Course Area

Mobile Bay & Tensaw River Delta: This National Natural Landmark area is America’s second largest river delta and is Alabama’s largest natural landmark. The delta consists of approximately 20,323 acres of water just north of Mobile Bay; it is 30 miles long and 12 miles wide.  This estuary is a complex network of tidally influenced rivers, creeks, bays, lakes, wetlands, and bayous that all spill into Mobile Bay.   

Course Description  

Join Outward Bound on this service expedition that focuses on social and environmental responsibility in Alabama’s Gulf Coast.  This is a special opportunity for you to join forces with Outward Bound to help communities impacted by the oil spill. This is a 4-day service expedition based out of a conference center located on Week’s Bay, 15 minutes outside of Fairhope, Alabama.  Outward Bound’s Five Rivers program was established in 2006 by the local Gulf Coast community who saw a need to help struggling teens in the community and nearly five years later, Five Rivers continues to receive a majority of its financial support from the local community through foundations, agencies and individual donors. We will join in service projects designed to help the communities most affected by the Gulf Coast Oil Spill. Service projects may include, but will not be limited to building homes with Habitat for Humanity, environmental restoration and preservation projects, and supporting oil spill clean up crews. You will learn an overview of how this area has been affected and what is currently being done to limit the long-term damage to this area.  Basecamp during the service expedition will located at Beckwith Camp and Conference Center located in Fairhope, Alabama.  Food and lodging will be provided. We’ll be staying in dorms on site with access to hiking paths, Week’s Bay and a swimming pool.  We’ll have sit down meals for breakfast and dinner and lunches to go at work sites.  Expect to be at the works sites from 9am to 4pm.  During the evenings we’ll organize social events for participants and staff. Come travel with Outward Bound and explore the unique river ecosystems while actively engaging in service with others.