This five-day course is expedition-style featuring backpacking and rock-climbing in and around Big Basin State Park. This course is designed for middle school students (ages 12 and 13) that are looking to improve their leadership skills, are interested in challenging themselves, and are open to discovering the lifelong benefits and perspective that only wilderness travel with Outward Bound can offer.

Course Area

Big Basin State Park and surrounding areas offer over 18,000 acres of Towering old growth Redwoods, deep cut coastal valleys and high vantage views of the Pacific ocean that are unparalleled. With over 80 miles of rugged trail and elevations up to 2000 feet it is no wonder that it is one of the most popular outdoor destinations in northern California.

Course Description

Come find the leader that lies within you. On this fast paced 5 day adventure you will travel expedition-style with a pack on your back. "Expedition-style" means that you will leave our Presidio base camp in San Francisco on the first day of your course and not return to it until the end of the course. You will travel with all the food and equipment you need to conduct your expedition: stoves, tents, food, etc. Your crew might occasionally sleep at the same campsite twice, but generally you will be moving to a new campsite every night as you hike along your expedition route.

At some point on your expedition, you will spend a day rock climbing on one of the cliffs in Castle Rocks State Park. After a site introduction, you will learn how to use a climbing harness and helmet, how to belay and how to climb safely with your crew mates supporting you. Students will all belay each other, while instructors provide overall supervision of the site.

As with all Outward Bound courses, an element of service will be included. Service projects vary, but often involve working directly within the parks to improve facilities or trail systems for future visitors to enjoy.

Along the way you will learn new skills such as map and compass navigation, cooking, Leave No Trace principles, knots and communications skills. Most importantly, this course is designed to ignite a spark of leadership and a service ethic that you will bring back to the community where you live.