Anne Fitzgerald’s connection to Outward Bound began when she was a teenager, long before she became one of Outward Bound Canada’s most dedicated supporters and leaders.
As a teen, she took part in a three-week Outward Bound program in the mountains of North Carolina. A few years later, she joined a four-week program at Hurricane Island in Maine, and about a decade after that, she returned for a short executive program at Thompson Island in Boston. Each experience left its mark.
“Every one of those experiences built more resilience and confidence in me,” Anne says, recalling one experience in particular that has stayed with her: a three-day solo on an island off the coast of Maine. “Having three full days with nothing to do but keep yourself comfortable with your own thoughts in the freezing rain is challenging and terrifying! It teaches you that you can manage pretty much anything.”
A relationship that grew over decades
That early connection to Outward Bound eventually became a much deeper relationship with Outward Bound Canada (OBC). Anne went on to serve for many years on OBC’s Board of Directors, including serving as Board Chair, giving her a front-row seat to both the organization’s work and the people behind it.
For Anne, that long involvement has only strengthened her belief in what OBC can do for young people. She’s also very conscious that she entered her own early experiences from a position of relative privilege.
“I grew up in an environment with highly educated parents, and the chances of my failing were slim. But I still found tremendous benefits in my personal growth with Outward Bound, and that makes me think how incredibly valuable these programs must be for kids and young adults who didn’t have the same strong starting point that I had.”
Over the years, Anne has seen that impact show up in many ways, but two things stand out most to her. The first is what happens when young people learn to work with people who may be very different from them. “Youth learn that people who are different from them may be absolutely wonderful. Groups learn to work together and appreciate that everybody brings different skills and perspectives to the table and that all those differences are needed,” she explains.
The second is confidence. For many participants, an Outward Bound experience may be one of the most difficult things they’ve ever done. Getting through it can change the way they see themselves and what they believe they are capable of.
“An Outward Bound experience is often the most difficult thing a person has ever done, and they are very proud of themselves when they accomplish it,” Anne says. “Rightfully so.”
Why Anne keeps giving
Her connection to OBC has also been shaped by the people who choose to do this work. “It takes wonderful souls to focus their careers on giving to others, and that’s exactly what everyone on the Outward Bound Canada staff does,” she adds.
After years of involvement as a participant, board member, Chair, and supporter, Anne says the stories from the field are still what keep her connected. Hearing young people talk about how their lives have changed for the better remains deeply meaningful to her.
This Giving Tuesday, December 1, Anne is helping more youth access OBC programs by matching individual donations. Her reason is simple:
“Whatever I can do to encourage other people to help support Outward Bound, I’m willing to do.”
And for anyone who has been thinking about giving, her message is just as direct: “Please support our small organization. We make a tremendously positive impact on thousands of Canadian youth and we need help doing that.”
Make your gift on December 1, and Anne will match it, helping your donation go twice as far for young people across Canada.
