This course is a four-week canoe expedition for troubled teenage girls. It is designed for teens exhibiting challenging behaviors whose parents are willing and interested in participating in the 3-day required parent guardian seminar at course end. It is not a therapeutic program and cannot accommodate students with certain psychiatric conditions; significant struggles with chemical dependency; or those with a history of violent behavior.
Intercept
Intercept is a special program of Outward Bound, one of the oldest wilderness adventure programs in the world. It is designed to serve teens and their families and help them address behaviors like risky behaviors, low motivation, defiance or poor school performance. Courses are presented as metaphors for the transition from childhood to adulthood and designed to help teens connect their desire for more freedom with the reality that they must take on additional responsibility.
Courses are highly structured with explicit wilderness, communication and leadership skills progressions as well as time on course devoted to preparing for a parent guardian conference at course end. The conference is a conversation, facilitated by the instructor, where parents and teens design a new plan for their household.
You should know that this will not be a guided trip, it is a real expedition. That means you and everyone in your group will participate in everything from cooking to navigation to learning knots. You should also know that a team effort means sharing the load and working to make sure that the gear is divided appropriately, that the team works together to reach goals each day.
Course Area
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a labyrinth of lakes and rock that has been specifically protected as a true American wilderness; no roads, power lines or motorized craft (with the exception a handful lakes) may enter its borders, so the Boundary Waters has changed little since the glaciers receded 10,000 years ago. Over one million acres in size, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness extends nearly 150 miles along the Canadian border adjacent to Quetico Provincial Park.
Waterfalls, sheer rock cliffs and deep, crystal-clear lakes abound. Moose, deer, beaver, and otter are just a few of the wildlife you may see or see evidence of while you are there. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness contains several thousand portage-linked lakes and streams interspersed with islands, forests, and crags. It has no piped water, prepared shelters, or signs to point the way. Adventure awaits.
Course Description
You and your team will become an efficient unit as your instructors teach you the skills you'll need to work together moving your food, gear and canoes across to the next lake. Set up camp on different lakeshores each night at one of thousands of rocky point campsites and cook over an open fire. Two or more days of rock climbing, a high ropes course and two-day service phase, solo, final and a wilderness triathlon offer variety and new ways to learn from challenge and gain perspective on life and living; success and failure; and freedom and responsibility.
To apply for this course click the apply button next to the course dates that work for you. The non-refundable application fee of $125 is due at the time of application. For full fee schedule and process, click here. Course tuitions listed do not include our application fee or transportation fee.