Lauren Stables

Lauren Stables is the Director of Program and Training at Philadelphia Outward Bound School (POBS), a nonprofit founded in 1992 to provide outdoor experiential education programs for students in the School District of Philadelphia. Today, POBS serves over 8,000 students annually through single-day teambuilding programs and multi-day expeditions that help young people build resilience, develop leadership skills, and strengthen relationships with their peers and teachers.

Lauren has spent 16 years with Outward Bound and has worked in outdoor education since 2008, focusing on program delivery, challenge course and facilitation training and safety, and risk management. She has more than 10,000 hours of experience working at height and holds certifications as a Leave No Trace Master Educator, Wilderness First Responder as well as a HSI Level 2 Instructor certification to teach Basic Life Support and Advanced First Aid. She holds an ACCT Level 1 In-House Inspector certification and OSHA certifications in Working-At-Heights and Rigger Operator Safety.

Lauren has 15 years of professional engagement with the Association for Experiential Education (AEE), serving as a multi-year workshop presenter and reviewer, participating in host committees. She is also an active member of ACCT, where she is a multi-year workshop presenter and member of the ACCT TIRE Committee and ACCT Operation Specialist Work Group.

Lauren is passionate about making outdoor education more accessible and welcoming, particularly for young people experiencing it for the first time. She values trauma-informed approaches that foster belonging, emphasize autonomy, and give participants ownership of their learning. Outside of work, Lauren enjoys traveling, swimming, reading by the water and exploring the outdoors with her daughter!