An Outward Bound course will help your child to grow and gain new perspective through challenge and accomplishment in the outdoors. A 2008 study conducted with recent teenage Outward Bound alumni and parents of teen alums show that our students and parents both report a dramatic increase in the teens' levels of confidence and self-esteem, physical and mental strength, self-respect, maturity, responsibility, leadership skills, teamwork skills, and social skills. And as our alumni tell us, these gains aren't short-lived. An Outward Bound experience can continue to be as impactful 20 years later as it is 20 days after the course. We truly help set a course for a lifetime.
Outward Bound is the model for experiential education around the world. We're located in over 30 countries and have a 60-plus year history of helping people change their lives through challenge in the wilderness. We know that as a parent you probably have many questions about what you and your child can expect from an Outward Bound experience. If you don't find the answer to what you are looking for here, please don't hesitate to call us at 1-866-467-7651 to ask one of our admissions advisors for more information about our programs.
Tell me about Outward Bound
Outward Bound has taken over half a million people on wilderness expeditions since 1961. With over a hundred courses in various states and countries, students can select from dozens of different activities. From 4-day courses to 12-week international semesters all Outward Bound courses follow the same basic formula - stepping into the unknown, engaging in challenge, reflecting on your accomplishments and traveling deep into a beautiful wilderness which becomes a powerful classroom to help your child learn lessons about leadership, teamwork, compassion, responsibility, and service.
Tell me about your courses
Our courses are wilderness expeditions. You will travel almost every day. Days will be long but rewarding. There is nothing like the bond of shared experience and accomplishment. When you get there, you will meet your group and your instructors, you may spend a night or two at the base camp or a campground on the edge of the wilderness before starting off. You will pack your bags, get oriented to your gear and start walking, paddling, sailing or skiing. You will receive training in navigation, cooking, camp craft, knots, basic first aid and other wilderness living skills.
Safety - Caring for our students' safety is the foundation of any Outward Bound experience. It allows participants to face challenges, to travel farther and to meet with success. Outward Bound has pioneered many risk management procedures that have been emulated at many other outdoor education organizations.
Selecting a course - We offer courses to students ages 12 to adult. Our courses are segmented by ages. We also offer a variety of different activities in different locations to deliver our courses. We recommend using our Personalized Search tool to find a course. Or you can call an Admissions Advisor to help you select the right course for your child - 1-866-467-7651.
What can I expect during the enrollment process?
You and your child will need to fill out various forms based on your child's responses to some preliminary questions. These forms help us learn about your child's physical, mental, and social health status, medical needs, as well as his or her motivations for coming on course. Some of these forms will require a third-party like a doctor to provide information for our assessment staff. It's very important that you provide accurate information on these forms as it helps us to decide if Outward Bound is appropriate for your child and it also allows our instructors to make the necessary preparations for special needs in the wilderness. There are certain conditions that can't be accommodated safely in a wilderness setting and therefore there are some students that will not be approved for an Outward Bound course. Our enrollment process can take several weeks as we review each application by hand.
What if I don't get accepted on the course I have applied for?
If, upon completion of our Individual Application Review Process, we have specific safety concerns that we cannot alleviate, we may try to find a different option that is better suited to you individually. If we cannot find an alternate course we will deny admission. Just like a college application, our Application Fee is not refundable even if we deny your Application. We will refund all other payments that have been paid up to that point.
Payment
To reserve your spot we require payment.
- More than 60 days from start date - $100 non-refundable Application Fee and a $400 Tuition Deposit.
- 60 Days or less - $100 non refundable Application Fee, Full tuition and $100 Transportation Fee.
- Scholarship Applicants 21 days or more from course - $100 Application Fee.
You must submit your complete Scholarship Application Packet 48 hours from Applying.
Your Application Fee is refundable only if your award is smaller than what you requested AND you formally decline your award offer prior to the assigned due date.
If you neglect to either to accept or decline your offer in time we will keep your Application Fee.
Scholarships are not available for courses that start in less than 21 days.
Scholarships
The Outward Bound scholarship program is guided by the principle that every individual should be able to experience the benefits of our courses, regardless of financial ability. This being said, we offer scholarships to participants based on both financial need and merit. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here to read more about available scholarships and how to apply.
Tell me about your Instructors
Our instructors are dedicated outdoor professionals. They are 50-50 men and women, their average age is 31 and lead instructors average tenure is 3.5 years. They attend both general and skill specific trainings annually. They work in teams of two and at least one, but usually both, have a Wilderness First Responder certification. A First Responder is a first aid certification that is one step below an EMT. The Wilderness part refers to specific skills and protocols that apply in a wilderness setting. They are natural leaders and educators who want to share the wisdom of the wilderness.
Who else will be on course with my child?
Our teenage students are not typically compelled to come on our courses though some are certainly compelled by their parents and all parents play a different role in the decision to attend. Some students will have had adverse life events that they may or may not share with the group. Some will arrive and find it was not what they thought it would be and may be defiant, lethargic or unpleasant. Our expulsion rates are low but we cannot guarantee that your child will not be with someone who doesn't like the course, misbehaves or has misbehaved in the past. We do seek students who are motivated to attend.
Adverse Behavior on Course
We do our best to make sure that all students who arrive on course are motivated and want to be there. However, sometimes there are still students who behave in a way that our instructors will deem as inappropriate and/or detrimental to the individual or the whole group. Our instructors are empowered to have these individuals removed from the course area to assure everyone's safety and quality delivery of our courses. If your child is removed from course for bad behavior, you will be notified. Refunds are not given for bad behavior removal.
What gear does OB provide?
Outward Bound provides everything but personal items like clothing, footwear, the limited toiletries we recommend and in some cases raingear. Sleeping bags, shelter, kitchen items, travel gear like skis, paddles or life vests and all other gear are provided.
What is the food like?
We carry mostly "real" food like rice, pasta, tortillas, canned tuna or cheese. We don't use ultra lightweight dehydrated food but you may carry powdered milk, soup mixes, dried vegetables or beans. The food is tasty, nutritious, and doesn't include much meat.
Do I need prior experience?
No. But the courses are designed for individuals that are reasonably fit and our Application Review does consider your medical history. Instruction is at an introductory level; outdoor experience is definitely not required.
Do adults attend?
We serve between 500 and 600 students age 23 or older each year. Our adult courses are offered year-round. They are mostly one week in length with a limited selection of two and three week options. Most of the longer courses are offered with a minimum age of 18 and no upper limit. These courses often attract a very diverse age range.
Can I or my child receive academic credit?
Yes. Please visit our Academic Credit page for more information.
What if I don't have health insurance?
We do accept students who do not have insurance. All students who attend Outward Bound "open enrollment" courses are covered under our Mutual of Omaha Accident Insurance. Your Course Adviser can confirm whether your course qualifies, but if you are signing up as an individual and not attending with a group from the same school or workplace than you are probably covered. This is coverage for accidents or injuries that happen on course. There is a $500 deductible and it does not cover illness.
