To venture forth and to try your best, even when you are not certain you will succeed, is the foundation of an Outward Bound experience. Outward Bound programs take you places you have never been, and give you the opportunity to master skills you never thought you could accomplish. Outward Bound's goal is to provide challenging environments where you can develop your character, become a leader, and learn the value of service. The experience is about pushing yourself and developing strength and confidence. The experience can be profound. Our students tell us that their Outward Bound experience affects the way they view the world, and how they can positively impact their world.

Risk and uncertainty are central to the concept of adventure and personal growth. Outward Bound is committed to thoughtfully assessing risks while providing real challenges. Our programs take place in both urban and backcountry environments, which present different risks. Our backcountry courses take place in remote wilderness settings that can be hours, or even days away from emergency medical care. Outward Bound urban programs are operated in more familiar surroundings with distinct challenges and risks to that environment.

Some courses, depending on the age group, course length, and activities, may include a final expedition. It is designed to be the culmination of the learning that has occurred on course. Working as a team, with little or no direct intervention from instructors, students will navigate their route, coordinate their responsibilities, and make decisions. On longer courses for older students where students have demonstrated and appropriate level of skill and judgment instructors may be some distance away from the group and use pre-arranged check-ins to monitor group progress. Not all students will achieve this level of independence.

We believe that by consciously accepting and understanding risks, our students will gain insights and perspectives that are unavailable anywhere else. Outward Bound instructors are experienced outdoor professionals committed to safety by their words, actions, and values. They are certified as Wilderness First Responders or Wilderness Advanced First Aid or the equivalent.

As part of an ongoing effort to improve safety, Outward Bound programs are regularly reviewed by Outward Bound and outdoor industry experts to proactively identify and assess potential hazards. Outward Bound has been a leader in wilderness safety systems for over 45 years. We frequently advise and assist other outdoor organizations in adventure risk management. Outward Bound is a co-sponsor of the annual Wilderness Risk Management Conference (WWRC) and serves on the Wilderness Risk Management Committee.

Since 1962 over 650,000 students have participated in Outward Bound programs in cities, mountains, deserts, rivers, and oceans. Even with this number of participants and a wide variety of activities, Outward Bound has maintained an excellent safety record. If you have additional questions about safety on an Outward Bound program, please contact Michael Lindsey, Vice President of Safety, at 720-497-2387.

Thanks. We look forward to seeing you at Outward Bound.