shared challenges, developing a supportive community where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute
• Social Justice Awareness: Students increase awareness of discrimination and inequality, along with exploring ways to address these issues.  
• Moral Courage: Students develop the courage to challenge and change actions or beliefs to create a more just and inclusive community. 
• Action for Social Change:  Students organize local projects that address issues of social justice in their schools and community.

Phase I: Recruitment and Preparation

 Students are recruited to represent the diversity of their school or youth group and the wider community. Preparation occurs by community-building within the group, introducing students to diversity issues, briefing students for their wilderness course and getting physically fit. 

Phase II: Wilderness Course

High school students undertake a seven-day wilderness course. During this time, students develop personal qualities they need to become community leaders and create a learning culture within which issues of diversity and social justice can be positively addressed. This community of 12 offers a model from which students can analyze their community back home and imagine a more inclusive and just future. 

• Expedition Elements
• Expedition travel (backpacking)
• Camping
• High impact activity (rock climbing, rappelling, ropes course, whitewater canoeing or rafting, night paddling)
• Group initiatives and discussions
• Solo reflection and journaling

Phase III: Community Projects

Upon returning to their schools, Unity students organize and participate in community projects that apply their new skills and initiate meaningful social change.

Support

A teacher, counselor or other school staff member acts as the school’s Unity Advisor. The Advisor’s role is to recruit students for the wilderness course and Unity Club, and support students through the design and execution of their projects. The Advisor is supported through all phases of the Unity Project by the NCOBS Unity Curriculum and the Charlotte Program Coordinator. We strongly recommend that every coordinator takes an NCOBS Educator’s Course.